Linked lists allow for efficient insertion and deletion operations from "summary" of Data Structures and Algorithms in Python by Michael T. Goodrich,Roberto Tamassia,Michael H. Goldwasser
Linked lists are a fundamental data structure that offer several advantages over arrays, particularly in terms of insertion and deletion operations. The key benefit of linked lists is their ability to efficiently insert and delete elements anywhere in the list, as opposed to arrays where such operations can be inefficient due to the need to shift elements. This efficiency stems from the way in which linked lists are structured. In a linked list, each element, known as a node, contains a reference to the next node in the sequence. This allows for constant-time insertion and deletion operations at the beginning or end of the list, as only the references of adjacent nodes need to be updated. In contrast, arrays require potentially costly shifting of elements to accommodate such operations, resulting in a time complexity of O(n), where n is the number of elements in the array. Furthermore, linked lists allow for efficient insertion and deletion operations at arbitrary positions within the list. To insert a new node at a specific position, one can simply update the references of the nodes before and after the insertion point to point to the new node. Similarly, deleting a node involves updating the references of its neighboring nodes to bypass the node being removed. These operations can be performed in constant time, regardless of the size of the list.- The structure of linked lists lends itself well to dynamic data sets where elements are frequently inserted or deleted. While arrays excel in scenarios where random access to elements is required, linked lists shine when it comes to flexibility in modifying the contents of the list. This versatility makes linked lists a valuable tool in a programmer's arsenal, offering efficient solutions to a wide range of data management challenges.
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