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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

01

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.
02

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.
03

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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Most popular questions from this chapter

\(\mathrm{T} \quad \mathrm{F} \quad\) Linked lists are not superior to STL vectors.

Find as many mistakes as you can. void NumberList::appendNode(double num) { ListNode *newNode, *nodePtr; // Allocate a new node & store num newNode = new listNode; newNode->value = num; // If there are no nodes in the list // make newNode the first node. if (!head) head = newNode; else // Otherwise, insert newNode. { // Find the last node in the list. while (nodePtr->next) nodePtr = nodePtr->next; // Insert newNode as the last node. nodePtr->next = newNode; } }

What are some of the advantages that linked lists have over arrays?

Write code that defines an STL list container for holding float values.

What advantage does a linked list have over the STL vector?
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