Which structure allows for easy storage and retrieval of multiple values under a single name in programming?

Study for the SQA Higher Computing Science Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

An array is a data structure that allows for the easy storage and retrieval of multiple values under a single name. It organizes data in a contiguous block of memory, where each element can be accessed using its index. This means you can store numerous items of the same type, such as a list of integers or strings, and retrieve them efficiently by referencing their position.

For example, if you have an array called "scores," you can easily access the scores of all players through their respective indices (e.g., scores[0] for the first player, scores[1] for the second player, etc.). This streamlined access is what makes arrays a fundamental structure for handling collections of data in programming.

The other options, while useful in certain contexts, do not serve the same purpose. A linked list allows dynamic memory allocation and efficient insertions and deletions but requires more overhead for accessing individual elements since it involves traversing nodes. Stacks and queues are both specialized structures typically used for specific purposes—stacks operate on the Last In, First Out (LIFO) principle and queues on the First In, First Out (FIFO) principle—making them less flexible for general storage needs compared to arrays.

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