a linked list is a data structure consisting of a group of nodes which together represent a sequence.

Under the simplest form, each node is composed of a data and a reference (in other words, a link) to the next node

Each element (we will call it a node) of a list is comprising of two items - the data and a reference to the next node. The last node has a reference to null. The entry point(first node) into a linked list is called the Root or head or front of the list.

Two basic Types of Linked Lists 1. Singly Linked List 2. Doubly Linked List We can make as a Circular Linked List

Linked List Vs Array

In favor of Linked Lists.
The size of the arrays is fixed:

So we must know the upper limit on the number of elements in advance. Also, generally, the allocated memory is equal to the upper limit irrespective of the usage, and in practical uses, upper limit is rarely reached. Inserting a new element in an array of elements is expensive, because room has to be created for the new elements and to create room existing elements have to shifted. For example, suppose we maintain a sorted list of IDs in an array id[ ]. id[ ] = {1000, 1010, 1050, 2000, 2040, .....}. And if we want to insert a new ID 1005, then to maintain the sorted order, we have to move all the elements after 1000 (excluding 1000). Deletion is also expensive with arrays until unless some special techniques are used. For example, to delete 1010 in id[ ], everything after 1010 has to be moved.

 So Linked list provides following two advantages over

arrays 1) Dynamic size 2) Ease of insertion/deletion Linked lists have following drawbacks: 1) Random access is not allowed. We have to access elements sequentially starting from the first node. So we cannot do binary search with linked lists.

2) Extra memory space for a pointer is required with each element of the list. 3) Arrays have better performance.

Applications
Representing polynomials

In dynamic memory management

In symbol tables Representing sparse matrix

The cache in your browser that allows you to

hit BACK button. (linked list of URLs) UNDO functionality Stack, Queue,hash table, binary tree

Singly Linked List

Data structure consisting of sequence of

nodes. Each node consists of

Data

Link to next

And Link to next node

DATA INFO DATA DATA LINK LINK
Different naming conventions for a node

Data

node

ADDR Next

Our convention throughout the topic

DATA ADDR

10

NULL

First Node

Creating Nodes

20

NULL

Second Node

List after adding the second node(at end of first) 10 20 NULL 15 NULL

List after adding the third node(at end )

10

20

15

NULL

Common Operations of Singly Linked List

Creating a singly linked list Display the elements of a list Insert a node Insertion at Beginning Insertion in Middle Insertion at Last (Same logic of Creating a list) Delete a node Deletion of front/first node (Not much Priority is given to this) Deletion of last node (No much Priority is given to this) Deleting a particular node (Preferable for Implementation) Search for a element in the list

Declaration and Creation of a Node

Two ways of Node declarations: Use class or Use struct (Structure)
class Node { public: int data; Node *addr; } struct Node { int data; Node *addr; }
DATA ADDR

Let us follow class in declaring a node. In fact struct and class both are same with few differences. Try to find out the difference between struct and class.

class Node { public: int data; Node *addr; }*root;

root is the first node. Initially root = NULL Indicates List is empty
Again different naming conventions:

root node first node head node

Inserting a Node in Linked List

Display linked list

root

10

20

15 6 NULL

NULL

Insert a node at beginning of linked list root

10

20

15

NULL

root

Insert a node in middle of linked list

25

NULL

10 25

20

15

NULL

Class activities
Executing creation and display of singly linked list. Extending the program to perform

Inserting a node at beginning Extending the program to search for a node. Illustrating how deletion will be done. Implementing Linked stacks (Stacks using linked list). Topics covered in assignment: Deleting nodes Searching a node Inserting node in the middle of a linked list