Linked Lists Questions

Replies

• 

  aarthivg

  English-Scared

  This is the basic declaration we do while working on linked lists.
  
  struct node {
  int data;
  struct node* next;
  };
  
  why is the next declared as a pointer? and not as a just
  
  struct node next; ??
  
  
  I will start with basic and then go for advanced questions.

  linked list consist of two parts data and reference to the next node
• 

  Saandeep Sreerambatla

  True, but the reference can also be accessed by normal variables using logic!
  
  and think in this perspective, is it valid if I declare
  
  struct node {
  int data;
  struct node next;
  };
  
  If valid why dont we use, If invalid why is it invalid?
• 

  aarthivg

  The field of each node that contains the address of the next node is usually called the next link or next pointer.
  
  So reference cant be used as a normal variable.
• 

  Saandeep Sreerambatla

  OK the answer I was expecting is,
  
  if we donot use a pointer, and declare a variable of struct node inside struct node, then compiler donot know how much memory to allocate to that variable as the parent structure declaration is not complete yet.
  
  if we use a pointer, then compiler knows that , its a pointer and it stores address of something . so it allocates memory.
• 

  greatcoder

  Here Because next is not a structure itself , it is a pointer to the next node in the linked list.
• 

  Saandeep Sreerambatla

  #-Link-Snipped-# Coder : Please elaborate!!