0.1 What Is This Book About?
This book is about the fundomentnls of data structures nncl algorithms – the basic clements from which large and complex software projects arc built.
To develop a good understanding or a datu structure requires three things: first, you must learn how the information is arrnnged in the memory of the computer; second, you must
become familiar with the algorithms for manipulating the information contained in the du ta structure; and third, you must understand the performance characteristics or the data structure so that when ca lled upon to select u suitable data structure for a particu lar application, you arc able to make an appropriate decision.
0.2 Should I Buy This Book?
The book is intended for Python programmers who need to learn about al~or-ithmic problem solving or who m:cd o refresher. However, others will also find it useful, including datn and computational scientists employed to do big data analytic analysis; game programmers and financial analysts/engineers; ond students of computer science or programming-related subjects such as bioinformutics.
