Introduction to Linked Lists Arrays have fixed sizes and store elements in contiguous memory locations, making them inflexible for dynamic changes. In contrast, linked lists allow size adjustments by storing data non-contiguously in heap memory with pointers connecting each element. This flexibility makes linked lists ideal for scenarios requiring frequent additions or deletions of elements.
Structure of a Linked List A node in a linked list contains two parts: the data itself and a pointer to the next node's location. The first node is called 'head,' while the last points to null (or null pointer). By linking nodes through their pointers, traversal becomes possible from head until reaching null.
Advantages Over Arrays Linked lists excel over arrays due to their ability to dynamically adjust size without relying on adjacent memory spaces. Adding new elements involves finding any free space in heap memory and updating links accordingly; similarly, removing an element simply requires adjusting its predecessor’s link.
'Head' as Starting Point & Traversal Basics 'Head' serves as the starting point of every operation within a linked list since it stores where all subsequent nodes are located via links created using pointers stored alongside data values inside individual boxes representing these objects themselves!