Chapter 17: Problem 5

How is the end of a linked list usually signified?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer: The end of a linked list is signified by the tail node, with its "next" reference pointing to NULL or None, indicating that there are no more nodes in the list after the tail.

Step by step solution

Understanding Linked Lists

A linked list is a linear data structure where the elements are stored in nodes, and each node points to the next node in the list. In a singly linked list, every node has two attributes - the data and a reference (next) to the next node in the sequence. The first node in the list is called the head, and the last node in the list is called the tail.

Identifying the End of a Linked List

The end of a linked list is usually signified by the tail node, with its "next" reference pointing to NULL or None. This indicates that there are no more nodes in the list after the tail.

Example

Consider a singly linked list with 3 elements (A, B, and C). A is the head node, and C is the tail node. In this list: Head Node (A) -> Data: A, Next: Node B Node B -> Data: B, Next: Node C Tail Node (C) -> Data: C, Next: NULL As we can see, the end of the linked list is signified by the tail node (C) having its "Next" reference pointing to NULL, indicating that there are no more nodes in the list after C.

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How is the end of a linked list usually signified?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Linked Lists

Identifying the End of a Linked List

Example

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