Which of the following is a disadvantage of using a linked list over an array?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following is a disadvantage of using a linked list over an array?
Dynamic size
Ease of insertion/deletion
Memory overhead
Random access
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following is a disadvantage of using a linked list over an array?
Step 1: Understand what a linked list is. A linked list is a data structure where each element (node) points to the next one, forming a chain.
Step 2: Understand what an array is. An array is a collection of elements stored in contiguous memory locations, allowing easy access using indices.
Step 3: Learn about random access. Random access means you can directly access any element in a data structure using its index (like in an array).
Step 4: Compare access methods. In an array, you can quickly get any element using its index (e.g., array[2] gets the third element). In a linked list, you have to start from the first element and follow the links to get to the desired element, which takes longer.
Step 5: Conclude the disadvantage. The main disadvantage of a linked list compared to an array is that linked lists do not allow random access to elements, making them slower for accessing specific elements.
