Linked list

---

A linked list is a fundamental linear data structure in computer science used to store and manage collections of elements. Unlike arrays, linked lists don't require contiguous memory allocation. Instead, they consist of nodes, each containing data and a reference (or link) to the next node in the sequence.

There are several types of linked lists, with singly linked lists and doubly linked lists being the most common ones.

1. Singly Linked List: In a singly linked list, each node points to the next node in the list, forming a one-way chain. The last node usually points to a null reference to indicate the end of the list.

Example of a singly linked list:

Head -> Node1 -> Node2 -> Node3 -> ... -> NodeN -> null

2. Doubly Linked List: In a doubly linked list, each node has references to both the next and the previous nodes in the list. This allows for traversing the list in both directions.

Example of a doubly linked list:

null <- Node1 <-> Node2 <-> Node3 <-> ... <-> NodeN -> null

Linked lists have several advantages and disadvantages compared to arrays:

Advantages:

• Dynamic Size: Linked lists can grow or shrink dynamically as elements are added or removed.
• Insertions and Deletions: Insertions and deletions are generally faster and easier in linked lists, especially for elements in the middle.
• Memory Utilization: Memory is allocated dynamically for each element, reducing memory waste.

Disadvantages:

• Access Time: Accessing elements in a linked list is slower compared to arrays because you have to traverse from the beginning of the list.
• Additional Memory: Each node requires extra memory to store the reference, which can lead to higher memory usage compared to arrays.
• Cache Locality: Linked lists don't have good cache locality due to scattered memory locations, potentially affecting performance.

Common operations on linked lists include:

• Adding elements (insertion) at the beginning, end, or any position in the list.
• Removing elements (deletion) from the list.
• Searching for an element.
• Traversing the list to perform operations on each element.

Linked lists are used in various scenarios, including when you need a data structure that can handle dynamic sizes efficiently, when you frequently insert or delete elements, or when you need to implement more complex data structures like stacks, queues, and hash tables.

Enroll Now

• Computer Science
• Data Structures