> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://gosford-high-school.gitbook.io/preliminary-software-engineering/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://gosford-high-school.gitbook.io/preliminary-software-engineering/unit-1-programming-fundamentals/2-python/data-structures-and-file-management/data-structures.md).

# Data Structures

When looking at structuring data, programmers have a range of tools at their disposal. 

Now, Python has its own tools such as **lists**, which are unique to the language. Whilst similar to arrays in other languages (which you will read about soon), they are **not the same**. 

* Lists can store multiple data types.
* Arrays can only store a single data type.

Then, there are tuples, sets and dictionaries for now. 

We will look at hash tables, trees and stacks later on this unit, but will start with the above for now. 

Go to the next page to begin!