Data structures refer to the way data is organized and stored within a computer system in order to efficiently access and manipulate it. It involves the design and implementation of various data storage and retrieval mechanisms, such as arrays, lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, and hash tables. The main goal of data structures is to optimize the performance of algorithms by choosing the most suitable data structure for a given problem. This involves understanding the trade-offs between different data structures in terms of time complexity, memory usage, and ease of implementation. Data structures form the foundation of computer science and are essential for developing efficient and scalable algorithms for various applications, such as databases, operating systems, networking, and artificial intelligence. Research in this area focuses on identifying novel data structures, analyzing their properties, and developing efficient algorithms for data manipulation and retrieval.