C Primer Plus, Fourth Edition

The Linked List Versus the Array

Many programming problems, such as creating a list or a queue, can be handled with a linked list—by which we mean a linked sequence of dynamically allocated structures—or with an array. Each form has its strengths and weaknesses, so the choice of which to use depends on the particular requirements of a problem. Table 17.1 summarizes the qualities of linked lists and arrays.

Table 17.1. Comparing Arrays to Linked Lists

Data Form	Pros	Cons
Array	Directly supported by C Provides random access	Size determined at compile time Inserting and deleting elements is time consuming
Linked List	Size determined during runtime	No random access
	Inserting and deleting elements is quick	User must provide programming support