Linked List is basically chains of nodes where each node contains information such as data and a pointer to the next node in the chain.
- Allows efficient insertion and deletion operations compared to arrays.
- Individual items are not necessarily at contiguous locations. The individual items are called nodes and connected with each other using links.
- A node contains two things first is data and second is a link that connects it with another node.
Basic Terminologies of Linked List
- Head: The Head of a linked list is a pointer to the first node or reference of the first node of linked list. This pointer marks the beginning of the linked list.
- Node: Linked List consists of a series of nodes where each node has two parts: data and next pointer.
- Data: Data is the part of node which stores the information in the linked list.
- Next pointer: Next pointer is the part of the node which points to the next node of the linked list.
Importance of Linked List
Here are a few advantages of a linked list that is listed below, it will help you understand why it is necessary to know.
- Dynamic Data structure: The size of memory can be allocated or de-allocated at run time based on the operation insertion or deletion.
- Ease of Insertion/Deletion: The insertion and deletion of elements are simpler than arrays since no elements need to be shifted after insertion and deletion, Just the address needed to be updated.
- Efficient Memory Utilization: As we know Linked List is a dynamic data structure the size increases or decreases as per the requirement so this avoids the wastage of memory.
- Implementation: Various advanced data structures can be implemented using a linked list like a stack, queue, graph, hash maps, etc.