In this session, we’re going to explore an interesting way to implement a Stakc

using linked list. Sounds tricky? Let’s break it down step by step.

First, let’s talk about Stack. A stack is a linear data structure that works on the
principle of Last In, First Out, or LIFO. Think of a stack like a pile of plates.
You can only add or remove a plate from the top of the stack. The last plate you
place on the top will be the first one you take off.

A stack has two primary operations: Push and Pop.

First, let’s talk about Push. When you push an element onto the stack, you’re
adding it to the top. So, if you push a plate, it goes on top of all the other
plates already in the stack.

Now, let’s discuss Pop. The pop operation removes the topmost element from the
stack. When you pop a plate, it’s always the last one that was added, because the
stack follows that LIFO rule.

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Now lets talk about linked list "A Linked List is a collection of elements called
nodes, where each node contains two things:

1)Data – This holds the value or information.

2)Pointer – This stores the address or reference to the next node in the sequence.

Together, these nodes form a chain. The first node is called the head, and from
there, each node points to the next. If there’s no next node, the pointer is set to
null or None, indicating the end of the list."

"Let’s dive into some of the basic operations you can perform on a linked list.
These are essential for understanding how linked lists function:

Traversal: This means visiting each node, one by one, starting from the head and
following the pointers until you reach the end.
Insertion: Want to add a new node? Depending on where you want to insert—at the
beginning, end, or in the middle—you need to update the pointers to include the new
node in the chain.
If inserting at the beginning, we simply adjust the head to point to the new node.
Inserting in the middle requires adjusting the pointers of both the previous node
and the new node.
Deletion: Deleting a node requires updating pointers too. You simply bypass the
node you want to remove by adjusting the pointer of the previous node to point to
the next node."

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"In a linked list-based stack, we treat the head of the linked list as the top of
the stack and we Represent the stack as link list by using next pointer and
indicating top most element
. Each time we add, or push, an item, we place it at the head. When we pop an item,
we simply remove the head, and the next node becomes the new top. The list
naturally grows and shrinks with each push and pop operation."
Now here we have linked list based stack and in that we have 3 nodes , The first
node containing data 3 is a at the bottom of the stack. The pointer is shown as
Null to indicate there’s no node below it. A second node containing data 8 is above
the first node. An arrow connects the second node's pointer to the first node.now
the third node containing data 10 is at the top of the stack. Its pointer connects
to the node with 8. The stack now has three layers.

"Let’s start with the push operation.

"To push the new node 12 onto the stack, here’s what happens:

The new node’s pointer is set to the current top of the stack, which is 10.
Then, the stack’s top is updated to point to the new node, making 12 the new top of
the stack.
It’s like placing a new book on top of the stack—the previous top book (10) is now
just beneath the new top (12)."

Now we’ll be popping a node from a linked list-based stack.

"Next, we identify the top node, which is the node we want to remove. In our case,
the top node has the value 12, and it’s pointing to the node below it, which has
the value 10. This pointer is crucial because after we pop 12, we’ll need to update
the top of the stack to the next node."

"Now comes the core part of the operation: popping the top node. To pop:

We remove the node 12 from the stack.

We update the top of the stack to the next node in the linked list, which in this
case is 10.
It’s like pulling the top book off a stack and revealing the book below."

Now we’ll explore the advantages of stack using linked list, as opposed to a
traditional array-based stack. Both serve the same purpose, but they handle memory
and efficiency quite differently. Let’s dive into the benefits of linked list
stacks!"

"First up, let’s talk about size. One major advantage of a linked list stack is
that it has no fixed size. Unlike stacks implemented with arrays, which require you
to define a maximum size beforehand, a linked list stack dynamically allocates
memory as needed.

This means the stack can grow or shrink as elements are added or removed, providing
the flexibility to handle varying amounts of data without running out of space or
wasting memory."

"Next, we have efficient use of memory. In a linked list stack, memory is allocated
only when a new element is pushed onto the stack. This leads to a more efficient
use of memory compared to array-based implementations, which might have unused
spaces.

For instance, if you create an array stack of size 10 but only use 5 slots, those
remaining slots are wasted. In contrast, a linked list grows as needed, so you only
use what you actually need."

"Another significant advantage is that insertion and deletion operations in a

linked list stack are performed in O(1) time complexity.

This means both push (insertion) and pop (deletion) operations are incredibly
efficient. To add or remove a node, you simply need to adjust the Top pointer and
update the links between nodes. No shifting of elements is required, making these
operations faster than in an array-based stack, where shifting might take longer."

While linked list stacks have numerous advantages, they also come with some notable
disadvantages. Now, we’re going to explore these drawbacks.

"Let’s start with more memory usage. Each node in a linked list stack requires
extra memory to store a pointer to the next node, in addition to the actual data.

For instance, if we have a stack with multiple nodes, this additional memory for
pointers can add up, making linked list stacks consume more memory overall compared
to array-based stacks, where each element only holds data.

While this overhead is usually manageable, it’s something to consider, especially

in memory-constrained environments."

"Next, let’s discuss slower access. In a linked list stack, you can only access
elements sequentially, meaning you have to start from the top and work your way
down.

This is in contrast to an array, where you can quickly access any element by its
index. If you need to reach a middle or bottom element in a linked list, it could
take quite a bit longer, as you must traverse the nodes one by one.

This sequential access can be a limitation if your application requires frequent

random access to stack elements."

"Now, let’s talk about pointer handling. Managing pointers in a linked list can be
tricky. If you make a mistake with the pointers, such as mislinking them or
forgetting to update them during a push or pop operation, it can lead to errors or
even crashes in your application.

Unlike an array, where access and manipulation are straightforward, pointer-based

implementations require careful attention. A single oversight can create major
issues in the integrity of your stack."

"Lastly, let’s consider the risk of memory leaks. When you pop a node from a linked
list stack, especially in languages like C or C++ where you have to manage memory
manually, you need to remember to free the memory associated with that node.

If you forget to do so, you might create memory leak or unused memory that the
program can no longer access, leading to inefficient memory usage over time. This
can significantly affect the performance of long-running applications or systems
with limited resources."

And there you have it! By using a linked list, we can create a dynamic stack that’s
efficient and easy to manage. Whether for managing actions in software or handling
function calls in programs, understanding how to implement a stack using a linked
list is an important tool for any programmer.

So next time you think of stacks, remember—linked lists make them flexible and
powerful. Thankyou all!"