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11.4 Priority Queues
Priority queues are an advanced form of queue where each element is associated with
a priority value. Unlike regular queues that follow the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) principle,
priority queues always serve the element with the highest priority first. They are widely used
in operating systems, scheduling algorithms, and network management, where tasks or data
must be processed based on importance rather than arrival order.
11.4.1 Definition and Characteristics
A priority queue is a data structure that allows insertion of elements with associated
priorities and retrieval of the element with the highest (or lowest) priority. The key
characteristics include:
• Elements are ordered by priority, not by insertion time.
• Supports efficient insertion and deletion operations.
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