
We will show you two more efficient approaches you can use to create a Python priority queue. This tutorial will discuss why you should not use a list to create priority queues. This allows you to easily access the smallest and largest value in the queue. A priority queue is a data structure that stores data based on the value of its keys in ascending order.

Among these data structures, heap data structure provides an efficient implementation of priority queues.īasic operations of a priority queue are inserting, removing, and peeking elements.īefore studying the priority queue, please refer to the heap data structure for a better understanding of binary heap as it is used to implement the priority queue in this article.ġ. Priority queue can be implemented using an array, a linked list, a heap data structure, or a binary search tree. The element with the highest priority is removed first.

In a queue, the first-in-first-out rule is implemented whereas, in a priority queue, the values are removed on the basis of priority. Removing Highest Priority Elementĭifference between Priority Queue and Normal Queue We can also set priorities according to our needs. However, in other cases, we can assume the element with the lowest value as the highest priority element. The element with the highest value is considered the highest priority element.

Generally, the value of the element itself is considered for assigning the priority. However, if elements with the same priority occur, they are served according to their order in the queue. That is, higher priority elements are served first. And, elements are served on the basis of their priority.

Decrease Key and Delete Node Operations on a Fibonacci HeapĪ priority queue is a special type of queue in which each element is associated with a priority value.
