C Programming Week 10 - Structs and Linked Lists
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Questions and Answers

Which operation is permitted on a struct variable?

  • Nesting struct variables of the same type
  • Using relational operators to compare two struct variables
  • Assigning a struct variable to a different struct type
  • Initializing a struct variable at the time of definition (correct)

What is a characteristic of a self-referential structure?

  • It cannot be nested with different struct types.
  • It contains a pointer to the same struct type. (correct)
  • It includes a pointer to a different struct type.
  • It can contain multiple struct variables of the same type.

What must be true for two struct variables before they can be assigned to each other?

  • They can be of different struct types.
  • They must be initialized with values.
  • They must be of the same struct type. (correct)
  • They must both only contain primitive types.

Why is a linked list different from an array in terms of memory access?

<p>Linked lists must keep track of next elements explicitly through pointers. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about struct members is true?

<p>The sizeof operator can be used on a struct variable. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary component of a linked list node that holds the data?

<p>payload (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What value is assigned to the link of the last node in a linked list?

<p>NULL (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When adding a new node to the front of a linked list, what step follows creating the node?

<p>Fill in the data for the new node. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the pointer implementation of a linked list, how do you access the next node from the current node?

<p>temp_ptr-&gt;next (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the structure of a linked list node in C?

<p>It requires memory allocation for both data and link. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step when adding a new node to the end of a simple linked list?

<p>Traverse the list to find the last node (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When deleting the last node from a simple linked list, what is a crucial step to perform?

<p>Set the Prev pointer's link to NULL (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What must the code handle when performing operations on a simple linked list?

<p>Special cases such as an empty list or a single node (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a dummy node in a linked list signify?

<p>It does not store data and is never deleted (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the process of finding a node containing a specific value, what is the primary goal?

<p>Identify and access the node before performing insert or delete operations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the link of the last node in a linked list?

<p>It points to NULL. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When adding a node to the front of a linked list, what is the final step?

<p>Make the new node's link point to the previous first node. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the next node accessed while traversing a linked list using pointers?

<p>Using the link from the current node. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a linked list implemented using structs, what is the primary purpose of the 'data' field in the node structure?

<p>To hold the actual value to be stored in the node. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should happen to a pointer when traversing a linked list?

<p>It must be updated to point to the next node each iteration. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about struct types and their members?

<p>A struct can include a pointer to another struct of the same type. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why must the location of the next element in a linked list be explicit?

<p>Because linked lists do not have contiguous memory addresses. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which operation is NOT permitted when working with struct variables?

<p>Comparing struct variables using relational operators. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario illustrates the proper use of the sizeof operator with a struct?

<p>Determining the size of a single struct variable. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is essential for a linked list to function correctly?

<p>Each node must contain a pointer to the next node. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Self-referential Structure

A structure that contains a pointer to a structure of the same type.

Linked List

A data structure that stores elements in non-contiguous memory locations, where each element points to the next.

Struct Operations - Copying

When copying struct pointers, only addresses are copied, not the actual struct's contents.

Struct member access

Accessing a member of a structure uses the dot operator (.) or the arrow operator (->).

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Struct Initialization

A struct variable can be initialized at definition time.

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Linked List Node

A structure containing data and a pointer to the next node in a linked list.

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Linked List Link

A pointer in a node that stores the memory address of the next node in the list. It's how you move from one node to the next.

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NULL Link

The link in the last node of a linked list; it indicates there are no more nodes after it.

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Front of the List

The first node in a linked list; frequently accessed due to operations being performed there.

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Adding a node to the front

Inserting a new node at the beginning of a linked list. This changes the "front" of the list.

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Adding to Linked List end

Create a new node, set its link to NULL, and link the last node to the new node.

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Deleting last node

Use two pointers: one leading the other. Move them to the next node until reaching the last one. The pointer behind sets the link of the previous node to NULL .

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Linked list operations

Find nodes with specific data, insert, and delete nodes within the list.

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Dummy node in a Linked List

An extra node at the beginning of a linked list, doesn't store data, never deleted.

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Linked list special cases

Handle scenarios like empty lists, single node lists, or operations on beginning or end nodes.

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What are the differences between arrays and linked lists?

Arrays store elements in contiguous memory locations, allowing access via index and pointer manipulation. Linked lists use non-contiguous memory, requiring explicit pointers to connect elements. In arrays, the location of the next element is implicit; in linked lists, it's explicit via a pointer.

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What is a self-referential structure?

It's a structure type that contains a pointer to a structure of the same type. This enables creating chain-like data structures, like linked lists.

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How do you access members in a struct?

Use the dot operator (.) for direct access to a struct member, or the arrow operator (->) if accessing members through a pointer to the struct.

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Can you compare structs directly?

No, comparing two struct variables directly using relational operators is not permitted. You can compare individual members of a struct if they're of basic data types.

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Why is the order of struct member declarations important?

The order of member declarations within a struct determines the memory layout, influencing memory allocation and potential alignment issues.

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Node Traversal

Moving from one node to the next in a linked list using the 'next' pointer.

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Adding to the Front

Creating a new node, assigning its data, and making it the new first node in the list.

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C struct Node

A structure in the C programming language used to represent a node in a linked list, containing both data and a pointer to the next node.

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Pointer Update

Changing the value of a pointer to point to a different node in the list.

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Study Notes

C Programming - Week 10

  • Course: CST8234
  • Topics covered: struct (more details), Self-referential Structures, simple Linked Lists, Quiz #3

struct - More Details

  • Permitted Operations:

    • Initializing a struct variable in its definition.
    • Accessing struct members using the dot (.) or arrow (->) operators.
    • Assigning one struct variable to another (both variables must be the same struct type).
    • Copying addresses for pointers (only addresses are copied).
    • Getting the address of a struct variable.
    • Using the sizeof operator on a struct variable or type.

  • Operations not Permitted:

    • Using relational operators to compare entire struct variables in the same way that you compare primitive types.
    • Comparing members of the struct (comparing primitive data types within struct variables is permissible).
    • struct types cannot contain a struct variable of the same type.
    • Nesting different types in a struct requires careful consideration of declaration order.
    • A struct type that contains a pointer to the same struct type is called a self-referential structure.

Intro to Linked Lists

  • Arrays store data contiguously in memory. Accessing elements is achieved using offsets from the base address.
  • Linked lists store data non-contiguously in memory. The location of each data element (node) is stored in a pointer, often called a "link." This link points to the location of the next data element in the list.
  • Linked list nodes are typically structures that contain the data and a pointer that points to the next node.
  • The first node in a linked list is often given its own pointer that is referenced in list operations

Linked Lists - pointer implementation

  • Linked list nodes are implemented as C structures.
  • The link in the structure is a pointer to a structure of the same type
  • To access the next node, use the link, for example, temp_ptr->next
  • Pointers are used to move from one node to the next

Linked Lists – example Simple LL

  • Adding to the front of a linked list:

    • Start with an empty (NULL) list.
    • Create a new node.
    • Populate the data in the new node.
    • Make the link of the new node point to the first node (which is null in an empty list.)
    • Make new node the first node

  • Adding to the end of a linked list:

    • Allocate a new node.
    • Populate the data in the new node.
    • Make its link NULL.
    • Traverse the list to find the last node. Set the link of the last node to point to the new node.

  • Deleting the last node of a linked list

    • Set pointers to the beginning of the list (e.g., Front, Cur, Prev).
    • Move both pointers to the next node one at a time until the last node is reached.
    • Set the link of the previous pointer to NULL.

Linked Lists – continued

  • Other operations may include:
    • Finding a node with a specific data value.
    • Inserting or deleting nodes within the linked list.
    • Handling special cases, such as an empty list or a list containing only one node.
    • Performing operations on nodes at the beginning or end of the list

Next Week

  • Variations of the simple linked list will be covered, including the use of a dummy node to simplify list operations. The dummy node is placed at the beginning of the linked list, does not store data, and is not deleted.
  • A programming challenge will be assigned to code a simple linked list with a dummy node.
  • The use of a dummy node will be discussed, showing the reasons behind its usage.

Credits

  • George Kriger

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CST8234 C Programming Week 10 PDF

Description

This quiz covers Week 10 of the C Programming course CST8234. Focus on struct variables, self-referential structures, and simple linked lists, including allowed operations and restrictions. Test your understanding of these essential C programming concepts.

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