Linked Lists vs. Arrays

Linked Lists

• Linked lists are linear data structures; they are like arrays, but they represent data in a different way
• Arrays are a common data structure, but have limitations. Linked Lists are an alternative that overcomes some of these limitations.

Array Limitations

• Fixed size: Arrays have a predetermined size that's difficult or impossible to change during program execution
• Memory Allocation: Arrays need to be allocated a specific block of contiguous memory, which may limit efficiency
• Insertion/Deletion: Inserting or deleting elements can be slow as the whole array may need to be adjusted.
• Storage: Arrays are required to store data in a contiguous block of memory
• Joining/Splitting: Joining and splitting arrays can be complicated and computationally demanding

Linked List Definition

• A linked list is a linear series of nodes where each node contains data and a link (pointer) to the next node.
• Nodes are not necessarily stored together or contiguously in memory
• Each node stores data, and a pointer to the next node in the list.

Linked List Advantages

• Dynamic Size: Linked lists can grow or shrink as needed at runtime
• Efficient Memory Use: Memory is allocated on demand.
• Fast Insertion/Deletion: Inserting or deleting elements is generally faster than in arrays.
• Flexible Storage: Elements don't have to be stored contiguously, potentially improving memory efficiency.
• Easy Joining/Splitting: Joining and splitting linked lists are simple compared to arrays.

Singly Linked List

• A singly linked list consists of nodes, where each node holds data and a pointer to the next node.
• The last node's "next" pointer points to NULL.
• Accessing nodes requires traversal from the first node.

Types of Linked Lists

• Singly Linked List: Each node points only to the next node.
• Circular Linked List: The last node's "next" pointer points back to the first node.
• Doubly Linked List: Each node contains two pointers: one to the next node and one to the previous node.
• Circular Doubly Linked List: A doubly linked list where the last node points back to the first, and the first node points to the last.

Singly Linked List operations

• Creating a linked list: Initialising a list structure and assigning it to a variable
• Traversing/Display: Moving through the list, node by node, and printing each node's data
• Insertion: Adding a new node at the beginning, middle, or end of the list
• Deletion: Removing a node from the beginning, middle, or end of the list
• Searching: Finding a node with a specific value
• Reversing a linked list: Reversing the sequence of nodes in a linked list
• Merging of linked lists: Combining two or more linked lists into one.

This quiz explores the differences between linked lists and arrays, including their structures, advantages, and limitations. Understand how linked lists overcome the challenges posed by traditional arrays and enhance data management in programming.