Pronunciation: [ɛnkjˈuː] (IPA) 
The word "enqueue" refers to the process of adding an item to a queue. Its spelling is derived from the French word "en-," meaning "in," and "queue," meaning "line." In IPA phonetic transcription, "enqueue" is pronounced as [ɛnˈkjuː]. This means that the first syllable is pronounced "en" [ɛn], with a short "e" sound, followed by "kew" [ˈkjuː], with a long "u" sound. The final "e" in "enqueue" is silent.
Enqueue is a term used in computer science and software engineering, particularly in the context of data structures and algorithms. It refers to the operation of adding an element or item to the end of a queue data structure.
A queue is an abstract data type that follows the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) principle. In other words, the item that is enqueued first will be the first one to be dequeued or processed. Enqueueing is the process of inserting an element into the queue, ensuring that it is placed at the end or back of the structure.
Enqueueing involves two main steps. First, it checks if the queue is full or has reached its maximum capacity, indicating that it cannot accept any more elements. If the queue is not full, the element is added to the end of the queue. This process is often referred to as "adding to the back" of the queue.
Enqueue is commonly used in various programming languages and libraries that provide queue implementations, such as Java, C++, or Python. It is an essential operation in applications where managing a collection of elements needs to follow a specific order, preserving the order in which they were added.
Overall, enqueue is the action of adding an item to the rear or end of a queue data structure, ensuring that it maintains the FIFO behavior characteristic of a queue.
The word "enqueue" originated from the combination of two words: "en" and "queue".
The prefix "en" comes from Middle English and Old French, ultimately derived from Latin, and it means "to cause to". It often serves to indicate involvement or action upon an object.
The word "queue" originated from the French word "cue", meaning "tail". It entered the English language in the mid-16th century and was initially used to refer to a hairstyle where the hair was tied in a line or tail at the back. Over time, the term was also used to describe any line or sequence of people or objects waiting in order.
Therefore, by combining "en" with "queue", the word "enqueue" was created to describe the action of adding something to a queue or line, especially in computer programming, where it refers to adding an item or task to a data structure known as a queue.
