Data Structure refers to a way of organizing and storing data in a computer so that it can be accessed and manipulated efficiently. It provides a means to manage large amounts of data for various types of applications, such as databases, operating systems, and software development. The basic types of data structures include:

• Arrays: A collection of elements identified by index or key.
• Linked Lists: A linear collection of nodes where each node points to the next.
• Stacks: A collection that follows the Last In, First Out (LIFO) principle.
• Queues: A collection that follows the First In, First Out (FIFO) principle.
• Trees: A hierarchical structure with a root node and child nodes.
• Hash Tables: A structure that maps keys to values for fast data retrieval.

Understanding these basic data structures is fundamental for solving problems and designing efficient algorithms in computer science.