To extract information on a client using an ID or account number, the most appropriate data structure would be a hash table (or hash map). This is because a hash table allows for fast data retrieval using a key (in this case, the ID or account number), enabling O(1) average-time complexity for lookups.
However, since "hash table" is not listed in your responses, the best choice among the provided options for organizing and retrieving client information would typically be an array. While arrays do not provide the same efficiency in lookups as hash tables for key-based access, they can still store data that can be indexed. If the IDs or account numbers were to relate directly to the indices of an array, it could work for small, contiguous numerical IDs.
That said, here’s a breakdown of the responses in relation to the context:
- Programmer: This response does not represent a data structure.
- String: This is a data type, not a data structure suited for extraction by ID.
- Array: This can be used to store client records if indexed properly, but it's not as efficient as a hash table for lookups by ID.
- Compiler: This is a tool used to translate code, not a data structure.
Given the context, array would be the best option from the provided choices for storing client information for retrieval by ID, albeit not the most optimal in terms of efficiency.
1 answer