public class Node {
public string data;
public Node next;
public Node(string data) {
this.data = data;
next = null;
}
}
public class List {
public Node headNode;
public void insertFirst(string value) {
Node node = new Node(value);
node.next = headNode;
headNode = node;
}
public void insertNode(string value) {
Node newNode = new Node(value);
if (headNode == null) {
headNode = newNode;
}
else {
Node nextNode = headNode;
while (nextNode.next != null) {
nextNode = nextNode.next;
}
nextNode.next = newNode;
}
}
public void insertNext(Node previousNode, string value) {
Node node = new Node(value);
node.next = previousNode.next;
previousNode.next = node;
}
public void deleteFirst() {
if (headNode == null)
return;
else
headNode = headNode.next;
}
void deleteNode(int position) {
if (headNode == null)
return;
if (position == 0) {
headNode = headNode.next;
return;
}
Node node = headNode;
for (int i = 1; node != null && i < position; i++)
node = node.next;
if (node == null || node.next == null)
return;
Node next = node.next.next;
node.next = next;
}
public void displayList() {
Node node = headNode;
while (node != null) {
System.Console.WriteLine( node.data);
node = node.next;
}
}
public static void Main(string[] args) {
List linkedList = new List();
linkedList.insertNode("John");
linkedList.insertNode("Pradeep");
linkedList.insertNode("Andrew");
linkedList.insertNode("Beck");
linkedList.displayList();
linkedList.deleteNode(1);
System.Console.WriteLine( "--------");
linkedList.displayList();
}
}
We have seen that a List that is Linked to each other is a Linked List.
Now, we will learn a new term. i.e. Each item in a Linked List is called a Node.
And we can see there are four records in the above Linked List.
Say, for example, the below record is a Node.
So, far we have seen, there were two records in a Node. First record is the actual data or name (In the above example i.e. John). And the second record contains the pointer to the next Node (The second record of John i.e. 9 in the above case was referring to the location of Pradeep).
Even in our Code, we have created a class called Node.
public class Node {
public string data;
public Node next;
public Node(string data) {
this.data = data;
next = null;
}
}The above class Node has two attributes :
The first attribute string data is fine. It can hold the name "John" or "Pradeep". But what about the second attribute i.e. Node next?
Don't you think, the second attribute should have an int type variable?So that it can store the pointer to the next Node(i.e. 9 in the above case was referring to the location of Pradeep).
Well ! In this case we are trying something different. i.e. We will let C# decide the next Node.
Sounds Complex ?
Stay with me. Things will become easy with each line.
Let us go to the Node class. And as we can see, there is a constructor in the Node class.
Node(string data) {
this.data = data;
next = null;
}So, when we create a Node object, we simply, pass the data or name(Say "John").
Node node1 = new Node("John");And the constructor creates a Node object for us, with John as the actual data and next as null. Because it is not referring to any Node object yet.
Then the next time, when we create the Node object with Pradeep,
Node node2 = new Node("Pradeep");
We will make node1 object point to node2 by replacing null with node1.
Fair enough !
Now, let us see the Code explanation for Linked List.
So, there are five methods that we have used in the Linked List :
Now, let us see the Linked List in action.
So, in the first line we insert the value John,
linkedList.insertNode("John");By using the insertNode(string value) method.
public void insertNode(string value) {
Node newNode = new Node(value);
if (headNode == null) {
headNode = newNode;
}
else {
Node nextNode = headNode;
while (nextNode.next != null) {
nextNode = nextNode.next;
}
nextNode.next = newNode;
}
}So, what we are doing in the insertNode(string value) method is, we are creating a new Node object.
Node newNode = new Node(value);
And as we have seen there is a constructor in the Node class that helps in initialising the values to the Node object.
And the below Node object is created.
Now, just remember, we have a variable Node headNode, that always points to the first element in the Linked List. And since, this is the first time we are creating the Linked List. The headNode would be initialised.
if (headNode == null) {
headNode = newNode;
}
And we don't go to the else part.
Similarly, we try inserting Pradeep.
linkedList.insertNode("Pradeep");And the insertNode(string value) method is called.
And the same way, we are creating a new Node object.
Node newNode = new Node(value);
And as we have seen there is a constructor in the Node class that helps in initialising the values to the Node object.
And the below Node object is created.
Now since, headNode is not null
if (headNode == null)
And we come to the else part .
else {
Node nextNode = headNode;
while (nextNode.next != null) {
nextNode = nextNode.next;
}
nextNode.next = newNode;
}In the else part, we create a Node called newNode and initialise it with headNode.
Node nextNode = headNode;
And Since the headNode is the Node where John resides.
Then we run a while loop to reach the end of the Linked List.
while (nextNode.next != null) {
nextNode = nextNode.next;
}In this case nextNode.next is equal the null. So, we do not get into the while loop.
And we know newNode contains Pradeep.
And make the nextNode (i.e. The Node containing John) point to newNode.
So, the Linked List is formed with two elements.
Similar way, all the other elements are added to the Linked List.
The next is put as next as the linking will be decided by C# internally.
Now, let us see how do we delete an element from a specific location.
linkedList.deleteNode(1);
So, we will be deleting the second element as the count starts from 0.
And the deleteNode(int position) method is called,
void deleteNode(int position) {
if (headNode == null)
return;
if (position == 0) {
headNode = headNode.next;
return;
}
Node node = headNode;
for (int i = 1; node != null && i < position; i++)
node = node.next;
if (node == null || node.next == null)
return;
Node next = node.next.next;
node.next = next;
}The first if statement checks, if the headNode is null or not. i.e. If the headNode is null, then there are no elements in the Linked List. And we stop the execution.
if (headNode == null) return;
The next if statement checks, if we are asking to remove the first element.
headNode = headNode.next; return; }
We initialise the headNode with headNode.next i.e. null. And the Linked List becomes empty.
If the above two if statement are not satisfied then we come to the n ext line.
Node node = headNode;
Where we declare a Node named node and initialise with the headNode Node.
Now since, headNode contains the details of John. node is initialised with John.
Then we run a for loop until we reach a position just before the node that is asked to be deleted.
In this case the second element is asked to be deleted(i.e. 1).
for (int i = 1; node != null && i < position; i++) node = node.next;
So, we exit the for loop, when we are at the second node.
Then we do a check to see if the first node is null or is it not pointing to any element?
if (node == null || node.next == null) return;
If so we stop the execution.
Then we create a Node called next. And initialise the Node with it that contains Andrew.
Node next = node.next.next;
And finally, we make the Node of John point to the Node that contains Andrew.
node.next = next;
And we get the Linked List that doesn't have the the second Node. i.e. The node that contained Pradeep.
