Language
Circular linked lists are an essential data structure in computer science that finds
application in various algorithms and programs. In this article, we will explore
the concept of circular linked lists and delve into the operations that can be
performed on them using the C programming language. Whether you're a
beginner or an experienced programmer, understanding circular linked lists and
their operations will enhance your ability to solve complex problems efficiently.
So, let's dive into the world of circular linked lists and explore their operations in
C!
Table of Contents
Introduction to Circular Linked Lists
Creating a Circular Linked List
Inserting a Node into a Circular Linked List
Deleting a Node from a Circular Linked List
Searching in a Circular Linked List
Traversing a Circular Linked List
Counting Nodes in a Circular Linked List
Reversing a Circular Linked List
, Splitting a Circular Linked List
Merging Two Circular Linked Lists
Sorting a Circular Linked List
Detecting Loops in a Circular Linked List
Memory Management in Circular Linked Lists
Advantages and Disadvantages of Circular Linked Lists
Conclusion
1. Introduction to Circular Linked Lists
A circular linked list is a variation of a linked list in which the last node points
back to the first node, forming a circular structure. This circular nature provides
additional flexibility and enables efficient traversal and manipulation of the list.
Each node in a circular linked list contains data and a pointer to the next node.
2. Creating a Circular Linked List
To create a circular linked list in C, we need to allocate memory for nodes
dynamically using the ‘malloc()’ function. The last node's next pointer should
point back to the first node, creating the circular link. Here's an example of
creating a circular linked list with three nodes: