Structure

/ˈpɑːr tɪʃən ˈteɪbəl/

noun — "map of disk partitions for storage management."

Partition Table is a data structure on a storage device that defines the organization and layout of disk partitions, specifying where each partition begins and ends, its type, and other attributes. It serves as the roadmap for the operating system and firmware to locate and access volumes, enabling multiple filesystems or operating systems to coexist on a single physical disk.

/ɡaɪd pɑːrˈtɪʃən ˈteɪbəl/

noun — "modern disk partitioning standard with large capacity support."

/ˌɛm biː ˈɑːr/

noun — "first sector of a storage device containing boot information."

MBR, short for Master Boot Record, is the first sector of a storage device, such as a hard disk or solid-state drive, that contains essential information for bootstrapping an operating system and managing disk partitions. It occupies the first 512 bytes of the device and serves as a foundational structure for legacy BIOS-based systems, providing both executable boot code and a partition table.

/ˈmɑːstər faɪl ˈteɪbəl/

noun — "central table of file metadata."

/biː-plʌs-triː/

noun — "optimized B-tree variant for database indexing."

/biː-triː/

noun — "balanced tree for efficient data retrieval."

/ˈɪn.deks/

noun — "data structure for fast lookup."

Index is a specialized data structure used in computing and database systems to improve the speed and efficiency of data retrieval operations. It functions as a roadmap or table of contents, allowing a system to quickly locate the position of a desired item without scanning the entire dataset. Indexes are essential in relational and non-relational databases, search engines, file systems, and large-scale storage systems, where rapid access to specific records is critical.

/kjuː/

noun — "ordered collection for sequential processing."

Queue is an abstract data structure that stores a sequence of elements in a specific order for processing. The most common ordering principle is FIFO (First In, First Out), though variations like priority queues may alter the processing sequence. A queue ensures that elements are handled systematically, supporting predictable workflows and task management in computing systems.

/ˈfiː.foʊ/

noun — "first item in, first item out."

FIFO, short for First In, First Out, is a data handling or storage method in which the earliest added item is the first to be removed. This ordering principle is widely used in queues, memory buffers, and inventory accounting, ensuring that items are processed in the same order they were received.

/ˈlaɪ.foʊ/

noun — "last item in, first item out."

LIFO, short for Last In, First Out, is a data handling or storage method in which the most recently added item is the first to be removed. This ordering principle is used in stacks, memory management, and certain inventory accounting practices, ensuring that the latest entries are processed before earlier ones.