Linked List
A linked list is a linear data structure where elements, called nodes, are stored in non-contiguous memory locations and linked together using pointers or references. Each node contains data and a reference to the next node in the sequence, allowing for dynamic memory allocation and efficient insertions/deletions. It is a fundamental concept in computer science used to implement various abstract data types like stacks, queues, and graphs.
Developers should learn linked lists when working on algorithms, data structures, or low-level programming tasks that require efficient dynamic memory management and frequent insertions/deletions, such as in operating systems, compilers, or embedded systems. It is essential for understanding more complex data structures like trees and graphs, and for optimizing performance in scenarios where array-based structures are inefficient due to fixed sizes or costly shifts.