ADT

Definition of ADT

ADT stands for Abstract Data Type, which is a term used in computer science to describe a high-level description of data and operations that can be performed on that data. An ADT provides a set of operations and associated constraints that define the behavior of a data type.

ADTs provide a powerful abstraction layer for programmers, allowing them to work with data in a modular and structured way that is independent of any particular implementation. ADTs can be used to represent a wide range of data structures, including lists, trees, graphs, and more.

In general, an ADT consists of two parts: a set of operations that can be performed on the data, and a set of constraints that define the behavior of those operations. For example, a data type might have a set of operations that allow you to insert, delete, and retrieve elements from a collection, along with constraints that ensure the collection remains ordered.

Overall, ADTs are an essential tool for building complex software systems. By providing a high-level abstraction layer for data and operations, they make it easier to reason about the behavior of a program, and simplify the process of designing and implementing software systems.