a linear collection of data elements where the linear node is given by means of pointer is called?
What is a linear collection of data elements where the linear node is given by means of a pointer called?
Answer:
A linear collection of data elements where the linear node is given by means of a pointer is called a linked list. In a linked list, each element in the list contains a reference (or pointer) to the next element in the sequence. This is in contrast to an array where elements are stored in contiguous memory locations.
Linked lists are a fundamental data structure in computer science and they come in different types such as singly linked list, doubly linked list, and circular linked list. Each type has its own characteristics and advantages depending on the requirements of the specific application. In a singly linked list, each node points to the next node in the sequence. In a doubly linked list, each node has pointers to both the next and previous nodes, allowing for easier traversal in both directions. Circular linked lists are linked lists where the last node points back to the first node, forming a circle.
Linked lists allow for efficient insertion and deletion of elements, although accessing an element by index can be slower compared to arrays. They are dynamic data structures that can grow or shrink in size during runtime, making them versatile for various applications.