Introduction to Linked Lists

What is a Linked List?

A linked list is a linear data structure where elements are stored in nodes. Unlike arrays, linked list elements are not stored in contiguous memory locations. Instead, each node contains data and a reference (or link) to the next node in the sequence.

In the visualization above, you can see a simple linked list with four nodes. Each node contains a value, and an arrow pointing to the next node in the sequence. The last node points to null, indicating the end of the list.

Key Characteristics of Linked Lists

• Dynamic Size: Linked lists can grow or shrink during execution as needed.
• Efficient Insertions/Deletions: Adding or removing elements doesn't require shifting other elements.
• Non-Contiguous Memory: Nodes can be stored anywhere in memory, unlike arrays.
• Sequential Access: To access a specific element, you must traverse from the head node.

Basic Structure in Code

class Node {
  constructor(value) {
    this.value = value;  // The data stored in the node
    this.next = null;    // Reference to the next node
  }
}
 
class LinkedList {
  constructor() {
    this.head = null;  // Reference to the first node
  }
  
  // Methods for operations will go here
}

The code above shows the basic structure of a linked list in JavaScript. Each node contains a value and a reference to the next node. The linked list itself has a head property that points to the first node in the list.

Advantages and Disadvantages

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