A data structure is a way of organizing and storing data in a computer so that it can be accessed and modified efficiently. Different types of data structures are suited to different kinds of applications, and some are highly specialized to specific tasks. Some common data structures include:

1. Arrays: An array is a collection of items stored at contiguous memory locations. The items can be of the same type or of different types. Arrays are used to store multiple values in a single variable, rather than declaring separate variables for each value.
2. Linked lists: A linked list is a linear data structure in which each element is a separate object. Each element (node) of a list is comprising of two items - the data and a reference to the next node. The last node has a reference to null. Linked lists are useful for inserting and deleting elements, because only the references need to be changed, not the data.
3. Stack: A stack is a linear data structure that follows a particular order in which the operations are performed. The order may be LIFO (Last In First Out) or FILO (First In Last Out). Stacks are used to implement functions, parsers, and expression evaluation.
4. Queues: A queue is a linear data structure in which the first element is inserted from one end called REAR and the deletion of existing element takes place from the other end called as FRONT. Queues are used to implement buffers, file IO, and pipes.
5. Trees: A tree is a hierarchical data structure where an item has one or more children but only one parent (except the root, which has no parent). Trees are used to represent hierarchies, such as the file system on a computer.
6. Graphs: A graph is a non-linear data structure that represents a set of connected nodes. Each node may have zero or more child nodes, and each child node is connected to the parent node by an edge. Graphs are used to represent networks, such as social media networks or the internet.
7. Hash tables: A hash table is a data structure that uses a hash function to map keys to indices in an array. Hash tables are used to implement associative arrays, lookup tables, and caches.
8. Heaps: A heap is a complete binary tree in which the value of each node is greater than or equal to the values of its children. Heaps are used to implement priority queues and for sorting data.

It is important to choose the right data structure for a given task, as the choice of data structure can have a significant impact on the efficiency of the algorithms that use it.

When choosing a data structure for a given task, there are a few factors to consider:

1. Access patterns: How will the data be accessed? For example, will you need to be able to quickly retrieve specific items by their key, or will you need to be able to efficiently add and remove items from the beginning or end of the data structure? Different data structures are better suited to different access patterns.
2. Space complexity: How much memory will the data structure require? Some data structures, such as arrays, are more space-efficient than others, such as linked lists.
3. Time complexity: How long will it take to perform operations on the data structure? Some operations, such as inserting or deleting elements, may be faster on certain data structures than on others.
4. Stability: Will the order of the elements in the data structure need to be preserved? Some data structures, such as linked lists and arrays, allow elements to be added and removed without changing the order of the remaining elements, while others, such as heaps, may rearrange the order of the elements as they are modified.

General guidelines for choosing data structures:

• If you need fast lookup and the ability to retrieve items by key, consider using a hash table or a tree-based data structure such as a binary search tree.
• If you need fast insertion and deletion at the beginning or end of the data structure, consider using a linked list or a stack (for insertion and deletion at the top) or a queue (for insertion at the back and deletion at the front).
• If you need fast insertion and deletion in the middle of the data structure, consider using a linked list or an array.
• If you need to be able to retrieve the minimum or maximum element quickly, consider using a heap.