Western Governors University (WGU) ICSC2100 C949 Data Structures and Algorithms I Practice Exam

A linked list is a data structure comprising nodes, where each node contains data and a pointer that references the next node in the sequence. This characteristic allows linked lists to grow and shrink dynamically, accommodating the addition or removal of nodes without needing to allocate a contiguous block of memory.

Each node's pointer is essential for traversing the list, granting access to subsequent nodes, which distinguishes linked lists from other linear data structures. This is particularly useful for operations that require frequent insertions and deletions, as nodes can be added or removed without the need for shifting other elements, allowing these operations to be executed in constant time (assuming you have direct access to the insertion or deletion point).

In contrast, arrays are contiguous storage structures that require knowledge of the index to access elements, and they often need reallocating when changing size. Graphs represent relationships between nodes but do not inherently define a simple linear relationship like linked lists do. Max heaps, being a type of binary tree structure, maintain a specific order based on parent-child relationships rather than sequential pointers between nodes. Thus, the defining characteristic of a linked list—nodes with pointers to the next—makes it the correct choice.