Linked list

Linked list is a data structure in computer science where each item or node in the list contains data as well as a link (pointer) to an item (or a pointer to null) somewhere else in the list. It is an ordered sequence of elements, with the first item linked to the second, the second to the third, and so on.

A linked list is typically used to implement linear data structures such as stacks, queues, and lists. It is also used to implement graphs in computer science. These structures can be used for indexing, sorting, searching, and maintaining databases.

Linked lists are generally composed of nodes, which contain a value and a link to the next node. A list may also contain a pointer to the head, which is the first element in the list, and a pointer to the tail, which is the last element in the list.

The basic operations performed on linked lists include inserting new elements, deleting existing elements, and traversing the list elements. There are two types of linked list, the singly linked list and the doubly linked list. In a singly linked list, each node is linked to the next node, while in a doubly linked list each node has a link to the previous node as well as the next node.

Linked lists can offer advantages over other data structures, such as dynamic memory allocation and the ability to insert and delete elements in constant time. Inserting and deleting elements is particularly useful in stacks and queues. They are also efficient for maintaining databases since all modifications are done in the same place.

Linked lists are also used extensively in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, where memory is limited and data structures need to be modified often.

Overall, linked lists are an important data structure with many applications in computer science. They are an important tool used in many algorithms and data structures, including stacks, queues, graphs and databases.