Summary
- A linked list is a fundamental data structure used in computer science to store and manage collections of elements. Unlike arrays, which store elements in contiguous memory locations, linked lists consist of nodes, each containing a data element and a reference (or pointer) to the next node in the sequence.
- This arrangement allows for dynamic memory allocation and efficient insertion and deletion operations, as nodes can be easily added or removed without requiring contiguous memory blocks.
- Linked lists come in various forms, including singly linked lists, doubly linked lists, and circular linked lists. In a singly linked list, each node has a reference to the next node in the sequence, while in a doubly linked list, each node has references to both the next and previous nodes. Circular linked lists form a closed loop where the last node points back to the first node.