SQA Higher Computing Science Practice Exam

The correct choice is an array, which is a fundamental data structure used to store a collection of elements that are all of the same type. Arrays are characterized by their fixed size and the ability to access their elements directly using an index. This makes them very efficient for scenarios where there is a need to repeatedly access elements based on their position in the collection.

In arrays, elements are stored in contiguous memory locations, allowing for quick retrieval of data. For example, if you have an array of integers, each integer can be accessed by its index, starting from zero for the first element up to a maximum index defined by the size of the array minus one.

This structure is particularly useful when you know the number of elements in advance, as it allows for both straightforward initialization and efficient access patterns. Consequently, arrays are widely used across various programming languages and applications for tasks involving sequences of data.

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