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What is a Linked List?
What is a Linked List?
A linked list is a linear data structure that stores a collection of data elements dynamically, consisting of connected nodes where each node contains data and a pointer to the next node.
Which type of linked list allows traversal in both forward and backward directions?
Which type of linked list allows traversal in both forward and backward directions?
In a singly linked list, each node contains a reference to the previous node.
In a singly linked list, each node contains a reference to the previous node.
False
What does the last node in a linked list point to?
What does the last node in a linked list point to?
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What are the advantages of linked lists?
What are the advantages of linked lists?
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What is the purpose of the head node in a linked list?
What is the purpose of the head node in a linked list?
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What is stored in the 'next' pointer of a node?
What is stored in the 'next' pointer of a node?
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In a circular linked list, the last node points back to the ______ node.
In a circular linked list, the last node points back to the ______ node.
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Linked lists allow direct access to elements by index.
Linked lists allow direct access to elements by index.
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What are the key attributes of the Node class in a linked list?
What are the key attributes of the Node class in a linked list?
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What happens when you try to delete a node in a linked list?
What happens when you try to delete a node in a linked list?
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Study Notes
Linked Lists
- A linked list is a linear data structure that stores data dynamically.
- It's a series of connected nodes.
- Each node stores data and the address (pointer) of the next node.
- Each node has two fields: data and a pointer to the next node.
- The last node's pointer is null.
- Linked lists can grow and shrink in size as needed.
Accessing a Linked List
- Access is through the head node, which points to the first node.
- The last node is called the tail node and points to null.
Node Structure
- Each node contains data (the actual value or element).
- A pointer to the next node in the sequence (memory address/reference).
Memory Allocation
- Elements are scattered randomly in memory.
- This differs from arrays, which store elements contiguously.
Adding Elements
- Easy to add elements (new links) at any location.
- Requires adjusting pointers.
Deleting Elements
- Easy to delete elements.
- Requires adjusting pointers to bridge gaps.
Types of Linked Lists
- Singly linked list: Each node points only to the next node. Traversal is one-way.
- Doubly linked list: Each node points to both the next and previous nodes. Traversal is two-way.
- Circular linked list: The last node points back to the first node, creating a cycle.
Advantages
- Dynamic Size: Can grow or shrink at runtime.
- Insertion/Deletion: Efficient, especially with large lists, because you don't need to shift elements around.
- Flexibility: Easily reorganized and modified without needing contiguous memory.
Disadvantages
- Linear Access: Requires traversal to access elements by index, unlike arrays.
- Extra Memory: Needs extra memory to store pointers.
Operations
- Insertion: Adding a new node at the beginning, end, or anywhere in between.
- Deletion: Removing a node from the beginning, end, or interior of the list.
- Searching: Traversing the list to find a specific value.
The Node Class
- Attributes:
-
element: the actual data in the node. -
next: points to the next node in the list.
-
The Linked List Class
- Contains:
-
head: A pointer to the first node in the list (or null if empty).
-
- Additional methods may be needed for specific operations like searching, inserting, deleting etc.
Empty and Full Lists/Nodes
-
isEmpty(): Checks if the Linked List is empty (head is null). -
isFull(): Checks if creating a new node is possible (i.e. memory allocation failed).
Inserting a Node
- At the beginning: Make new node point to the old head, then make head point to the new node.
- In sorted order: Locate where it belongs in the list and adjust pointers to place new node.
- At the end: Find the current last node, then make the next of the last node point to the new node added.
Deleting a Node
- At the beginning: Make the head pointer point to the node after the deleted one.
- Interior Node: Traverse to find the node before the deleted one, change its 'next' pointer to point to the node one past the deleted node.
- At the end: Traverse to find the node before the last node, then make its next pointer null.
Finding the List Size
-
count(): Traverses the list and counts the number of nodes.
Getting the First Element
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get(): Returns the data from the first node (or an appropriate message if empty).
Updating a Value
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update(): Finds a node with a matching value, then changes its data.
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Description
This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of linked lists, a dynamic data structure used to store data in a non-contiguous manner. It covers node structure, memory allocation, and the processes of adding and deleting elements. Test your understanding of how linked lists function and their advantages over traditional arrays.
