Linear data structures were discussed, specifically stacks. Stacks have applications such as reversing strings, balancing symbols, evaluating postfix expressions, and translating infix expressions to postfix. Reversing a string involves pushing characters onto a stack and then popping them off to output the reverse order. Balancing symbols uses a stack to check that every opening symbol has a closing match. Postfix expression evaluation pops operands from the stack and pushes results. Translating infix to postfix involves pushing operators onto a stack and outputting operands and popping higher priority operators.