Data Structure - Circular Linked List

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Circular Linked List is a variation of Linked list in which the first element points to the last element and the last element points to the first element. Both Singly Linked List and Doubly Linked List can be made into a circular linked list.

Singly Linked List as Circular

In singly linked list, the next pointer of the last node points to the first node.

Singly Linked List as Circular Linked List

Doubly Linked List as Circular

In doubly linked list, the next pointer of the last node points to the first node and the previous pointer of the first node points to the last node making the circular in both directions.

Doubly Linked List as Circular Linked List

As per the above illustration, following are the important points to be considered.

  • The last link's next points to the first link of the list in both cases of singly as well as doubly linked list.

  • The first link's previous points to the last of the list in case of doubly linked list.

Basic Operations

Following are the important operations supported by a circular list.

  • insert − Inserts an element at the start of the list.

  • delete − Deletes an element from the start of the list.

  • display − Displays the list.

Insertion Operation

Following code demonstrates the insertion operation in a circular linked list based on single linked list.

Example

insertFirst(data):
Begin
   create a new node
   node -> data := data
   if the list is empty, then
      head := node
      next of node = head
   else
      temp := head
      while next of temp is not head, do
      temp := next of temp
      done
      next of node := head
      next of temp := node
      head := node
   end if
End

Deletion Operation

Following code demonstrates the deletion operation in a circular linked list based on single linked list.

deleteFirst():
Begin
   if head is null, then
      it is Underflow and return
   else if next of head = head, then
      head := null
      deallocate head
   else
      ptr := head
      while next of ptr is not head, do
         ptr := next of ptr
      next of ptr = next of head
      deallocate head
      head := next of ptr
   end if
End

Display List Operation

Following code demonstrates the display list operation in a circular linked list.

display():
Begin
   if head is null, then
      Nothing to print and return
   else
      ptr := head
      while next of ptr is not head, do
         display data of ptr
         ptr := next of ptr
      display data of ptr
   end if
End

To know about its implementation in C programming language, please click here.

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