In data structures, what is a common characteristic of a doubly linked list?

A doubly linked list is characterized by each of its nodes having two references: one pointing to the next node in the sequence and another pointing to the previous node. This structure allows for traversal in both directions—forward and backward—thereby providing greater flexibility compared to a singly linked list, which only allows traversal in one direction. The ability to access nodes from both ends is particularly useful for certain algorithms and operations, such as inserting or deleting nodes, as it simplifies these processes by allowing links to be navigated both ways. This feature enhances performance for various tasks, making the doubly linked list a valuable data structure in programming and algorithm design.