Final answer:
Using a priority queue implemented by a simple array is simple to understand and provides constant-time access to elements, but suffers from costly insertion and deletion operations and a fixed size that can limit flexibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
When implementing a priority queue using a simple array, there are several pros and cons to consider. One of the main advantages is the simplicity of the data structure, which can make it easier to implement and understand. A simple array does not require complex pointer manipulation, as would be necessary in a linked-list implementation. Additionally, arrays provide constant-time access to any element, which is beneficial when it comes to reading the highest-priority element (assuming it is kept at a fixed position, like the beginning or end of the array).
However, there are notable disadvantages to using an array for a priority queue. The main issue arises with insertion and deletion operations. Inserting or deleting elements in an array requires shifting elements to maintain the ordered structure, which can result in O(n) time complexity for both operations. This is inefficient compared to the O(log n) time offered by heap-based priority queues. Another con is that arrays have a fixed size, which means that the capacity must be defined ahead of time, and resizing the array to accommodate more elements can be costly.