Priority queues order elements by a priority key from "summary" of Data Structures and Algorithms in Python by Michael T. Goodrich,Roberto Tamassia,Michael H. Goldwasser
In a priority queue, elements are assigned a priority key that determines the order in which they are removed from the queue. The element with the highest priority key is the next to be removed. Priority queues are commonly used in situations where elements need to be processed in a specific order based on their priority. For example, in a hospital emergency room, patients may be treated based on the severity of their condition, with the most critical patients receiving care first. The priority key can be determined using a variety of criteria, such as numerical values, timestamps, or other attributes of the elements. The key is used to compare elements and determine their relative priority in the queue. When elements are inserted into a priority queue, they are placed in the appropriate position based on their priority key. This ensures that the element with the highest priority is always at the front of the queue, ready to be removed next. Priority queues can be implemented using different data structures, such as binary heaps or balanced binary search trees. These data structures allow for efficient insertion and removal of elements based on their priority key.
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