Understanding Linked Lists

What is a linked list?

• A linked list is a data structure that only contains a single node with no connections.

• A linked list is a type of array that stores elements in contiguous memory locations.

• A linked list is a collection of unordered elements without any references.

• A linked list is a data structure made up of nodes, where each node contains a value and a reference to the next node.

What are the main types of linked lists?

• Singly Linked List, Doubly Linked List, Circular Linked List, Circular Doubly Linked List

• Triple Linked List

• Singly Circular List

• Doubly Circular List

How does a singly linked list differ from a doubly linked list?

• A singly linked list requires more memory than a doubly linked list due to its structure.

• A singly linked list can store multiple data types, while a doubly linked list can only store one data type.

• A singly linked list allows traversal in one direction, while a doubly linked list allows traversal in both directions.

• A singly linked list has a fixed size, while a doubly linked list can grow dynamically.

What is the time complexity of inserting an element in a linked list?

• O(1) for traversal only

• O(n) for all cases

• O(1) if position is known, O(n) if traversal is needed

• O(log n) if position is known

Explain the concept of a head and tail in a linked list.

• The head is the last node, and the tail is the first node of a linked list.

• The head and tail are both the same node in a linked list.

• The head is the first node, and the tail is the last node of a linked list.

• The head is the middle node, and the tail is the second node of a linked list.

What is a circular linked list?

• A circular linked list is a linked list that only allows traversal in one direction.

• A circular linked list is a type of array.

• A circular linked list is a linked list where nodes are arranged in a straight line.

• A circular linked list is a linked list where the last node points to the first node, creating a circular structure.

How do you reverse a linked list?

• Sort the linked list in ascending order.

• Reverse the linked list by iterating through it and reversing the pointers.

• Swap the head and tail nodes only.

• Delete the linked list and create a new one.

What are the advantages of using linked lists over arrays?

• Higher memory overhead

• Advantages of linked lists over arrays include dynamic size, efficient insertions/deletions, and better memory management.

• Slower search times

• Fixed size allocation

Describe how to detect a cycle in a linked list.

• Count the number of nodes and check if it exceeds a certain limit.

• Use Floyd's Cycle-Finding Algorithm with two pointers moving at different speeds.

• Use a single pointer to traverse the list and check for duplicates.

• Reverse the linked list and compare it to the original.