Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Accessing elements refers to retrieving or obtaining values stored in specific positions within a data structure, such as arrays, LinkedLists, or ArrayLists.
Related terms
Indexing: The process of associating an index with each element in a data structure for efficient retrieval.
Random Access: The ability to directly retrieve any element from a data structure using its index or key without having to traverse the entire structure.
Sequential Access: The process of accessing elements one after another in a linear manner, typically used in LinkedLists.