Advantages of Linked Lists

Linked lists have several advantages over arrays in certain scenarios:

Dynamic Size: Linked lists can grow or shrink dynamically during runtime. Unlike arrays, you don't need to specify the size of a linked list upfront. This flexibility is useful when the number of elements is unknown or can change.

Efficient Insertion and Deletion: Inserting or deleting elements in the middle of a linked list is efficient. You only need to update the pointers of the neighboring nodes. In contrast, arrays require shifting elements to maintain a contiguous memory layout, which can be costly for large arrays.

Example of inserting an element in the middle of a linked list:

1void insertMiddle(Node<int>* head, int value) {
2  Node<int>* slow = head;
3  Node<int>* fast = head->Next;
4
5  while (fast != nullptr && fast->Next != nullptr) {
6    slow = slow->Next;
7    fast = fast->Next->Next;
8  }
9
10  Node<int>* newNode = new Node<int>{
11    value, slow->Next};
12  slow->Next = newNode;
13}

No Fixed Memory Allocation: Linked lists allocate memory dynamically for each node. This allows for efficient memory utilization, as the memory is allocated only when needed. Arrays, on the other hand, require a contiguous block of memory, which can lead to wasted space if not fully utilized.

Flexibility in Data Structure Design: Linked lists serve as building blocks for more complex data structures like stacks, queues, and graphs. The ability to connect nodes in different ways allows for the creation of various data structures tailored to specific needs.

However, it's important to note that linked lists also have some disadvantages compared to arrays, such as slower random access and extra memory overhead for storing pointers. The choice between a linked list and an array depends on the specific requirements of your problem.