# deque

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deque
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a special list in computer programming where you can add or remove items from both the front and the back. It is short for 'double-ended queue'.

For teachers: a linear data structure that allows the insertion and deletion of elements from both the front and the rear. Often pronounced like 'deck', it combines the capabilities of a stack and a queue.

## Examples

- The programmer used a deque to store the recent history of actions.
- When building the undo-redo feature, the developer chose a deque to efficiently manage operations at both ends of the list.
- In computational geometry, a deque is frequently employed to maintain the vertices of a convex hull during incremental construction due to its constant-time operations at both extremities.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in computer science and software engineering contexts; typically pronounced as 'deck'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.