| Term | Definition |
| data structure | a group of data elements grouped together under one name |
| members | the elements in a data structure |
| struct structure_name {member_type1 member_name1; member_type2 member_name2...} object_names; | declaration of a structure |
| struct structure_name object_name; | separate structure object declaration |
| object_name.member_name | structure members |
| object_name [] | object array |
| structure_name * pointer | pointer to a structure |
| "->" | arrow operator |
| arrow operator | deference operator used exclusively with pointers to objects with members |
| a.b | member b of object a |
| a->b | member b of object pointed by a |
| *a.b | value pointed by member b of object a |
| struct structure_name1 { struct structure_name2...}; | nested structures |