Data Structures and Algorithms · Linear structures

Linked lists

Nodes scattered in memory, each pointing to the next, trading fast indexing for cheap insertion.

Also known as: singly linked list, doubly linked list, pointers.

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• Arrays: A fixed-layout, contiguous block of memory where any index is reached in constant time.

Leads to

• Stacks and queues: Two restricted-access orderings, last-in-first-out and first-in-first-out.
• Hash tables: Mapping keys to array slots via a hash function for near-constant-time lookup.

Related topics

• Stacks and queues: Two restricted-access orderings, last-in-first-out and first-in-first-out.