Singly Linked List

Overview

A singly linked list is a data structure where each element, called a node, contains data and a reference to the next node. Unlike arrays, linked list elements are not stored in contiguous memory locations, allowing dynamic size changes without reallocation.

Node Structure

Each node in a singly linked list has two parts: the data it stores, and a pointer or reference to the next node in the sequence. The last node points to null, indicating the end of the list.

Advantages Over Arrays

Linked lists can grow and shrink dynamically without needing to copy elements. Insertion and deletion at the beginning are very fast since no shifting is required. The size is only limited by available memory.

Disadvantages

Unlike arrays, linked lists don't allow direct access by index. To find a specific element, you must traverse from the head until you reach it. Linked lists also use extra memory to store pointers.

Head Pointer

A linked list is accessed through a head pointer that points to the first node. If the head is null, the list is empty. All operations start from the head and follow the chain of next pointers to navigate through the list.