A linked list is a linear data structure in which elements are stored in a non-contiguous manner. Each element, also known as a node, consists of a data field and a reference to the next node in the list. The first node is called the head of the list, while the last node has a reference to null.
The following operations can be performed on a linked list:
- Insertion: Add a new node to the list.
- Deletion: Remove a node from the list.
- Traversal: Traverse the list and perform an operation on each node.
- Searching: Find a node with a given value.
- Sorting: Sort the list in ascending or descending order.
- Merging: Merge two lists into a single list.
- Reversing: Reverse the order of the list.
- Splitting: Split the list into two smaller lists.
- Dynamic size: A linked list can grow or shrink in size during runtime.
- Efficient insertion and deletion: Since elements are not stored in contiguous memory locations, adding or removing elements from a linked list only requires updating the references of neighboring nodes.
- No wastage of memory: The size of a linked list can be determined at runtime, and it only uses the amount of memory required to store its elements.
- Random access is not possible: To access a node at a particular index, the entire list must be traversed.
- Extra memory required for references: Each node in a linked list requires an additional reference to the next node, which can increase memory usage.
- Implementing stacks, queues, and hash tables.
- Managing dynamic memory allocation in operating systems.
- Text editors and compilers.
- Image processing and computer graphics.