Linked List Data Structure

Last Updated : 10 Apr, 2024

A linked list is a fundamental data structure in computer science. It consists of nodes where each node contains data and a reference (link) to the next node in the sequence. This allows for dynamic memory allocation and efficient insertion and deletion operations compared to arrays.

Linked List Data Structure

What is a Linked List?

A linked list is a linear data structure that consists of a series of nodes connected by pointers. Each node contains data and a reference to the next node in the list. Unlike arrays, linked lists allow for efficient insertion or removal of elements from any position in the list, as the nodes are not stored contiguously in memory.

Linked Lists vs Arrays

Here’s the comparison of Linked List vs Arrays

Linked List:

  • Data Structure: Non-contiguous
  • Memory Allocation: Dynamic
  • Insertion/Deletion: Efficient
  • Access: Sequential

Array:

  • Data Structure: Contiguous
  • Memory Allocation: Static
  • Insertion/Deletion: Inefficient
  • Access: Random

Types of Linked List

  1. Singly Linked List
  2. Doubly Linked List
  3. Circular Linked List
  4. Circular Doubly Linked List
  5. Header Linked List

Operations of Linked Lists:

Linked List Applications

  • Implementing stacks and queues using linked lists.
  • Using linked lists to handle collisions in hash tables.
  • Representing graphs using linked lists.
  • Allocating and deallocating memory dynamically.

Basics of Linked List:

Easy Problem on Linked List:

Medium Problem on Linked List:

Hard Problem on Linked List:

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