What is the primary function of a queue in data structures?

The primary function of a queue in data structures is to manage data in a FIFO (First In, First Out) manner. This means that the first element added to the queue will be the first one to be removed. Queues are particularly useful for scenarios where you want to ensure that tasks are processed in the order they were received, such as handling requests in a server, managing print jobs in a printer, or orchestrating tasks in a task scheduling system.

In contrast to other data structures, such as stacks which operate on a LIFO (Last In, First Out) principle, queues maintain the sequence of elements as they were inserted. This order of processing is crucial in various applications, where it is important to serve requests in the order they arrive. Additionally, queues typically provide operations such as enqueue (to add an element) and dequeue (to remove an element), reinforcing their structured approach to data management.