Linked Lists

Linked list is a linear data structure that contains sequence of elements such that each
element links to its next element in the sequence. Each element in a linked list is called
as "Node".

Linked List is a very commonly used linear data structure which consists of set of ​nodes​ in a
sequence.
Each node has two fields known as data and link. ​Data​ field stores actual data and ​link
contains address of next node to point to the next node.
Linked Lists are used to create trees and graphs.

A linked list is a collection of nodes ordered by links that are stored as part of node. They
are not ordered by their physical placement in memory.
Chain​ is a single linked list that comprised of zero or more nodes and with 0 in last node.
when the number of nodes is zero, chain is empty. the last node of chain has 0 link.
Problems with Arrays​:
1. Prediction of size – Size of an array must be specified precisely at the beginning which
may be difficult task in many practical applications.
2. Static memory allocation—Memory allotment is required at the compile time.
3. Wastage of space—inefficient usage of storage memory.
4. Inefficient implementation of insertions and deletions as they require shift operations.
Advantages of Linked Lists
● They are a dynamic in nature which allocates the memory when required.
● Insertion and deletion operations can be easily implemented.
● Size of linked list can grow or shrink in size during the execution of a program.
● In Linked Lists we don't need to know the size in advance
● Stacks and queues can be easily executed.
 ● Linked List provides flexibility in allowing the items to be rearranged efficiently.

Disadvantages of Linked Lists

● The memory is wasted as pointers require extra memory for storage.
● Access time is linear O(n). No element can be accessed randomly; it has to access each
node sequentially.
● Many basic operations—such as obtaining the last node of the list, finding a node that
contains a given datum, or locating the place where a new node should be
inserted—may require iterating through most or all of the list element
● Reverse Traversing is difficult in linked list.
Applications of Linked Lists
● Linked lists are used to implement ​several ​other common ​abstract data types​(data
structures)​, including ​lists​, ​stacks​, ​queues​, ​associative arrays​, and ​S-expressions​.
● Linked lists let you insert elements at the beginning and end of the list.
Types of Linked Lists
There are 3 different implementations of Linked List available, they are:
1. Singly Linked List
2. Doubly Linked List
3. Circular Linked List(Single or Double)
Let's know more about them and how they are different from each other.

Singly Linked List

Singly linked lists contain nodes which have a ​data​ part as well as an ​address part​ i.e. ​next​,
which points to the next node in the sequence of nodes.
The operations we can perform on singly linked lists are ​insertion​, ​deletion​ and ​traversal​.
Doubly Linked List
In a doubly linked list, each node contains a ​data​ part and two addresses, one for
the ​previous​ node and another for the ​next​ node.

Circular Linked List

In circular linked list the last node of the list holds the address of the first node hence
forming a circular chain.

Single Linked List

What is Linked List?

When we want to work with unknown number of data values, we use a linked list data
structure to organize that data. Linked list is a linear data structure that contains sequence of
elements such that each element links to its next element in the sequence. Each element in a
linked list is called as "Node".

What is Single Linked List?

Simply a list is a sequence of data, and linked list is a sequence of data linked with each
other.

The formal definition of a single linked list is as follows...

Single linked list is a sequence of elements in which every element has link to its next
element in the sequence.

In any single linked list, the individual element is called as "Node". Every "Node" contains
two fields, data and next. The data field is used to store actual value of that node and next
field is used to store the address of the next node in the sequence.

The graphical representation of a node in a single linked list is as follows...

In a single linked list, the address of the first node is always stored in a reference node
known as "head"(Some times it is also known as "front").
Note:-- Always next part (reference part) of the last node must be NULL.

A node is represented as
Struct node
{
Int data;
Struct node *next;
};
Int data refers to the data part of a node and Struct node *next is a pointer refers the next
node in the list.
In a linked list, every node contains a pointer to another node which is of same type, called
as “Self referential data type”, and structure is self referential structure.
Example:
Operations for Chains

In a single linked list we perform the following operations...

● Insertion
● Deletion
● Display

Algorithm to create a node:

Nptr Createnode()

Begin

1.Allocate memory for header node.

h=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));

2. Verify the memory allocation.

If(h==NULL) then

Printf(“Memory not Allocated”)

Return;

3.Allocate the next of header as NULL.

H​→​next=NULL;

4.Return h.

End.

Algorithm to create a list:

Algorithm Createlist()

Begin

1.Create empty list.

h=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));

h​→​next=NULL;
 Temp=h;

2. Repeat the following steps while user enters positive choice.

Read x;

3.Allocate the space for new node.

new=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));

4. Assign x value to new node data and link to NULL.

new->data=x;
new->next=temp->next;

5. Link new node with previous node

temp->next=new;
temp=new;
6. End while loop

so on nodes can be created

End.

Algorithm to insert a node:

Before we implement actual operations, first we need to setup empty list. First perform the
following steps before implementing actual operations.

Step 1: Include all the header files which are used in the program.

Step 2: Declare all the user defined functions.

Step 3: Define a Node structure with two members data and next

Step 4: Define a Node pointer 'head' and set it to NULL.

Step 4: Implement the main method by displaying operations menu and make suitable
function calls in the main method to perform user selected operation.

Insertion

In a single linked list, the insertion operation can be performed in three ways. They are as
follows...
Inserting At Beginning of the list

Inserting At End of the list

Inserting At Specific location in the list

Insertion at Beginning of the list

We can use the following steps to insert a new node at beginning of the single linked list...

Step 1: Create a new node with given value.

Step 2: Check whether list is Empty (head == NULL)

Step3: If it is Empty then, create head node.

h=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));

H​→​next=NULL;

Temp=h;

Step4: If it is Not Empty then, create new node.

new=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));

new->data=x;

new->next=h->next;

h->next=new;

Step5: Return h.

Inserting At End of the list

We can use the following steps to insert a new node at end of the single linked list...

Step 1: Create a newNode with given value.

 new=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));

new->data=x;

new->next=NULL;

Step 2: If list is Not Empty then, define a node pointer temp and initialize with head.

Step 3: Keep moving the temp to its next node until it reaches to the last node in the list
(until temp → next is equal to NULL).

Step 4: Set temp → next = new.

Inserting At Specific location in the list (After a Node)

We can use the following steps to insert a new node after a node in the single linked list...

Step 1: Create a newNode with given value.

Step 2: Check whether list is Empty (head == NULL)

Step 3: If it is Not Empty then, define a node pointer temp and initialize with head​→​next.

Step 5: Keep moving the temp node until it reaches to the node before/after which we want
to insert the new Node . If it is before

new->next=temp->next;

tem p->next=new;

printf("inserted");

return;

else if it is after

new->next=p->next->next;

p->next->next=new;
 printf("inserted");

return;

Step 6: Every time check whether temp is reached to last node or not. If it is reached to last
node then display 'Given node is not found in the list!!! Insertion not possible!!!' and
terminate the function.

Deletion

In a single linked list, the deletion operation can be performed in three ways. They are as
follows...

Deleting from Beginning of the list

Deleting from End of the list

Deleting a Specific Node

Deleting from Beginning of the list

We can use the following steps to delete a node from beginning of the single linked list...

Step 1: Check whether list is Empty (head == NULL)

Step 2: If it is Empty then, display 'List is Empty!!! Deletion is not possible' and terminate
the function.

Step 3: If it is Not Empty then, define a Node pointer 'temp' and initialize with head.

Step 4: Check whether list is having only one node (temp → next == NULL)

Step 5: If it is TRUE then set head = NULL and delete temp (Setting Empty list conditions)

Step 6: If it is FALSE then set head = temp → next, and delete temp.

Deleting from End of the list

We can use the following steps to delete a node from end of the single linked list...

Step 1: Check whether list is Empty (head == NULL)

Step 2: If it is Empty then, display 'List is Empty!!! Deletion is not possible' and terminate
the function.
Step 3: If it is Not Empty then, define two Node pointers 'temp1' and 'temp2' and initialize
'temp1' with head.

Step 4: Check whether list has only one Node (temp1 → next == NULL)

Step 5: If it is TRUE. Then, set head = NULL and delete temp1. And terminate the function.
(Setting Empty list condition)

Step 6: If it is FALSE. Then, set 'temp2 = temp1 ' and move temp1 to its next node. Repeat
the same until it reaches to the last node in the list. (until temp1 → next == NULL)

Step 7: Finally, Set temp2 → next = NULL and delete temp1.

Deleting a Specific Node from the list

We can use the following steps to delete a specific node from the single linked list...

Step 1: Check whether list is Empty (head == NULL)

Step 2: If it is Empty then, display 'List is Empty!!! Deletion is not possible' and terminate
the function.

Step 3: If it is Not Empty then, define two Node pointers 'temp1' and 'temp2' and initialize
'temp1' with head.

Step 4: Keep moving the temp1 until it reaches to the exact node to be deleted or to the last
node. And every time set 'temp2 = temp1' before moving the 'temp1' to its next node.

Step 5: If it is reached to the last node then display 'Given node not found in the list!
Deletion not possible!!!'. And terminate the function.

Step 6: If it is reached to the exact node which we want to delete, then check whether list is
having only one node or not

Step 7: If list has only one node and that is the node to be deleted, then set head = NULL and
delete temp1 (free(temp1)).

Step 8: If list contains multiple nodes, then check whether temp1 is the first node in the list
(temp1 == head).

Step 9: If temp1 is the first node then move the head to the next node (head = head → next)
and delete temp1.

Step 10: If temp1 is not first node then check whether it is last node in the list (temp1 →
next == NULL).
Step 11: If temp1 is last node then set temp2 → next = NULL and
delete temp1 (free(temp1)).

Step 12: If temp1 is not first node and not last node then set temp2 → next = temp1 →
next and delete temp1 (free(temp1)).

Displaying a Single Linked List

We can use the following steps to display the elements of a single linked list...

Step 1: Check whether list is Empty (head == NULL)

Step 2: If it is Empty then, display 'List is Empty!!!' and terminate the function.

Step 3: If it is Not Empty then, define a Node pointer 'temp' and initialize with head.

Step 4: Keep displaying temp → data with an arrow (--->) until temp reaches to the last node

Step 5: Finally display temp → data with arrow pointing to NULL (temp → data --->
NULL).

SINGLE LINKED LIST PROGRAM

#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
#include<conio.h>
typedef struct node *nptr;
struct node
{
int data;
nptr next;
};

nptr createolist();
nptr createnode();
void displaylist(nptr);
void findnode(nptr);
void deletenode(nptr);
void insertnode(nptr);
void insertnodefirst(nptr);
void insertnodelast(nptr);

int main()
{

nptr h,ho;
int ch,d,x,n;
while(1)
{
 printf("\nMenu:\n1.Create Ordered List\n2.Create Node3.Delete an item\n4.Find an
item\n5.Print the List\n6.Insert Node\n7.Insert node at First\n8.Insert node at Last\n9.
Exit\n");
printf("enter choice\n");
scanf("%d",&ch);
switch(ch)
{
case 1:ho=createolist();
displaylist(ho);
break;
case 2:h=createnode();
break;
case 3:printf("list before deletion\n");
displaylist(h);
deletenode(h);
printf("list after deletion\n");
displaylist(h);
break;
case 4:findnode(h);
break;
case 5:displaylist(h);
break;
case 6: insertnode(h);
displaylist(h);
break;
case 7: insertnodefirst(h);
displaylist(h);
break;
case 8: insertnodelast(h);
displaylist(h);
break;
case 9:return 0;

}
}
}
nptr createolist()
{
nptr h,new,temp;
int x,d;
h=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));
h->next=NULL;
temp=h;
printf("\n\nh is %d", h);
while(1)
{

printf("enter data,to stop enter negative number\n");

 scanf("%d",&x);
if(x<=0)
break;
else
{
new=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));
new->data=x;
new->next=temp->next;
temp->next=new;
temp=new;
}

}
return h;
}
nptr createnode()
{
nptr h;
h=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));
h->next=NULL;
return h;
}
void displaylist(nptr h)
{
nptr p;
if(h->next==NULL)
{
printf("empty list");
return;
}
else
{
for(p=h->next;p!=NULL;p=p->next)
printf("\n%d\t",p->data);
}
}

void deletenode(nptr h)
{
nptr temp,p;
int d;
printf("enter data item to delete\n");
scanf("%d",&d);
if(h->next==NULL)
{
printf("empty list");
return;
}
 else
{
for(p=h;p->next!=NULL;p=p->next)
{

if(p->next->data==d)
{
p->next=p->next->next;
printf("data deleted");
return;
}
}
printf("Element not found\n");
}
}
void findnode(nptr h)
{
nptr temp,p;
int x;
printf("enter data item to search\n");
scanf("%d",&x);
if(h->next==NULL)
{
printf("empty list");
return;
}
else
{
for(p=h;p->next!=NULL;p=p->next)
{

if(p->next->data==x)
{
printf("data found at position %d",p->next);
return;
}
}
printf("Element not found\n");
return;
}

}
void insertnode(nptr h)
{
nptr p,new;
int i,x,n;
printf("enter data item to insert\n");
scanf("%d",&x);
 printf("enter list item\n");
scanf("%d",&n);
if(h->next==NULL)
{
printf("empty list\n");
return;
}
else
{
new=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));
new->data=x;
printf("enter before 1, After 2\n");
scanf("%d",&i);

for(p=h;p->next!=NULL;p=p->next)
{

if(p->next->data==n)
{

if(i==1)
{
new->next=p->next;
p->next=new;
printf("inserted");
return;
}
else if(i==2)
{
new->next=p->next->next;
p->next->next=new;
printf("inserted");
return;

}
}
}
printf("Element not found\n");
return;
}

}
void insertnodefirst(nptr h)
{
nptr new;
int x;
if(h==NULL)
{
 h=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));
h->next=NULL;
}
printf("enter data\n");
scanf("%d",&x);
new=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));
new->data=x;
new->next=h->next;
h->next=new;
return;

}
void insertnodelast(nptr h)
{
nptr new,p;
int x;
if(h==NULL)
{
printf("Empty list");
return;
}
printf("enter data\n");
scanf("%d",&x);
new=(nptr)(malloc(sizeof(struct node)));
new->data=x;
new->next=NULL;
for(p=h;p->next!=NULL;p=p->next);
p->next=new;
return;

}
Additional Operations for Chains
1.Inverting/Reverse of a List:
Algorithm

Circular Linked List

What is Circular Linked List?

In single linked list, every node points to its next node in the sequence and the last node
points NULL. But in circular linked list, every node points to its next node in the sequence
but the last node points to the first node in the list.

Circular linked list is a sequence of elements in which every element has link to its next
element in the sequence and the last element has a link to the first element in the sequence.