What term refers to linking together complex nodes into a single structure?

The term that refers to linking together complex nodes into a single structure is indeed a linked list. A linked list is a fundamental data structure in which elements, known as nodes, contain both data and references (or links) to the next node in the sequence. This setup allows for dynamic memory allocation, meaning that the size of the linked list can grow or shrink as elements are added or removed.

In a linked list, each node is created and linked to the next, forming a linear sequence. Unlike arrays, linked lists do not require a contiguous block of memory, which makes them more flexible in terms of memory usage. This characteristic is particularly beneficial when handling a large number of elements where size may not be known ahead of time.

Understanding this concept is crucial, especially when considering operations like insertion and deletion, which can be performed more efficiently in linked lists compared to arrays, as linked lists do not entail shifting elements when an element is added or removed. This allows for more efficient use of resources when managing complex data sets.

The other options represent different data structures that serve unique purposes: nodes are the individual elements that may be present in various data structures, a graph is a collection of nodes connected by edges that represent relationships, and an array is a