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358 33 Powerpoint-Slides 8-Linked-Lists Chapter-8

This document provides an overview of linked lists, a fundamental data structure in C programming, explaining their structure, types (singly and circular linked lists), and various algorithms for operations such as insertion, deletion, and traversal. It details the implementation of linked lists using structures and pointers, emphasizing the importance of memory management and garbage collection. The document includes specific algorithms for manipulating linked lists, making it a practical guide for understanding and using this data structure.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
11 views37 pages

358 33 Powerpoint-Slides 8-Linked-Lists Chapter-8

This document provides an overview of linked lists, a fundamental data structure in C programming, explaining their structure, types (singly and circular linked lists), and various algorithms for operations such as insertion, deletion, and traversal. It details the implementation of linked lists using structures and pointers, emphasizing the importance of memory management and garbage collection. The document includes specific algorithms for manipulating linked lists, making it a practical guide for understanding and using this data structure.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 37

Data Structures Using C

DR. KAMAKHYA NARAIN SINGH


ASSISTANT PROFESSOR-II,
SCA,KIIT UNIVERSITY.

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


CHAPTER 8

LINKED LISTS

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


INTRODUCTION
• A linked list in simple terms is a linear collection of data elements. These data
elements are called nodes.
• Linked list is a data structure which in turn can be used to implement other data
structures. Thus, it acts as building block to implement data structures like
stacks, queues and their variations.
• A linked list can be perceived as a train or a sequence of nodes in which each
node contain one or more data fields and a pointer to the next node.
START

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 X

In the above linked list, every node contains two parts- one integer and
the other a pointer to the next node. The left part of the node which
contains data may include a simple data type, an array or a structure. The
right part of the node contains a pointer to the next node (or address of
the next node in sequence). The last node will have no next node
connected to it, so it will store a special value called NULL.

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


INTRODUCTION contd.
• Linked list contains a pointer variable, START which stores the address of the first node in the list.
• We can traverse the entire list using a single pointer variable START. The START node will
contain the address of the first node; the next part of the first node will in turn store the address of
its succeeding node.
• Using this technique the individual nodes of the list will form a chain of nodes. If START = NULL,
this means that the linked list is empty and contains no nodes.
• In C, we will implement a linked list using the following code:
• struct node
• {
• int data;
• struct node *next;
• };

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


If we want to add a node to an already existing linked
START
list in the memory, we will first find any free space in
NEXT the memory and then use it to store the information.
1 DATA
1 H 4 The operating system maintains a free pool which is a
2 linked list of a of all free memory cells. It maintains a
pointer variable AVAIL which stores the address of
the first free space.
3
4 E 7 When you delete a node from the linked list, the
operating system adds the freed memory to the free
5
pool.
AVAIL
6
The operating system will perform this operation
9 L 8 whenever it finds the CPU idle or whenever the
7
L 10 programs are falling short of memory. The operating
8 system scans through all the memory cells and mark
9 the cells that are being used by some or the other
10
O -1
program. Then, it collects all those cells which are not
being used and add their address to the free pool so
START pointing that it can be reused by the programs. This process is
to the first called garbage collection. The whole process of
element of the collecting unused memory cells (garbage collection)
linked list in is transparent to the programmer.
memory
© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.
Singly Linked List
• A singly linked list is the simplest type of linked list in which every node
contains some data and a pointer to the next node of the same data
type. By saying that the node contains a pointer to the next node we
mean that the node stores the address of the next node in sequence.

START

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 X

Algorithm for traversing a linked list

Step 1: [INITIALIZE] SET PTR = START


Step 2: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 while PTR != NULL
Step 3: Apply Process to PTR->DATA
Step 4: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 5: EXIT

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to print the information stored in each node of the linked list

Step 1: [INITIALIZE] SET PTR = START


Step 2: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 while PTR != NULL
Step 3: Write PTR->DATA
Step 4: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 5: EXIT

Algorithm to print the number of nodes in the linked list

Step 1: [INITIALIZE] SET Count = 0


Step 2: [INITIALIZE] SET PTR = START
Step 3: Repeat Steps 4 and 5 while PTR != NULL
Step 4: SET Count = Count + 1
Step 5: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 6: EXIT

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to search an unsorted linked list

Step 1: [INITIALIZE] SET PTR = START


Step 2: Repeat Steps 3 while PTR != NULL
Step 3: IF VAL = PTR->DATA
SET POS = PTR
Go To Step 5
ELSE
SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF IF]
[END OF LOOP]
Step 4: SET POS = NULL
Step 5: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

PTR
1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

PTR

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

START
START
9 1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

Algorithm to insert a new node in the beginning of the linked list

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 7
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET New_Node->Next = START
Step 6: SET START = New_Node
Step 7: EXIT

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X
START, PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 9 X

START PTR

Algorithm to insert a new node at the end of the linked list

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 10
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET New_Node->Next = NULL
Step 6: SET PTR = START
Step 7: Repeat Step 8 while PTR->NEXT != NULL
Step 8: SET PTR = PTR ->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 9: SET PTR->NEXT = New_Node
Step 10: EXIT

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to insert a new node after a node that has value NUM

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 12
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET PTR = START
Step 6: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 7: Repeat Step 8 and 9 while PREPTR->DATA != NUM
Step 8: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 9: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 10: PREPTR->NEXT = New_Node
Step 11: SET New_Node->NEXT = PTR
Step 12: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

START, PTR, PREPTR


1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

START PREPTR PTR

1 7 3 9 4 2 6 5 X

START © Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the first node from the linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 5
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: SET START = START->NEXT
Step 4: FREE PTR
Step 5: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

START

7 3 4 2 6 5 X

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the last node of the linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 8
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: Repeat Step 4 and 5 while PTR->NEXT != NULL
Step 4: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 5: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 6: SET PREPTR->NEXT = NULL
Step 7: FREE PTR
Step 8: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

START, PREPTR, PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 X 5 X

START PREPTR PTR

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the node after a given node from the linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 10
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 4: Repeat Step 5 and 6 while PRETR->DATA != NUM
Step 5: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 6: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step7: SET TEMP = PTR->NEXT
Step 8: SET PREPTR->NEXT = TEMP->NEXT
Step 9: FREE TEMP
Step 10: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

START, PREPTR, PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X

START PREPTR PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 X
START

1 7 3 4 6 5 X

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Circular Linked List
• In a circular linked list, the last node contains a pointer to the
first node of the list. We can have a circular singly listed list as
well as circular doubly linked list. While traversing a circular
linked list, we can begin at any node and traverse the list in
any direction forward or backward until we reach the same
node where we had started. Thus, a circular linked list has no
beginning and no ending.

START

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to insert a new node in the beginning of circular the linked list

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 7
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET PTR = START
Step 6: Repeat Step 7 while PTR->NEXT != START
Step 7: PTR = PTR->NEXT
Step 8: SET New_Node->Next = START
Step 8: SET PTR->NEXT = New_Node
Step 6: SET START = New_Node
Step 7: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5

START, PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5

PTR
START

9 1 7 3 4 2 6 5

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to insert a new node at the end of the circular linked list

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 7
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET New_Node->Next = START
Step 6: SET PTR = START
Step 7: Repeat Step 8 while PTR->NEXT != START
Step 8: SET PTR = PTR ->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 9: SET PTR ->NEXT = New_Node
Step 10: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5

START, PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5 9

START PTR

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to insert a new node after a node that has value NUM

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 12
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET PTR = START
Step 6: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 7: Repeat Step 8 and 9 while PTR->DATA != NUM
Step 8: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 9: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 10: PREPTR->NEXT = New_Node
Step 11: SET New_Node->NEXT = PTR
Step 12: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5
START, PTR, PREPTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5

START PRE PTR PTR


9 1 7 3 9 4 2 6 5

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the first node from the circular linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 8
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: Repeat Step 4 while PTR->NEXT != START
Step 4: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF IF]
Step 5: SET PTR->NEXT = START->NEXT
Step 6: FREE START
Step 7: SET START = PTR->NEXT
Step 8: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5
START, PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5

PTR
START

7 3 4 2 6 5

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the last node of the circular linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 8
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: Repeat Step 4 while PTR->NEXT != START
Step 4: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 5: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 6: SET PREPTR->NEXT = START
Step 7: FREE PTR
Step 8: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5

START, PREPTR, PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5
PREPTR
PTR
START

1 7 3 4 2 6

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the node after a given node from the circular linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 9
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 4: Repeat Step 5 and 6 while PREPTR->DATA != NUM
Step 5: SET PREPTR = PTR
Step 6: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 7: SET PREPTR->NEXT = PTR->NEXT
Step 8: FREE PTR
Step 9: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2 6 5

START, PREPTR, PTR

1 7 3 4 2 6 5

START PREPTR PTR

1 7 3 4 6 5

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Doubly Linked List
A doubly linked list or a two way linked list is a more complex type
of linked list which contains a pointer to the next as well as
previous node in the sequence. Therefore, it consists of three
parts and not just two. The three parts are data, a pointer to the
next node and a pointer to the previous node
START

X 1 1 2 3 4 X

In C language, the structure of a doubly linked list is given as,


struct node
{ struct node *prev;
int data;
struct node *next;
};
The prev field of the first node and the next field of the last node will
contain NULL. The prev field is used to store the address of the
preceding node. This would enable to traverse the list in the backward
direction as well.
© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.
Algorithm to insert a new node in the beginning of the doubly linked list

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 8
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET New_Node->PREV = NULL
Step 6: SET New_Node->Next = START
Step 7: SET START = New_Node
Step 8: EXIT

X 1 7 3 4 2 X

START

2 X
X 9 1 7 3 4

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to insert a new node at the end of the doubly linked list

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 11
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET New_Node->Next = NULL
Step 6: SET PTR = START
Step 7: Repeat Step 8 while PTR->NEXT != NULL
Step 8: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 9: SET PTR->NEXT = New_Node
Step 10: New_Node->PREV = PTR
Step 11: EXIT

X 1 7 3 4 2 X

START, PTR

X 1 7 3 4 2 9 X
PTR
START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to insert a new node after a node that has value NUM

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 11
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET PTR = START
Step 6: Repeat Step 8 while PTR->DATA != NUM
Step 7: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 8: New_Node->NEXT = PTR->NEXT
Step 9: SET New_Node->PREV = PTR
Step 10: SET PTR->NEXT = New_Node
Step 11: EXIT

X 1 7 3 4 2 X

START, PTR

X 1 7 3 4 2 X

START PTR

X 1 7 3 9 4 2 X

START © Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the first node from the doubly linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 6
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: SET START = START->NEXT
Step 4: SET START->PREV = NULL
Step 5: FREE PTR
Step 6: EXIT

X 1 7 3 4 2 X

START, PTR

7 3 4 2 X

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the last node of the doubly linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 7
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: Repeat Step 4 and 5 while PTR->NEXT != NULL
Step 4: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 5: SET PTR->PREV->NEXT = NULL
Step 6: FREE PTR
Step 7: EXIT

X 1 3 5 7 8 9 X
1
START, PTR

X 1 3 5 7 8 9 X
1
START PTR

X 1 3 5 7 8 X

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the node after a given node from the doubly linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 9
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: Repeat Step 4 while PTR->DATA != NUM
Step 4: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 5: SET TEMP = PTR->NEXT
Step 6: SET PTR->NEXT = TEMP->NEXT
Step 7: SET TEMP->NEXT->PREV = PTR
Step 8: FREE TEMP
Step 9: EXIT

X 1 3 4 7 8 9 X
1
START, PTR

X 1 3 4 7 8 9 X
1
START
PTR

X 1 3 4 8 9 X

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Circular Doubly Linked List
• A circular doubly linked list or a circular two way linked list is a more complex
type of linked list which contains a pointer to the next as well as previous node
in the sequence.
• The difference between a doubly linked and a circular doubly linked list is same
as that exists between a singly linked list and a circular linked list. The circular
doubly linked list does not contain NULL in the previous field of the first node
and the next field of the last node. Rather, the next field of the last node stores
the address of the first node of the list, i.e; START. Similarly, the previous field
of the first field stores the address of the last node.
• Since a circular doubly linked list contains three parts in its structure, it calls for
more space per node and for more expensive basic operations. However, it
provides the ease to manipulate the elements of the list as it maintains pointers
to nodes in both the directions . The main advantage of using a circular doubly
linked list is that it makes searches twice as efficient.

START

1 1 2 3 4

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to insert a new node in the beginning of the circular doubly
linked list

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 12
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET NEW_NODE = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET NEW_NODE->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET PTR=START
Step 6: Repeat step 7 while PTR->NEXT != START
Step 7: SET PTR= PTR->NEXT//END OF LOOP
Step 8: SET PTR->NEXT= NEW_NODE;
Step 9: SET NEW_NODE->PREV =PTR;
Step 10: SET NEW_NODE->NEXT = START;
Step 11: SET START = NEW_NODE
Step 12: SET New_Node->NEXT->PREV=New_Node
Step 12: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2

START

9 1 7 3 4 2

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to insert a new node at the end of the circular
doubly linked list

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 11
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET NEW_NODE = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET NEW_NODE->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET NEW_NODE->Next = START
Step 6: SET PTR=START
Step 7: Repeat step 8 while PTR->NEXT!= START
Step 8: PTR = PTR->NEXT; // END OF LOOP
Step 9: PTR->NEXT = NEW_NODE;
Step 10: NEW_NODE->PREV=PTR;
Step 11: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2
START

1 7 3 4 2 9

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to insert a new node after a node that has value NUM

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 11
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 5: SET PTR = START
Step 6: Repeat Step 8 while PTR->DATA != NUM
Step 7: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 8: New_Node->NEXT = PTR->NEXT
Step 9: SET PTR->NEXT->PREV = New_Node
Step 9: SET New_Node->PREV = PTR
Step 10: SET PTR->NEXT = New_Node
Step 11: EXIT

1 7 3 4 2
START, PTR

1 7 3 4 2

PTR

START 9
1 7 3 9 4 2

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


START
Algorithm to delete the first node from the circular doubly linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 8
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: Repeat step 4 WHILE PTR->NEXT != START
Step 4: PTR = PTR->NEXT; //END OF LOOP
Step 5: PTR->NEXT = START->NEXT;
Step 6: SET START->NEXT->PREV = PTR;
Step 7: FREE START;
Step 8: SET START = PTR->NEXT
Step 9: EXIT

1 3 5 7 8 9
1
START, PTR

3 5 7 8 9
1
START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the last node of the circular doubly linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 8
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: Repeat step 4 WHILE PTR->NEXT != START
Step 4: PTR = PTR->NEXT; //END OF LOOP
Step 5: SET PTR->PREV->NEXT = START
Step 6: SET START->PREV = PTR->PREV
Step 7: FREE PTR
Step 8: EXIT

1 3 5 7 8 9
1
START PTR

X 1 3 5 7 8

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to delete the node after a given node from the circular doubly
linked list

Step 1: IF START = NULL, then


Write UNDERFLOW
Go to Step 9
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET PTR = START
Step 3: Repeat Step 4 while PTR->DATA != NUM
Step 4: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 5: SET TEMP = PTR->NEXT
Step 6: SET PTR->NEXT = TEMP->NEXT
Step 7: SET TEMP->NEXT->PREV = PTR
Step 8: FREE TEMP
Step 9: EXIT

1 3 5 7 8 9
1
START

1 3 5 7 8 9
1
START PTR

1 3 4 8 9
START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Header Linked List
• A header linked list is a special type of linked list which contains a header node
at the beginning of the list. So, in a header linked list START will not point to the
first node of the list but START will contain the address of the header node.
There are basically two variants of a header linked list-
• Grounded header linked list which stores NULL in the next field of the last node
• Circular header linked list which stores the address of the header node in the
next field of the last node. Here, the header node will denote the end of the list.

Header Node

1 2 3 4 5 6 X

START
Header Node
1 2 3 4 5 6

START

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.


Algorithm to traverse a Circular Header Linked List

Step 1: SET PTR = START->NEXT


Step 2: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 while PTR != START
Step 3: Apply PROCESS to PTR->DATA
Step 4: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 5: EXIT

Algorithm to insert a new node after a given node

Step 1: IF AVAIL = NULL, then


Write OVERFLOW
Go to Step 10
[END OF IF]
Step 2: SET New_Node = AVAIL
Step 3: SET AVAIL = AVAIL->NEXT
Step 4: SET PTR = START->NEXT
Step 5: SET New_Node->DATA = VAL
Step 6: Repeat step 4 while PTR->DATA != NUM
Step 7: SET PTR = PTR->NEXT
[END OF LOOP]
Step 8: New_Node->NEXT = PTR->NEXT
Step 9: SET PTR->NEXT = New_Node
Step 10: EXIT

© Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.

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