Why linked list is used

A doubly linked list has the same properties except a reference to the "tail" is kept as well and nodes also have a reference to the previous node, and the list can be traversed in reverse.

Linked lists are usually compared to arrays as a similar data structure and although arrays are "primitive" data structures, they share similarities with linked lists. They both, for example, require traversal to access all elements in the structure and they both can be used to store linear data of similar types. Here we are looking for the 4th element of linkList, so we have to iterate through the first three values to get the fourth. Since space time complexity is worst case scenario, the lookup of a value in a linked list is O n because it is dependent on the length of the linked list as well as the index you are searching for.

An array lookup on the other hand is a constant time-complexity O 1 because it is a direct lookup to the memory location of an element at a specific index. So looking at the key differences between arrays and linked lists we can see the advantages and disadvantages of each and start to draw conclusions about when to use each.

Linked lists utilize their key characteristic, to keep things quick and ordered, to really shine. Real-world applications most commonly include use in other complex data structures.

Hash tables, graphs, stacks, queues, and dequeues all utilize linked lists internally. There is a time and a place to use linked lists and most commonly it's when you want quickly add and remove elements from a container.

Usually this occurs in stacks and queues with lower space time complexity over arrays or when you want to keep ordered data with more flexibility than arrays. Temp-insta - Nov 6. Ahmed Fuad Mire - Nov 6. DEV Community is a community of , amazing developers We're a place where coders share, stay up-to-date and grow their careers. Create account Log in. Click here to start solving coding interview questions.

Get Started Sign Up using. Already an Interviewbit user? Log in. Log in to your account Log In using. Remember Me. Forgot password? Didn't receive confirmation instructions? Not an Interviewbit user? Sign up. Java Examples Java 8 Java 11 Java HTML 5 Interactive.

CSS Interactive. C Language. Advanced Data Structure. Operating System. Computer Network. Computer Architecture. Android Development.