Segmentation fault in linked list program (c language) - c

I'm trying to write a code for linked lists using c++. Insert at begin and Insert at end are not working for some reason. Here is the code.
`
#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
#include<conio.h>
void insertAtBeginning(int );
void insertAtEnd(int );
void printLL();
struct Node
{
int data;
struct Node *link;
};
struct Node *head;
int main()
{
struct Node *temp, *newnode;
int ch=1, i=1, info;
head = NULL;
while(ch)
{
printf("Enter data: ");
scanf("%d", &info);
newnode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
newnode->data = info;
newnode->link = NULL;
if(head == NULL)
{
head = newnode;
temp = newnode;
}
else
{
temp ->link = newnode;
temp = newnode;
}
printf("You wish to continue? (press 0 to terminate)\n");
scanf("%d",&ch);
if(!ch)
{
break;
}
}
temp = head;
while(temp!=NULL)
{
printf("%d -> ",temp->data);
temp = temp->link;
}
printf("\n");
insertAtBeginning(50);
insertAtEnd(150);
//printLL();
}
void insertAtBeginning(int info)
{
struct Node *newnode;
newnode->data = info;
printf("\n%d\n", newnode ->data);
newnode->link = head;
head = newnode;
}
void insertAtEnd(int info)
{
struct Node *temp, *newnode;
newnode->link = NULL;
newnode->data = info;
temp = head;
while(temp!=NULL)
{
temp = temp->link;
}
temp->link = newnode;
printf("\n%d\n", newnode -> data);
}
void printLL()
{
struct Node *temp;
temp = head;
while(temp!=NULL)
{
printf("%d -> ",temp->data);
temp = temp->link;
}
}
`
The problem is somewhere around newnode->data = info in the functions.
I created two functions, one to insert an element at beginning and one to insert an element at end. In both of them, i've created a newnode. The problem is I cannot insert data into those nodes.

When you want to append a new node to the end of a linked list, you must find your last node (a node which its link is NULL, not itself). Also, it is better to use meaningful variable name (temp is too general name). You also forgot to malloc new nodes in insertAtBeginning and insertAtEnd functions. I've fixed these issues in the following code
#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
void insertAtBeginning(int );
void insertAtEnd(int );
void printLL();
struct Node
{
int data;
struct Node *link;
};
struct Node *head = NULL;
int main()
{
struct Node *it, *newnode, *tail;
int ch=1, i=1, info;
while(ch){
printf("Enter data: ");
scanf("%d", &info);
newnode = malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
newnode->data = info;
newnode->link = NULL;
if (head == NULL) {
head = newnode;
tail = newnode;
} else {
tail->link = newnode;
tail = newnode;
}
printf("You wish to continue? (press 0 to terminate, else to continue)\n");
scanf("%d",&ch);
if(ch == 0) {
break;
}
}
it = head;
while(it != NULL) {
printf("%d -> ",it->data);
it = it->link;
}
printf("\n");
insertAtBeginning(50);
insertAtEnd(150);
}
void insertAtBeginning(int info)
{
struct Node *newnode;
newnode = malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
newnode->data = info;
printf("\n%d\n", newnode->data);
newnode->link = head;
head = newnode;
}
void insertAtEnd(int info)
{
struct Node *it, *newnode;
newnode = malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
newnode->link = NULL;
newnode->data = info;
it = head;
while(it->link != NULL)
{
it = it->link;
}
it->link = newnode;
printf("\n%d\n", newnode->data);
}
void printLL()
{
struct Node *it;
it = head;
while(it!=NULL)
{
printf("%d -> ",it->data);
it = it->link;
}
}

You're treating your uninitialized stack variable (struct Node *newnode) as a pointer to a struct Node and trying to update its fields:
struct Node *newnode;
newnode->data = info;
This doesn't work because the value of newnode is whatever garbage was on the stack beforehand, and trying to deref it (*newnode) will likely give a seg fault since you're trying to read from some unknown memory address.
Notice how inside main, you assign a result from malloc to newnode, this means you know that (given that malloc didn't return NULL), the pointer is valid, and you're free to use the memory it points to.

Related

What is the logical error in my attempt to implement the insertion of nodes in the linked list?

I'm unable to get an output for inserting nodes at the beginning, end, and after a given node. I'm not very sure if there is anything that I missed out in the main(). I'm unable to point out my logical error in the program
`
#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
struct node{
int data;
struct node *next;
};
//Inserts at the begining
void push(struct node **head, int x){
struct node *newnode = (struct node *)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
newnode->data = x;
*head = newnode;
newnode->next = (*head);
*head = newnode;
}
//Insert at the last
void append(struct node **head, int x){
struct node *temp;
struct node* newnode = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
newnode->data = x;
newnode->next = 0;
if(*head == 0){
*head = newnode;
}
temp = *head;
while(temp->next != 0){
temp = temp->next;
}
temp->next = newnode;
}
//inserting at a given node
void insertAfter(struct node* temp, int x){
if(temp == NULL){
printf("previous node cannot be NULL");
}
struct node* newnode = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
newnode->data = x;
newnode->next = temp->next;
temp->next = newnode;
}
void printList(struct node *temp){
while(temp->next != NULL){
printf("%d",temp->data);
}
temp = temp->next;
}
int main(){
struct node *head = NULL;
append(&head,6);
push(&head, 7);
push(&head, 1);
append(&head, 4);
insertAfter(head->next, 8);
printf("Created linked list is:\n");
printList(head);
return 0;
}
`
The output is 1 7 8 6 4
But I'm getting no output and no errors as well
Within the function print_list there can be an infinite loop because this statement
temp = temp->next;
is placed after the while loop
void printList(struct node *temp){
while(temp->next != NULL){
printf("%d",temp->data);
}
temp = temp->next;
}
The function can look for example the following way
void printList( const struct node *head )
{
for ( ; head != NULL; head = head->next )
printf( "%d -> ", head->data );
}
puts( "null" );
}
Pay attention to that within the function push this statement
*head = newnode;
is present twice.
Also the functions are unsafe because there is no check whether memory was allocated successfully within the functions.
For example the function append could be declared and defined the following way
//Insert at the last
int append( struct node **head, int x )
{
struct node *newnode = malloc( sizeof( *newnode ) );
int success = newnode != NULL;
if ( success )
{
newnode->data = x;
newnode->next = NULL;
while ( *head != NULL ) head = &( *head )->next;
*head = newnode;
}
return success;
}

Duplicating a linked list without using recursion

I'm trying to figure out how to duplicate a linked list, and after debugging on Vs code I'm getting a segmentation fault on cuurent->data = temp->data;
and I'm not sure why this is happening.
and this is the code:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct node {
int data;
struct node* next;
};
struct node* head;
struct node* head2;
struct node* Insert(struct node* head, int x)
{
struct node* temp = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
temp->data = x;
temp->next = head;
return temp;
}
void Print(struct node* head)
{
struct node* tmp1 = head;
printf("List is:");
while (tmp1 != NULL) {
printf(" %d", tmp1->data);
tmp1 = tmp1->next;
}
printf("\n");
}
struct node* dupe(struct node* head, struct node* head2)
{
if (head == NULL)
return NULL;
struct node* temp = head;
struct node* prev = NULL;
struct node* cuurent = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
cuurent->data = temp->data;
if (head2 == NULL) {
cuurent->next = head2;
head2 = cuurent;
}
while (temp != NULL) {
temp = temp->next;
cuurent = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
cuurent->data = temp->data;
cuurent->next = prev;
prev = cuurent;
}
return head2;
}
int main(void)
{
head = NULL;
head2 = NULL;
head = Insert(head, 4);
head = Insert(head, 2);
head = Insert(head, 3);
head = Insert(head, 5);
head2 = dupe(head, head2);
Print(head);
Print(head2);
}
As pointed out in the comments,
while (temp != NULL) {
temp = temp->next;
changes the value of temp immediately after guarding against a null pointer value.
This eventually means
cuurent->data = temp->data;
will cause Undefined Behaviour by dereferencing temp when it is the null pointer value.
You can apply the exact same looping principles shown in Print to copy the list. The only difference being you must save a pointer to the first node.
The same principle can be used again when it comes time to free the memory.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct node {
int data;
struct node *next;
};
struct node *insert(struct node *next, int x)
{
struct node *n = malloc(sizeof *n);
n->data = x;
n->next = next;
return n;
}
void print_list(struct node *head)
{
printf("List is: ");
while (head) {
printf("%d ", head->data);
head = head->next;
}
printf("\n");
}
void free_list(struct node *head)
{
struct node *t;
while (head) {
t = head->next;
free(head);
head = t;
}
}
struct node *copy_list(struct node *head)
{
struct node *root = NULL;
for (struct node *current; head; head = head->next) {
struct node *new = insert(NULL, head->data);
if (!root)
root = new;
else
current->next = new;
current = new;
}
return root;
}
int main(void)
{
struct node *head = NULL;
head = insert(head, 4);
head = insert(head, 2);
head = insert(head, 3);
head = insert(head, 5);
struct node *head2 = copy_list(head);
print_list(head);
print_list(head2);
free_list(head);
free_list(head2);
}
Output:
List is: 5 3 2 4
List is: 5 3 2 4

Element deletion in single linked list at head not working

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct node {
int data;
struct node *next;
};
struct node *head = NULL;
struct node *second = NULL;
struct node *third = NULL;
void insertAtBeg(struct node *n, int data) {
struct node *temp;
temp = (struct node *)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
temp->data = data;
temp->next = head;
head = temp;
}
void insertAtEnd(struct node *n, int data) {
struct node *temp;
temp = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
temp->data = data;
temp->next = NULL;
while (n->next != NULL) {
n = n->next;
}
n->next = temp;
}
void deleteElement(struct node *head, int data) {
if (head->data == data) {
struct node *temp;
temp = head;
head = head->next;
free(temp);
printf("after deletion at head in function\n");
printList(head);
}
}
void printList(struct node *n) {
while (n != NULL) {
printf("%d\n", n->data);
n = n->next;
}
}
void main() {
head = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
second = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
third = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
head->data = 1;
head->next = second;
second->data = 2;
second->next = third;
third->data = 3;
third->next = NULL;
printList(head);
insertAtBeg(head, 0);
printf("after insertion at beginning\n");
printList(head);
insertAtEnd(head, 4);
printf("after insertion at End\n");
printList(head);
deleteElement(head, 0);
printf("after deletion at head in main\n");
printList(head);
}
output of the code is
1
2
3
after insertion at beginning
0
1
2
3
after insertion at End
0
1
2
3
4
after deletion at head in function
1
2
3
4
after deletion at head in main
0
1
2
3
4
Why is there a difference in output of the function called in main and the function called in another function.ie.after deletion at head in function and after deletion at head in main, when both are supposed to be deleting element from the same list
The problem is you need a way to modify the head of the list when inserting and/or deleting elements from the list.
A simple way to do this is for these functions to return a potentially updated value of the head pointer and for the caller to store this return value into it's head variable.
Here is a modified version of your code with these semantics:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct node {
int data;
struct node *next;
};
struct node *insertAtBeg(struct node *head, int data) {
struct node *temp;
temp = (struct node *)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
// should test for memory allocation failure
temp->data = data;
temp->next = head;
return temp;
}
struct node *insertAtEnd(struct node *head, int data) {
struct node *temp;
struct node *n;
temp = (struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
// should test for memory allocation failure
temp->data = data;
temp->next = NULL;
if (head == NULL)
return temp;
n = head;
while (n->next != NULL) {
n = n->next;
}
n->next = temp;
return head;
}
struct node *deleteElement(struct node *head, int data) {
// delete the first node with a given data
if (head->data == data) {
struct node *temp = head;
head = head->next;
free(temp);
} else {
struct node *n = head;
while (n->next != NULL) {
if (n->next->data == data) {
struct node *temp = n->next;
n->next = temp->next;
free(temp);
break;
}
}
}
return head;
}
void printList(const struct node *n) {
while (n != NULL) {
printf("%d\n", n->data);
n = n->next;
}
}
int main() {
struct node *head = NULL;
head = insertAtBeg(head, 1);
head = insertAtEnd(head, 2);
head = insertAtEnd(head, 3);
printList(head);
head = insertAtBeg(head, 0);
printf("after insertion at beginning\n");
printList(head);
head = insertAtEnd(head, 4);
printf("after insertion at End\n");
printList(head);
head = deleteElement(head, 0);
printf("after deletion at head in main\n");
printList(head);
// should free the list
return 0;
}
An alternative is to pass the address of the list head pointer so the function can modify it if needed.
Here is a modified version of your code with this alternative approach:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct node {
int data;
struct node *next;
};
struct node *insertAtBeg(struct node **headp, int data) {
struct node *temp = malloc(sizeof(*temp));
if (temp != NULL) {
temp->data = data;
temp->next = *headp;
*headp = temp;
}
return temp;
}
struct node *insertAtEnd(struct node **headp, int data) {
struct node *temp = malloc(sizeof(*temp));
if (temp != NULL) {
temp->data = data;
temp->next = NULL;
if (*headp == NULL) {
*headp = temp;
} else {
struct node *n = *headp;
while (n->next != NULL) {
n = n->next;
}
n->next = temp;
}
}
return temp;
}
int deleteElement(struct node **headp, int data) {
// delete the first node with a given data
struct node *head = *headp;
if (head->data == data) {
*headp = head->next;
free(temp);
return 1; // node was found and freed
} else {
struct node *n = head;
while (n->next != NULL) {
if (n->next->data == data) {
struct node *temp = n->next;
n->next = temp->next;
free(temp);
return 1; // node was found and freed
}
}
return 0; // node not found
}
}
void printList(const struct node *n) {
while (n != NULL) {
printf("%d\n", n->data);
n = n->next;
}
}
int main() {
struct node *head = NULL;
insertAtBeg(&head, 1);
insertAtEnd(&head, 2);
insertAtEnd(&head, 3);
printList(head);
insertAtBeg(&head, 0);
printf("after insertion at beginning\n");
printList(head);
insertAtEnd(&head, 4);
printf("after insertion at End\n");
printList(head);
deleteElement(&head, 0);
printf("after deletion at head in main\n");
printList(head);
// free the list
while (head != NULL) {
deleteElement(&head, head->data);
}
return 0;
}
This alternative approach uses double pointers, so it is a bit more difficult for beginners to comprehend, but it has a strong advantage: the functions can update the list pointer and provide a meaningful return value that can be tested to detect errors. For example insertAtBeg() and insertAtEnd() return NULL if the new node could not be allocated but preserve the list. Similarly deleteElement() can return an indicator showing whether the element was found or not.
With this approach, you can write functions to pop the first or last element of the list, or the one at a given index, or one with a given data, while updating the list pointer as needed.
In the function void deleteElement(struct node *head,int data) you are passing a pointer to the head node. If you make changes to the node, then that works because you are pointing to the actual node. However, the variable head is a local copy of the pointer, which is not the one in main. When you change head to head->next that is only changing the local copy, so it has no effect outside deleteElement.
ADVANCED LEVEL POINTERS
To actually change head you have to pass a pointer to it, making a double pointer:
void deleteElement(struct node **phead,int data) {
struct node *temp;
temp = *phead;
*phead = (*phead)->next;
this means you have to pass the address of head &head as the parameter.

Linked List C: add node to beginning, unexpected '0' value

I am trying to add a new node to the end of a linked list, I am able to add something, but when I print it out the node has a value of '0'. I thought this might be happening because I may have neglected to initialise a variable somewhere, or forgot to allocate memory said variable. but I can't get it to work.
Here is my source code:
my Linked List/struct:
#include<stdio.h>
typedef char DATA;
struct Node {
DATA d;
struct Node *next;
};
my printList function:
void printList(struct Node **head) {
struct Node *newNode = malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
struct Node *temp;
temp = *head;
printf("Linked list:");
while (temp->next != NULL) {
printf( " \n %d ", temp->d);
temp = temp->next;
}
printf("\n");
}
my insertNodeAtEnd to end function:
// inset data at end
void insertNodeAtEnd(struct Node *head) {
struct Node *newNode = malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
struct Node *currentNode, *temp;
temp = newNode;
currentNode = newNode;
printf("Enter a Node to insert at the end of the list \n");
scanf("%s", &newNode->d);
newNode->next = NULL;
if (head == NULL) {
head = newNode;
currentNode = newNode;
} else {
temp = head;
while (temp->next != NULL) {
temp = temp->next;
}
temp->next = newNode;
}
}
and my main():
int main() {
struct Node *newNode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
struct Node *head = newNode;
struct Node *temp = newNode;
head->d = 1;
int i = 0;
printf("Enter 3 numbers");
for (i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
struct Node *newNode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
scanf("%d", &temp->d);
temp->next = newNode;
temp = temp->next;
}
insertNodeAtEnd(head);
printList(&head);
return 0;
sorry for any messy code, I'm still reasonably new at this
Well, you have a couple of mistakes. Firstly, you need to add
temp->next = NULL;
before line insertNodeAtEnd(head);. The reason your code might work without this line is probably because your compiler initializes the pointer to NULL by default. For example in GCC you program is crashing without that line.Second problem is that you are defyning DATA type as a char, but reading it as int. It may cause crashing your application if processor working with big-engian addresses. You should change it to
typedef int DATA;
and also change
scanf("%s", &newNode->d);
to
scanf("%d", &newNode->d);
After that, change
while(temp->next!=NULL)
to
while(temp!=NULL)
because otherwise you are missing the last element. Then, you need to reorder a loop a little bit. This is the full working code with all fixes:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <math.h>
typedef int DATA;
struct Node
{
DATA d;
struct Node *next;
};
void printList(struct Node **head)
{
struct Node *newNode;
struct Node *temp;
temp = *head;
printf("Linked list:");
while(temp!=NULL)
{
printf( " \n %d ", temp->d);
temp = temp->next;
}
printf("\n");
}
// inset data at end
void insertNodeAtEnd(struct Node **headPointer)
{
struct Node *head = *headPointer;
struct Node *newNode = malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
struct Node *currentNode, *temp;
temp = newNode;
currentNode = newNode;
printf("Enter a Node to insert at the end of the list \n");
scanf("%d", &newNode->d);
newNode->next = NULL;
if(head == NULL)
{
head = newNode;
currentNode = newNode;
}
else
{
temp = head;
while(temp->next!= NULL)
{
temp = temp->next;
}
temp->next = newNode;
}
*headPointer = head;
}
int main()
{
struct Node *newNode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
struct Node *head = newNode;
struct Node *temp = newNode;
head->d = 1;
int i = 0;
printf("Enter 3 numbers: ");
for(i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
if(i){
struct Node *newNode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
temp->next = newNode;
temp = temp->next;
scanf("%d", &temp->d);
}else{
scanf("%d", &temp->d);
}
}
temp->next = NULL;
insertNodeAtEnd(&head);
printList(&head);
return 0;
}
UPDATE
I added a two more fixes. as #BLUEPIXY pointed out, there are a few more OP's mistakes. I've already spotted them, but I didn't fix it because they were not essential to what causes OP's problem. But, anyway, the mistakes are following:
Firstly, if the list is empty, function insertNodeAtEnd will not update pointer to the list because you are passing pointer to head of the list instead of pointer of a pointer to the head. It can be fixed by adding ** to the function argument type.
Secondly, you don't need to allocate memory while printing a list. You obviously just copied the code to each function, even to functions which doesn't require inserting nodes (like printList).
The above script is updated script including these two fixes.

Linked List not printing

I am trying to create a simple linked list using C, I think I was able to construct the linked list itself, but when I try and print it, it prints the value of the last node instead of all the values in the list.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <alloca.h>
typedef int DATA;
struct Node
{
DATA d;
struct Node *next;
};
void printList(struct Node **head)
{
struct Node *newNode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
struct Node *temp;
temp = *head;
while(temp!=NULL)
{
printf("%d \n", temp->d);
temp = temp->next;
}
}
int main()
{
struct Node *newNode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
struct Node *head = newNode;
struct Node *temp = newNode;
head->d = 1;
int i = 0;
printf("Enter 3 numbers");
for( i = 0; i< 3; i++)
{
scanf("%d", &temp->d);
temp->next = newNode;
temp = temp->next;
}
temp->next = NULL;
printf("%d \n", temp->d);
return 0;
}
Any help/tips would be greatly appreciated.
There are multiple problems in your code:
You are not creating the list properly. You are allocating memory for only one node and playing around with pointers improperly causing the linked list to be pointed to the same memory
You are not calling printList function at all
It is not clear why you are allocating memory again in printList whereas it should be printing the already created list
Also, no need to pass double pointer for printList as you are not modifying the list.
Though you should be understanding and doing the changes yourself, I am providing a below modified program which I hope will help you understand the mistakes in your code.
Please see the below modified version of the code
#include<stdio.h>
#include <alloca.h>
typedef int DATA;
struct Node
{
DATA d;
struct Node *next;
};
void printList(struct Node *head)
{
struct Node *temp = head;
while(temp!=NULL)
{
printf("%d \n", temp->d);
temp = temp->next;
}
}
struct Node *createNode()
{
struct Node *newNode;
newNode = malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
if (NULL == newNode)
return NULL;
memset(newNode, 0, sizeof(struct Node));
return newNode;
}
int main()
{
struct Node *newNode = NULL;
struct Node *headNode = NULL;
struct Node *temp = NULL;
int i = 0;
int data = 0;
printf("Enter 3 numbers\n");
for( i = 0; i< 3; i++)
{
scanf("%d", &data);
newNode = createNode();
if (NULL == newNode)
break;
newNode->d = data;
if (headNode == NULL)
{
headNode = newNode;
temp = newNode;
}
else
{
temp->next = newNode;
temp = temp->next;
}
}
printList(headNode);
return 0;
}
Replace your code with the following code :-
#include<stdio.h>
#include <alloca.h>
typedef int DATA;
struct Node
{
DATA d;
struct Node *next;
};
void printList(struct Node **head)
{
struct Node *newNode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
struct Node *temp;
temp = *head;
while(temp->next!=NULL)
{
printf("%d \n", temp->d);
temp = temp->next;
}
}
int main()
{
struct Node *newNode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
struct Node *head = newNode;
struct Node *temp = newNode;
head->d = 1;
int i = 0;
printf("Enter 3 numbers");
for( i = 0; i< 3; i++)
{
struct Node *newNode = (struct Node *)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
scanf("%d", &temp->d);
temp->next = newNode;
temp = temp->next;
}
printList(head);
return 0;
}
Here you need to declare the newNode in the loop also while taking the input. As, the current value is over-writted, the old value is lossed and only the value of last node is printed.
Also while printing, check for temp->next!=Null instead of temp!=NULL

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