CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++linked-list
Zubizaretta
Zubizaretta

Reputation: 157

Understanding/creating a Linked List

I am trying to create a simple one way Linked List. I understand it conceptually but I'm stuck trying to create one. I know there are guides out there but I understand things better by trial and error.

My simple Contact class:

class Contact
{
    std::string name, phNum;

    Contact* next;

    public:
    void getInfo();
    void printInfo();
};

At this point, all I am trying to do is to create a list with some contacts (i.e. an address book of sorts), and then print out their information.

As per my understanding, the list should contain several unique objects of type Contact.

My question is, how can I create multiple objects in the heap that have unique addresses? I tried the below, but it obviously didn't work as all the pointers will be identical.

while(true)
{
    Contact* newEntry= new Contact;
    newEntry->getInfo();
    // rest of the linking stuff
}

Upvotes: 2

Views: 522

Answers (2)

Pale Ale
Pale Ale

Reputation: 477

Okay just create a new contact and link it to the previous one. It looks like this conceptually. 

object
   |
  Pointer to next one -> object
                           |
                           Pointer to next one -> object


Contact* newEntry= new Contact();     
newEntry->getInfo();     
newEntry->next = new Contact();
newEntry->next->getInfo();
newEntry->next->next = new Contact();

Upvotes: 1

Loebl
Loebl

Reputation: 1431

To initialize many contacts in a loop you may want to do something like this:

Contact *FirstOne = new Contact();
Contact *current = FirstOne;
while(...)
{
    current->next = new Contact();
    current = current->next;
    //do stuff to current, like adding info
}

That way you are building up your Contact list. After that *FirstOne ist the first and *current is the last element of your list. Also you may want to make sure that the constructor sets *next to NULL to detect the end of the list.

Upvotes: 3

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