What is a 'queue' in computer science?

A queue in computer science is defined as a collection of elements that follows the first-in, first-out (FIFO) access method. This means that the first element added to the queue will be the first one to be removed. Queues are essential in scenarios where tasks need to be processed in the order they arrive, such as in scheduling tasks, managing print jobs, or handling requests in a network.

Understanding the FIFO principle helps clarify how queues differ from other data structures, such as stacks, which use a last-in, first-out (LIFO) approach. In a stack, the most recently added element is the one that gets removed first.

This characteristic of queues makes them particularly useful for certain algorithms and applications, as they maintain an ordered structure that is critical for managing processes in many computing tasks.