Which data structure uses LIFO for its operations?

The data structure that utilizes the Last In, First Out (LIFO) principle for its operations is a stack. In a stack, the last element added is the first one to be removed, similar to a stack of plates where you can only take the top plate off first. This behavior is achieved through two primary operations: push, which adds an element to the top of the stack, and pop, which removes the element from the top.

Stacks are widely used in various applications, such as function call management in programming, where the last function called must be completed first, and for undo functionalities in applications, where the most recent action is the first to be undone. Understanding the LIFO principle is crucial in scenarios that require backtracking, managing recursive functions, or maintaining the state in algorithms.

The other data structures have different operational principles. For example, queues follow a First In, First Out (FIFO) methodology, while deques (double-ended queues) allow for insertion and deletion from both ends. Arrays, on the other hand, are simply collections of items stored in contiguous memory locations without enforcing any particular LIFO or FIFO behavior.