Applications, Advantages and Disadvantages of Queue (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 20 Jan, 2026

A Queue is a linear data structure. This data structure follows a particular order in which the operations are performed. The order is First In First Out (**FIFO).

**Network: In a network, a queue is used in devices such as a router or a switch. another application of a queue is a mail queue which is a directory that stores data and controls files for mail messages.
**Job Scheduling: The computer has a task to execute a particular number of jobs that are scheduled to be executed one after another. These jobs are assigned to the processor one by one which is organized using a queue.
**Shared resources: Queues are used as waiting lists for a single shared resource.

Applications-of-Queue

**Real-time application of Queue:

Working as a buffer between a slow and a fast device. For example keyboard and CPU, and two devices on network.
ATM Booth Line
Ticket Counter Line
CPU task scheduling
Waiting time of each customer at call centers.

**Advantages of Queue:

Queues are useful when a particular service is used by multiple consumers.
Queues are fast in speed for data inter-process communication.
Queues can be used for the implementation of other data structures.

Advantages-of-Queue

**Disadvantages of Queue:

The operations such as insertion and deletion of elements from the middle are time consuming.
In a classical queue, a new element can only be inserted when the existing elements are deleted from the queue.
Searching an element takes O(N) time.
Maximum size of a queue must be defined prior in case of array implementation.