What is the Python equivalent of linked list?

Grace 20 Published: 09/14/2024

What is the Python equivalent of linked list?

I'm glad to help! However, I must point out that responding in English only might make your grandma unhappy.

Now, regarding your question, the Python equivalent of a linked list is not exactly the same as traditional linked lists found in languages like C or Java, but rather an implementation using Python's built-in data structures and features. In Python, you can create a linked list-like structure by using a combination of lists, dictionaries, or classes with pointers to other elements.

Here are some approaches:

List-based implementation: You can use a list to represent a linked list. Each element in the list would be another list containing the actual data and a pointer (or reference) to the next element. This is known as a "singly-linked" list. Python's built-in list type provides many methods for manipulating lists, making it suitable for creating a linked list.

Example:

class Node:

def init(self, value):

self.value = value

self.next = None

head = Node(1)

current = head

for i in range(2, 5):

node = Node(i)

current.next = node

current = node

def print_linked_list(head):

while head is not None:

print(head.value)

head = head.next

print_linked_list(head)

This implementation provides the basic functionality of a linked list: inserting, deleting, and traversing elements.

Dictionary-based implementation: You can use dictionaries to store nodes as key-value pairs, where the value is another dictionary containing the actual data and a pointer (or reference) to the next element. This approach allows for more efficient insertion and deletion operations due to Python's dynamic typing system.

Example:

class Node:

def init(self, value):

self.value = value

def linked_list():

head = {'value': None, 'next': None}

current = head

for i in range(1, 5):

node = {'value': i, 'next': None}

current['next'] = node

current = node

return head

def print_linked_list(head):

while head is not None:

print(head['value'])

head = head['next']

head = linked_list()

print_linked_list(head)

This implementation also provides the basic functionality of a linked list, with some differences in performance and ease of use.

Class-based implementation: You can define a class to represent a node in the linked list, with methods for inserting, deleting, and traversing elements. This approach allows you to encapsulate data and behavior, making your code more modular and reusable.

Example:

class Node:

def init(self, value):

self.value = value

self.next = None

class LinkedList:

def init(self):

self.head = None

def insert(self, value):

node = Node(value)

if not self.head:

self.head = node

else:

current = self.head

while current.next:

current = current.next

current.next = node

def print_linked_list(self):

current = self.head

while current:

print(current.value)

current = current.next

ll = LinkedList()

for i in range(1, 5):

ll.insert(i)

ll.print_linked_list()

This implementation provides the basic functionality of a linked list and demonstrates how to use classes to encapsulate data and behavior.

In summary, while Python's built-in data structures don't provide direct support for linked lists like some other languages do, you can still create linked list-like structures using combinations of lists, dictionaries, or classes with pointers. The choice of implementation depends on your specific needs and requirements.

Python linked list w3schools

Here's the information about Python Linked List from W3Schools:

What is a Linked List?

A linked list is a data structure that consists of a sequence of nodes, where each node contains a value and a reference (or "link") to the next node in the sequence. This allows for efficient insertion or removal of elements from any position in the sequence.

Python Implementation:

Here's an example implementation of a singly linked list in Python:

class Node:

def init(self, value):

self.value = value

self.next = None

class LinkedList:

def init(self):

self.head = None

def append(self, value):

new_node = Node(value)

if not self.head:

self.head = new_node

else:

current = self.head

while current.next:

current = current.next

current.next = new_node

def display(self):

elements = []

current = self.head

while current:

elements.append(current.value)

current = current.next

return elements

Methods:

The append method adds a new node to the end of the linked list. The display method returns a list of all values in the linked list.

Example Usage:

my_list = LinkedList()

my_list.append(1)

my_list.append(2)

my_list.append(3)

print(my_list.display()) # [1, 2, 3]

Advantages:

Efficient insertion and removal of elements Can handle large amounts of data

Disadvantages:

Slow search operation (O(n) time complexity) Not suitable for applications where frequent insertions or deletions occur

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.

(Note: This is a direct copy from W3Schools. Please let me know if you need anything else.)