Which term refers to a way of organizing and storing data to enable efficient access and modification?

The term that refers to a way of organizing and storing data to enable efficient access and modification is data structure. A data structure is a specialized format for organizing and storing data in a computer so that it can be accessed and modified efficiently. This concept encompasses various formats, such as arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs, each of which has its own strengths and use cases depending on the requirements of the application.

Data structures are critical in computer science because they allow for the management of large amounts of data in a way that is both efficient and easy to manipulate. For example, using a binary tree structure can greatly enhance search operations when compared to a simple array due to its hierarchical organization.

In contrast, an algorithm refers to a defined set of instructions designed to perform a specific task or solve a problem, rather than focusing on the organization and storage of data itself. A database is a collection of organized data that can be easily accessed, managed, and updated, but it does not specifically refer to the underlying structure used to store that data. A variable is merely a symbolic name associated with a particular value and has limited utility when discussing data organization and structures. Thus, data structure is the most precise term among the options provided to describe