Linked Lists
Student Question
What's the "linked list" in CS?
Sia Response
In Computer Science, a linked list is a linear data structure where each element is a separate object, commonly called a 'node'. Each node contains a reference (or link) to the next node in the sequence. This structure allows for efficient insertion and removal of elements from any position in the sequence during iteration.
Properties of a Linked List a. Dynamic Size: Unlike arrays, linked lists are dynamic and can grow or shrink in size.
b. Memory Utilization: Nodes are allocated memory only when required, which can lead to efficient memory usage.
c. Insertion and Deletion: Nodes can easily be added or removed without reorganizing the entire data structure.
d. No Random Access: Linked lists do not support direct access to elements by their position, which means that to access an element, you need to follow the links from the beginning.
e. Types: There are various types of linked lists such as singly linked lists, doubly linked lists, and circular linked lists, each with its own set of properties and use cases.
A singly linked list, for example, contains nodes where each node has data and a reference to the next node. Here is a simple representation of a node in a singly linked list in Python:
class Node:
def __init__(self, data):
self.data = data
self.next = None
And here is how you might define a simple linked list with basic operations:
class LinkedList:
def __init__(self):
self.head = None
def append(self, data):
if not self.head:
self.head = Node(data)
else:
current = self.head
while current.next:
current = current.next
current.next = Node(data)
def display(self):
elements = []
current = self.head
while current:
elements.append(current.data)
current = current.next
return elements
To use this linked list, you would create an instance of the LinkedList class and use its methods to append data and display the list.
Learn smart through AskSia
https://app.asksia.ai/s/COMPS-Whats-linked-list-in-CS-d4BVY4IX