IT1815 Linked Lists Basics

What is the main disadvantage of using arrays compared to linked lists?

In a singly linked list, what is the term for the first node?

What key element does a pointer field in a node of a linked list contain?

Which type of linked list has an additional pointer to connect to the previous node?

What does the last node in a linked list point to?

In a doubly linked list, what does the left pointer field contain?

Which operation would NOT typically be performed on a linked list?

What characterizes a circular linked list?

Which of the following statements about linked lists is true?

What is the primary purpose of the 'search' operation in a linked list?

In a standard linked list, what happens in the pointer field of the last node?

How can the size of a linked list change?

Which operation would you use to display the elements of a linked list?

Linked Lists Overview

Linked lists are dynamic data structures that can grow and shrink during program execution.
Elements in a linked list, called nodes, are stored as separate objects.
Each node consists of a data field (value of the element) and a pointer field (address of the next node).

Types of Linked Lists

Singly Linked List: Basic structure with a single pointer to the next node.
Doubly Linked List: Contains two pointers: one to the next node (successor) and one to the previous node (predecessor).
Circular Linked List: The last node points to the first node, creating a circular structure.

Node Representation

In a singly linked list, the last node’s pointer points to null, indicating the end.
In a doubly linked list, the left pointer holds the address of the predecessor, while the right pointer holds the address of the successor.

Linked List Operations

Display: Outputs the elements in the list.
Insert: Adds new elements to the list.
Delete: Removes specific elements or all elements from the list.
Search: Locates a specific element in the list.
Count: Returns the total number of elements.

Linked Lists vs. Arrays

Linked lists can efficiently utilize memory, as size is determined at runtime, compared to arrays which require a predetermined size during declaration.
Elements in a linked list can be accessed randomly, unlike arrays where elements are sequentially accessed.
Iteration in linked lists involves looping through nodes using pointers, whereas in arrays, elements can be accessed directly through indices.

This quiz covers the fundamentals of linked lists, highlighting their dynamic nature compared to static arrays. Learn about how linked lists can grow and shrink during program execution, and understand the importance of element positioning within these data structures.