CODEWITHSUNDEEP
algorithmsingly-linked-list
Vivyen
Vivyen

Reputation: 85

Which of these implementations is canonical: storing the head and size variables, or storing the head, tail, and size?

For a singly linked list, should I store the head and size variables, or the head, tail, and size?

Upvotes: -2

Views: 40

Answers (2)

Bergi
Bergi

Reputation: 665070

Only the head field is a canonical. You can trivially implement getSize() and getTailNode() methods with only the head node available.

Storing size and tail as fields is optional, they are not a fundamental part of the "linked list" concept. Having them does benefit the complexity of certain operations though, at the cost of having to store and correctly update them.

Upvotes: 0

Yazdan Haider
Yazdan Haider

Reputation: 11

In a singly linked list, you can store just the head and size variables, but including the tail as well can offer several benefits depending on your use case.

Upvotes: 0

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