Algorithm Design Questions
The main difference between an array and a linked list is the way they store and access data.
An array is a data structure that stores elements of the same type in contiguous memory locations. It allows for random access to elements using their indices, which means that accessing an element takes constant time O(1). However, inserting or deleting elements in the middle of an array requires shifting all subsequent elements, resulting in a time complexity of O(n).
On the other hand, a linked list is a data structure where each element (node) contains a value and a reference (link) to the next node. The nodes are not necessarily stored in contiguous memory locations. Linked lists allow for efficient insertion and deletion of elements at any position, as it only requires updating the references. However, accessing an element in a linked list requires traversing the list from the beginning, resulting in a time complexity of O(n).
In summary, arrays provide efficient random access but have slower insertion and deletion operations, while linked lists have efficient insertion and deletion but slower access to specific elements.