Data Structures & Algorithms in Java [With Contains Example Programs, Sun JDK, Java Applets]

I bought this book for my Data Structures class at NCSU and it was perfect. There aren't a lot of "real world" examples; its just the straight forward way of showing you want the data structures are and how to code them efficiently. There's also a lot of extra theory in the sorting chapters that I haven't found in other data structure books.

This is an excellent book on data structures and algorithms and would be a great addition to a student's text book. Fortunately Lafore does not dwell on the algorithm analysis as many data structures books do. This is a plus for me, as most texts on the subject get the reader bogged down in the analysis portion of the subject matter. Note: algorithm analysis is a very important subject I just don't believe it should be taught in parallel with data structures to the extent it is. Its easier for me and many others to first learn how to implement data structures and get a feel for their performance then move on to in-depth analysis.In this book you'll learn the more important data structures without the heavy mathematics many algorithm and data structure books torture readers with. The book is written in very accessible language and the applets really help the inexperienced see the algorithms in action.As I mentioned this book does not cover algorithm analysis in detail. A step up from this book would be one of Sedgewick's books which provides more detail on the analysis front and some really 'tight' implementations. A good book that focuses on Algorithm Analysis is Intro to Algorithms by Cormen. You better have your math skills up to snuff for the Cormen book however.

I am nearing the end of my Data structures and Algorithms course at the University of Missouri, and I'm doing very well, thanks in part to this fantastic book. I realized right away that I didn't like the assigned textbook for the class, so I did some research online and ended up buying a used, first edition copy of this book. One of the best investments I ever made! (I also purchased another book which I like - see the end of this review).The explanations are so clear, I can honestly say it has been relatively easy to learn. I haven't really struggled at all. The author takes a very sensible approach, only focusing on the subject of algorithms and data structures. He criticizes the current trend of mixing software engineering and oop in with this subject (which is exactly why I don't like the assigned textbook). His goal when writing this book was to create "the most easily understood book ever written on data structures and algorithms." I'd say he hit his mark dead-on!The only thing missing from the book is exercises. There are none (at least not in the first edition). But several times I have taken the code from the accompanying CD and rewritten it to suit my personal programming style, which has been very instructive.I don't know what has been added/changed in the new edition, but you can probably find out by checking the publisher's Website. The author has given us a real gem, and for that I am grateful. By the way, another very good book is "Data structures and Algorithms" by Aho, Ullman, and Hopcroft. I highly recommend it as well. I think it's out of print, but I had no trouble finding a cheap, used copy.Best wishes,Greg Norris

Just about every Computer Science program requires a course called "Data Structures and Algorithms". In order to become a programmer you must understand the information provided in this course. This book was written as a textbook for a "Data Structures and Algorithms" course and all the expected topics are covered; arrays, queues, stacks, linked lists, trees, hash tables, heaps, sorting, recursion, and searching. Whether you are a teacher looking for a text, a student who wants a better text than the required one, or just someone who wants to learn more about programming, this book is a very good choice. By using Java, all the complications of C++ are eliminated and the author's crystal clear explanations come shining through. And the author's explanations and examples are excellent. For example, the chapter on link lists explains what a linked list is, what problems it is supposed to solve and what problems it fails to solve, and then shows how to implement your own link list. The author provides a set of applets to visually illustrate the topics covered in the book. There are questions at the end of each chapter and answers are provided. This book is not going to explain the Collection classes or help you learn the API. What this book will do is help you get a deeper understanding of what data structures are, how they work, and what performance sacrifices must be made in order to achieve better overall performance in your programs.

No, I am not the author. I am a self-taught SUN Certified java developer with no computer science background. I feel like this book changed me from being an amateur to being a computer scientist. You just can't get the information that is in this book anywhere. I had heard these words like recursion, trees, stacks, queues... but never really knew what they were. Now I do. In my oppinion, the two most important aspects of a good technology book are writing style and trust in the authors knowledge. This book has both. The author presents the information in a clear, simple, visual way with no witty nonsense. Only essential information is included and is supported by diagrams, illustrations, easy-to-follow code snipets and a companion CD which dynamically and visually illustrates how the algorithms work. Also, the book reads smooth; it is a real joy. I read this thing in a weekend. It was a lot of work, but totally rewarding. I am very grateful to Mr. Lafore and look forward to reading some of his other books.