A linked list is composed of nodes
where each node has two parts:
Nodes are organized sequentially, each pointing to the next. The last node points to null to indicate the end.
This dynamic structure allows efficient insertion and deletion of nodes.
There are several types:
Insert: Add nodes to the beginning, end or middle of the list.
Delete: Remove nodes by value or position.
Search: Find nodes by value by traversing the list.
Traverse: Iterate through nodes by following the references.
Linked lists can be implemented as follows:
Use the ListNode
class to represent nodes:
class ListNode:
def __init__(self, value):
self.value = value
self.next = None
Then to create and use a list define a LinkedList class with methods for the operations:
class LinkedList:
def __init__(self):
self.head = None
def add_to_start(self, new_value):
new_node = ListNode(new_value)
new_node.next = self.head
self.head = new_node
def print(self):
current = self.head
while current != None:
print(current.value)
current = current.next
def search(self, searched_value):
current = self.head
while current != None:
if current.value == searched_value:
return True
current = current.next
return False
#...other methods
With this LinkedList
class we can create a list, add nodes, print it, search elements, etc.
We could add other methods like insert at end, delete by value, get by index, etc. But this gives an idea of how to encapsulate the linked list functionality in a class. As practice, feel free to try adding these methods on your own. Don’t hesitate to leave your comments and contact me if you need help!
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Linked lists are a versatile data structure for storing dynamic sequences of elements. Having a good handle on these lists, their operations, and uses is essential for any programmer.
Cheers for making it this far! I hope this journey through the programming universe has been as fascinating for you as it was for me to write down.
We’re keen to hear your thoughts, so don’t be shy – drop your comments, suggestions, and those bright ideas you’re bound to have.
Also, to delve deeper than these lines, take a stroll through the practical examples we’ve cooked up for you. You’ll find all the code and projects in our GitHub repository learn-software-engineering/examples.
Thanks for being part of this learning community. Keep coding and exploring new territories in this captivating world of software!
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