Difference Between Structure And Union

Structures and unions are two different data types used in programming languages. Structures are used to store multiple pieces of related data in a single unit, while unions are used to store multiple pieces of data in the same memory location.

Structures are composed of multiple variables, each of which can contain different data types. These variables can be accessed by their names, which makes it easy to access and modify individual elements of the structure. Structures can also contain other structures, allowing for complex data structures to be created.

Unions, on the other hand, are composed of multiple variables that all share the same memory location. This means that only one of the variables can be accessed at a time, and any changes to the data type of the union will affect all of the variables. Unions are often used when memory space is limited, as they take up less space than structures.

In summary, structures are used to store multiple pieces of related data in a single unit, while unions are used to store multiple pieces of data in the same memory location. Structures are more flexible than unions, as they can contain other structures and individual elements can be accessed by their names. Unions, however, take up less memory space and can be useful when memory is limited.