Working with data types and structures
Now, our attention shifts to an integral component of our data journey: data types and structures. Understanding these elements is not just a theoretical exercise. It is akin to learning the grammar of a new language, the very language of data.
Data types define the nature of information that we store and manipulate. They are the fundamental building blocks that help us to shape and understand our data. On the other hand, data structures refer to the ways we organize and store these types of data to optimize efficiency and accessibility, thereby maximizing the value we can extract from our data.
In this section, we will explore a variety of data types, from simple, scalar types such as integers and Booleans, to complex, structured types such as lists and dictionaries. We’ll also venture into the realm of semi-structured data types, such as XML and JSON, which offer a bridge between the rigid structure of tabular data and the more...