Data Structures & Algorithms
Doubly Linked List
Computer Science Department
Introduction
• The singly linked list contains only one pointer
field i.e. every node holds an address of next
node.
• The singly linked list is uni-directional i.e. we can
only move from one node to its successor.
• This limitation can be overcome by Doubly
linked list.
Computer Science Department
Doubly Linked List
• In Doubly linked list, each node has two pointers.
• One pointer to its successor (NULL if there is
none) and one pointer to its predecessor (NULL
if there is none).
• These pointers enable bi-directional traversing.
*Previous Data *Next
Computer Science Department
A Singly Linked List
Head
A Doubly Linked List
Head
Computer Science Department
Comparison of Linked Lists
• Linked list
struct Node {
int data;
Node* next;
};
• Doubly linked list
struct Node {
Node *previous;
int data;
Node *next;
};
Computer Science Department
Insertion
• In insertion process, element can be inserted in three
different places
– At the beginning of the list
– At the end of the list
– At the specified position.
• To insert a node in doubly linked list, you must update
pointers in both predecessor and successor nodes.
Computer Science Department
Insertion
Computer Science Department
Doubly Linked List
void insert(){
struct DoublyList{
DoublyList * newNode = new
int data;
DoublyList;
DoublyList * prev;
if (last == NULL){
DoublyList * next;
newNode->prev =
};
newNode->next = NULL;
DoublyList * first = NULL;
first = last = newNode;
DoublyList * last = NULL;
}
void main(){
else{
//switch statement
newNode->next = NULL;
insert(10);
newNode->prev = last;
insert(20);
last->next = newNode;
delete();
last = newNode;
traverse();
}
} Computer Science Department
}
Doubly Linked List
void traverse(){ newNode->data = x;
DoublyList * temp = front; while(temp!=NULL){
while(temp!=NULL){ if(temp->data > x){
cout<<temp->data; newNode->next = temp;
temp = temp->next; newNode->prev = temp->prev;
} temp->prev->next = newNode;
} temp->prev = newNode;
void insertAT(int x){ }
// assuming that list is in temp = temp->next;
ascending order }
DoublyList * temp = front;
DoublyList * newNode = new }
DoublyList;
Computer Science Department
Deletion
• In deletion process, element can be deleted from three
different places
– From the beginning of the list
– From the end of the list
– From the specified position in the list.
• When the node is deleted, the memory allocated to that
node is released and the previous and next nodes of that
node are linked
Computer Science Department
Deletion
Computer Science Department
Doubly Linked List (Delete)
void delete ( int x ){
DoublyList * temp = front;
DoublyList * toDelete = NULL;
while( temp != NULL ){
if( temp->data == x ){
temp->prev->next = temp-next;
temp->next->prev = temp->prev;
toDelete = temp;
delete toDelete;
}
temp = temp->next;
}
}
Computer Science Department
Advantages of Doubly Linked List
1. The doubly linked list is bi-directional, i.e. it can be
traversed in both backward and forward direction.
2. The operations such as insertion, deletion and
searching can be done from both ends.
3. Previous and Next records of any element can be
searched quickly
Computer Science Department
Disadvantages
1. It consume more memory space (one extra pointer with
each node).
2. More pointer adjustments during insertion and deletion
of element.
Computer Science Department