What data management structure uses classes to store data instead of rows and tables?

The object-oriented data management structure is characterized by its use of classes to store data. In this model, data is organized into objects that combine both data and methods for processing that data. This approach allows for more complex data representations and relationships, as objects can inherit properties and behaviors from other classes, enabling better modeling of real-world entities and their interactions.

Object-oriented databases are particularly effective for applications where data is complex and can be described in terms of both attributes (data) and behaviors (functions), such as spatial data in geographic information systems. Unlike traditional relational structures that rely on tables and rows, the object-oriented paradigm allows for a more nuanced approach to data management, supporting encapsulation and modularity.

In contrast, hierarchical, network, and flat file data models utilize different structures that don't leverage class-based organization for data storage. Hierarchical structures arrange data in a tree-like format, network structures allow more complex relationships but still rely on pointers between records, and flat files simply store data in a single table or list without the object-oriented functionalities.