7.5: Linked Lists
- Page ID
- 34675
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Linked Lists are a linear data structure. Unlike arrays, linked list elements are not stored at a contiguous location; the elements are linked using pointers.
Why Linked List?
Arrays can be used to store linear data of similar types, but arrays have the following limitations.
- The size of the arrays is fixed: So we must know the upper limit on the number of elements in advance. Also, generally, the allocated memory is equal to the upper limit irrespective of the usage.
- Inserting a new element in an array of elements is expensive because the room has to be created for the new elements and to create room existing elements have to be shifted.