Page 37 - Data Structures Interactive Book
P. 37
Chapter 4
4.1 Introduction to Linked Lists
Linked lists are dynamic data structures that consist of nodes connected by pointers.
Unlike arrays, which store elements in contiguous memory locations, linked lists store
elements in separate memory blocks, with each node containing data and a pointer to the
next node. This structure allows efficient insertion and deletion operations, as elements can
be added or removed without shifting other elements. Linked lists are particularly useful
when the size of the data set is unknown or changes frequently.
4.1.1 Definition and Characteristics
A linked list is a sequence of nodes, where each node contains two parts:
• Data field: stores the actual value.
• Pointer field: stores the address of the next node.
Characteristics of linked lists include dynamic memory allocation, efficient insertion
and deletion, and sequential access. However, they require more memory than arrays due to
the storage of pointers.
4.1.2 Comparison with Arrays
Arrays provide constant-time random access but have fixed size and inefficient
insertion/deletion. Linked lists, on the other hand, allow dynamic resizing and efficient
insertion/deletion but require sequential traversal to access elements. Thus, the choice
between arrays and linked lists depends on the application requirements.
4.1.3 Memory Representation
In memory, each node of a linked list is allocated separately, and nodes are connected
through pointers. This non-contiguous arrangement enables flexibility but increases overhead
due to pointer storage.
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