Array Vs. Linked List

Posted by Onorio Catenacci on Stack Overflow See other posts from Stack Overflow or by Onorio Catenacci
Published on 2008-10-03T13:35:53Z Indexed on 2010/04/10 1:03 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 457

Filed under:

data-structures

|

comparison

|

homework

I apologize--this question may be a bit open-ended but I think there are probably definite, quantifiable answers to it so I'll post it anyway.

A person I know is trying to learn C++ and software development (+1 to him) and he asked me why someone would want to use a linked list in preference to an array. Coding a linked list is, no doubt, a bit more work than using an array and he wondered what would justify the additional effort.

I gave him the answer I know: insertion of new elements is trivial in linked list but it's a major chore in an array. But then I got to thinking about it a bit more. Besides the ease of insertion of a new element into a linked list are there other advantages to using a linked list to store a set of data vs. storing it in an array?

As I said, I'm not meaning to start a long and drawn-out discussion. I'm just looking for other reasons that a developer might prefer a linked list to an array.

© Stack Overflow or respective owner

Related posts about data-structures

Clever ways of implementing different data structures in C & data structures that should be used mor

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
What are some clever (not ordinary) ways of implementing data structures in C, and what are some data structures that should be used more often? For example, what is the most effective way (generating minimal overhead) to implement a directed and cyclic graph with weighted edges in C? I know that… >>> More
Is there a way to track data structure dependencies from the database, through the tiers, all the way out to a web page?

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
When we design applications, we generally end up with the same tiered sets of data structures: A persistent data structure that is described using DDL and implemented as RDBMS tables and columns. A set of domain objects that consist primarily of data structures, usually combined with business-rule… >>> More
Why are data structures so important in interviews?

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
I am a newbie into the corporate world recently graduated in computers. I am a java/groovy developer. I am a quick learner and I can learn new frameworks, APIs or even programming languages within considerably short amount of time. Albeit that, I must confess that I was not so strong in data structures… >>> More
Thread-safe data structures

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Hello, I have to design a data structure that is to be used in a multi-threaded environment. The basic API is simple: insert element, remove element, retrieve element, check that element exists. The structure's implementation uses implicit locking to guarantee the atomicity of a single API call.… >>> More
Data Structures

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
There is a large stream of numbers coming in such as 5 6 7 2 3 1 2 3 .. What kind of data structure is suitable for this problem given the constraints that elements must be inserted in descending order and duplicates should be eliminated. I am not looking for any code just ideas? I was thinking… >>> More

Related posts about comparison

Store comparison in variable (or execute comparison when it's given as an string)

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Hello everyone. I'd like to know if the super-powerful python allows to store a comparison in a variable or, if not, if it's possible calling/executing a comparison when given as an string ("==" or "!=") I want to allow the users of my program the chance of giving a comparison in an string. For… >>> More
On StringComparison Values

as seen on Geeks with Blogs - Search for 'Geeks with Blogs'
When you use the .NET Framework’s String.Equals and String.Compare methods do you use an overloStringComparison enumeration value? If not, you should be because the value provided for that StringComparison argument can have a big impact on the results of your string comparison. The StringComparison… >>> More
Use Comparison Operators in SQL to Remove/Return Columns with Null Values

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
When you use the comparison operators in SQL with the Where clause, you can remove the columns with null values. >>> More
Use Comparison Operators in SQL to Remove/Return Columns with Null Values

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
When you use the comparison operators in SQL with the Where clause, you can remove the columns with null values. >>> More
Building a Web Form in ASP.NET and PHP: a Comparison

as seen on ASP Free - Search for 'ASP Free'
While there are important differences between PHP and ASP.NET both are used to build websites. Because of this both need to enable developers to build web forms among other tasks. This article compares building a web form in PHP with building the same form in ASP.NET to help those familiar with… >>> More