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Introduction
Data structures are the formats used in computer programs that store, handle and organise data elements. These formats allow for rapid access and modifications of data elements.
There are various types of data structures to organise the data in memory. However, probably the most fundamental ones are linked lists and Arrays. Both data structures are used to store homogeneous elements in sequential order.
Each Linked List and Array is used to store linear information of the same type. Still, an Array can consume the same memory locations at the time of compilation, i.e. at the time of declaration for an Array. However, with linked lists, memory is allocated when the data gets added, that is, allocated at runtime.
What is an Array?
The term “Array” refers to a kind of data structure that’s fixed in size. It can store elements of the same kind. If there are several elements of the same kind, it’s impossible to store them all in separate variables. An Array is a solution to this problem. It can store all elements in one element.
What is a Linked List?
Linked lists are a collection of nodes that are stored randomly. Each node is composed of two distinct fields, i.e. links and data. Data is the value stored at this particular node, and links are the points that contain an address for the next node.
Difference Between Linked-List and Array
| Point of Difference | Array | Linked Lists |
| Memory Allocation | Arrays are allocated at compile time and during an instance of running linked lists. However, dynamically allocated Arrays can also allocate memory at runtime. | Linked List is not stored in an adjoining memory location. Each element is spread across the memory and linked by the pointers in the Node. |
| Size | Because data is stored in adjacent blocks of memory in an Array, the size can’t be changed during runtime. There’s a risk of erasing other data. | In linked lists, every node is linked to the next node, meaning that data may be located at scattered (non-contiguous) addresses. This lets you have a variable size that may change during the runtime. |
The Efficiency of Memory | Memory equal to the maximum amount of the size must be allocated in the case of Arrays. However, linked lists can expand the size of their lists step by step in proportion to the volume of data. | For the same amount of components, linked lists consume more memory since references towards the subsequent node can be stored alongside the information. However, the flexibility of size in linked lists can cause them to require less memory in the long run. This is beneficial in situations where there is uncertainty regarding size or when there are significant variations in the size of the elements of the data. |
| Insertion | Insertion is a process that occurs in an Array. For instance, if you need to add an element into the Array at the very end position of the Array, and the Array is already full, you copy it into a different Array. Then we can insert an element. | Inserting takes longer. However, in a linked listing, these operations are speedy. If that Linked List appears to be already full, then we search for the last node and place it adjacent to the new node |
Time to Execute | Every element within an Array may be directly accessed via its index. Additionally, the better localisation of caches or arrays will significantly enhance performance. | In the case of a linked list, each of the elements preceding has to be traversed to get any element. Certain actions are more efficient in arrays, whereas other operations are quicker in linked lists. |
Dependency | In an Array, values aren’t dependent on each other. | In cases of linked lists, nodes are dependent upon each other. One node is dependent on its predecessor node. If the node has been lost before, we won’t discover its next node. |
Linked lists and Arrays are two kinds of data structures which differ in their access, manipulation techniques, and design, in addition to the memory requirements and usage. They have distinct pros/cons when it comes to implementation. Therefore, one can use both as per convenience.
