Linked Lists Questions

@saandeep-sreerambatla-hWHU1M • Oct 9, 2024

Oct 9, 2024

958

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.

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aarthivg

@aarthivg-HH344f • Mar 14, 2012

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

@saandeep-sreerambatla-hWHU1M • Mar 14, 2012

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

@aarthivg-HH344f • Mar 14, 2012

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

@saandeep-sreerambatla-hWHU1M • Mar 14, 2012

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

@greatcoder-Zo4hpf • Mar 15, 2012

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

@saandeep-sreerambatla-hWHU1M • Mar 17, 2012

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