A linked list is a fundamental data structure used to store a collection of elements. Unlike arrays or lists, which store elements in contiguous memory locations, a linked list stores elements in nodes where each node points to the next (and possibly previous) node. This structure allows for efficient insertion and deletion operations.
A linked list consists of a sequence of nodes, where each node contains:
A singly linked list is implemented by defining a Node
class and a LinkedList
class that manages the nodes.
Example:
A doubly linked list is similar to a singly linked list but each node also has a reference to the previous node.
Example:
In a circular linked list, the last node points back to the first node, forming a circle.
Example:
A linked list is a versatile data structure in Python that offers dynamic sizing and efficient insertions and deletions. Depending on the needs of your application, you can implement singly, doubly, or circular linked lists to manage your data effectively. Understanding the types and their implementations helps in choosing the right data structure for various programming tasks.