I have been working on a project in C and I am having trouble when trying to copy char* using strcpy/memcpy/strncpy, none of these seem to work. The problem that is arising is that the words that are around 8 or more characters long are not being copied completely.
typedef struct wordFrequency {
char * word;
int frequency;
struct wordFrequency *left, *right;
} *node;
node setnode(char * word) {
node newNode = (node)malloc(sizeof(node));
newNode->word = (char*)malloc(sizeof(word));
strcpy(newNode->word, word); //This is where I'm having trouble
newNode->frequency = 1;
newNode->right = NULL;
return newNode;
}
The code above is what I believe is the main cause for error, but I don't know where to fix it. I have tried messing with the sizes, but that didn't work.
If possible can someone explain to me a way to copy all characters or if I did not allocate enough space?
This program is an mcve that shows how to properly allocate and initialize each node in your linked list:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#define ARRAY_SIZE(array) \
(sizeof(array) / sizeof(array[0]))
typedef struct wordFrequency {
char *word;
int frequency;
struct wordFrequency *left, *right;
} node;
node *setnode(char *word) {
node *newNode = malloc(sizeof(node));
newNode->word = malloc(strlen(word) + 1);
strcpy(newNode->word, word);
newNode->frequency = 1;
newNode->right = NULL;
return newNode;
}
int main() {
char *wordList[] = {"one", "two", "three"};
node nodeHead;
node *nodePrev = &nodeHead;
node *nodeNext;
for (int index = 0; index < ARRAY_SIZE(wordList); index++) {
nodeNext = setnode(wordList[index]);
nodePrev->right = nodeNext;
nodeNext->left = nodePrev;
nodePrev = nodeNext;
}
for (node *nodePtr = nodeHead.right; nodePtr != NULL; nodePtr = nodePtr->right) {
printf("word = %s, frequency = %d\n", nodePtr->word, nodePtr->frequency);
}
return 0;
}
Output
word = one, frequency = 1
word = two, frequency = 1
word = three, frequency = 1
Note
This program has no error checking and does not free the allocated memory. This code should not be used in a production environment.
Replies to Questions in Comments
I replaced *node with node in the typedef because that allows me to declare instances of node. The other syntax only allows pointers to node.
I use an instance of node instead of node * for nodeHead because any attempt to change its address will be an error.
I use nodePrev to traverse the list and also to provide a target for left in the returned nodes. I initialize nodePrev to &nodeHead because it is the start of the list. I set nodePrev to nodeNext because that's how I chose to traverse the list during initialization. I could have used
nodePrev = nodePrev->right;
and achieved the same effect.
I only implemented list handling so that I could create a self-contained example that would run without changes. You can safely ignore it.
If you want to see good linked list code, I recommend the linux kernel implementation.
I have a struct called employee in my program with the following definition:
struct employee {
int id;
int age;
struct *employee next;
};
How would I take in input from the user, create a struct from their input, and create a singly linked list using pointers? I'm having a lot of issues figuring out how to do this dynamically. In Java, this is easily done through the constructor but how would you do this in C?
EDIT: Assuming the input is simply two ints (id and age).
This is how you create a new employee struct. You are dynamically allocating the memory using malloc function.
struct employee *new_employee = (struct employee*)malloc(sizeof(struct employee));
Now, we need to fill the data into this newly created employee field:
new_employee -> id = input_id;
new_employee -> age = input_age;
As for the next pointer, it is usually given NULL value. This is to prevent the next pointer from pointing to any arbitrary memory location.
new_employee -> next = NULL;
Finally, we have to link the list. To do that, you have to point the next pointer of the previous employee field to the current employee field (ex:as you mentioned in comment, first one (9,3) having a next pointer to the second one (3, 2))
Since it is a singly linked list, we cannot backtrack. So, there are two methods to access the previous field.
First is to maintain a pointer that points to the last field of the link list.
Second is to traverse the entire list till the end, and when you reach the last element, change its next pointer.
Implementation of the second method:
node *temp = *start;
if(temp!=NULL)
{
while(temp -> next)
temp = temp -> next;
temp -> next = new_employee;
}
Hope it helps!
Note : don't give me fish teach me how to fish
This is an example :
struct node {
int value;
struct *node next;
};
How to create new Node pointer dynamically ?
node* aux = (node*) malloc(sizeof(node));
How to get user input ( safely ) ?
char line[256];
int i;
if (fgets(line, sizeof(line), stdin)) {
if (1 == sscanf(line, "%d", &i)) {
/* i can be safely used */
}
}
How to create a linked list's head ?
/* This will be the unchanging first node */
struct node *root;
/* Now root points to a node struct */
root = (struct node *) malloc( sizeof(struct node) );
/* The node root points to has its next pointer equal to a null pointer
set */
root->next = 0;
/* By using the -> operator, you can modify what the node,
a pointer, (root in this case) points to. */
root->value = 5;
How to add new node to the linked list ?
/* This won't change, or we would lose the list in memory */
struct node *root;
/* This will point to each node as it traverses the list */
struct node *conductor;
root = malloc( sizeof(struct node) );
root->next = 0;
root->value = 12;
conductor = root;
if ( conductor != 0 ) {
while ( conductor->next != 0)
{
conductor = conductor->next;
}
}
/* Creates a node at the end of the list */
conductor->next = malloc( sizeof(struct node) );
conductor = conductor->next;
if ( conductor == 0 )
{
printf( "Out of memory" );
return 0;
}
/* initialize the new memory */
conductor->next = 0;
conductor->value = 42;
Now you must be able to solve the problem easily .
Happy Coding :D
I'm learning C and I'm trying to understand a better concept of a Linked List.
I have a code as an example (I changed it to be like the one i want to understand better).
The code doesnt have any mistakes but again like i said it's to understand it better.
Please have a look at the code first and below the code i'll ask my questions:
Here is the code for my struct and my first function:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct client{
char first_name[20];
char last_name[20];
char id;
char reference;
char deposit;
struct client *next; // pointer to the next entry in the clients list
};
typedef struct client new_Client;
/***********************************************************
* find_Client
* Finds a place in the list to insert new user
* Input: User's first and last name, id, reference, deposit
* Returns: A pointer to teh struct which AFTER we'll insert
the new struct. NULL if head of the linked-list
***********************************************************/
new_Client *find_Client(char *new_last_name, new_Client *head)
{
new_Client *prev = NULL; // previous has nothing
new_Client *curr = head; // current is the head
while (curr != NULL) //// while the current is not NULL because if it's null it's not head
{
if (strcmp(new_last_name, curr->last_name)<0)
break;
prev = curr;
curr = curr->next; // pointing to the next node
}
return prev;
}
And here is my next function where i usually have a problem understanding
/***********************************************************
* add_new_Client
* Adds a new client
* Input: clients details and the address of the list's head
* Returns: nothing
***********************************************************/
void add_new_Client(char *first_n, char *last_n, char *ident, char *ref, char *dep, new_Client **head)
{
new_Client *after;
// create new entry
new_Client *new_entry = (new_Client*)malloc(sizeof(new_Client)); //allocating size of the struct
if (NULL == new_entry)
{
exit(1); //Q1: does it mean that it terminates?
}
else
{
strcpy(new_entry->first_name, first_n);
strcpy(new_entry->last_name, last_n);
strcpy(&new_entry->id, ident);
strcpy(&new_entry->reference, ref);
strcpy(&new_entry->deposit, dep);
}
after = find_Client(new_entry->last_name, *head); // Q2: don't understand this line..
if (NULL == after) // new head
{
if (NULL == *head) // Q3: for adding the first item (when the head is NULL) --> why is this condition necessary
{
new_entry->next = NULL;
}
else
{
new_entry->next = *head;
}
*head = new_entry;
}else
{ //add in the middle
new_entry->next = after->next;
after->next = new_entry;
}
}
Okay so i put my questions in the code itself. They're marked as Q1,Q2 and Q3.
Please let me know if you would prefer i edit on my post and change the questioning methode for it to be easier for you to understand my questions.
//Q1: does it mean that it terminates?
exit(1);
Yes, the program will exit with 1, which is interpreted as failure.
// Q2: don't understand this line..
after = find_Client(new_entry->last_name, *head);
here, after is a pointer to a struct new_Client. The function find_Client returns a pointer to a client that was searched using new_entry->last_name, and head is passed in order to give the search a beginning, somewhere to start.
// Q3: for adding the first item (when the head is NULL) --> why is this condition necessary
if (NULL == *head)
Because when the there is only one element in the list it is alone, that is, it doesn't have a next element. If the list size is higher than one, however, the new node's next element will point to the head, and the this new node will be the new head. That is, the new node's next element will have the value of the last head element, just before it. This is why this distinction is necessary.
I wanted to make a list using double pointer and using void as return.
#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
typedef struct list{
int value;
struct list *next;
}*list;
void addnode(struct list **List, int number) {
if(*List == NULL) {
*List = (struct list*)malloc(sizeof(struct list*));
(*List)->value = number;
(*List)->next = NULL;
} else {
while((*List)->next != NULL) {
(*List) = (*List)->next;
}
*List = (struct list*)malloc(sizeof(struct list*));
(*List)->value = number;
(*List)->next = NULL;
}
}
int main() {
list List1 = NULL;
addnode(&List1, 20);
printf("%d \n", List1->value);
addnode(&List1, 30);
printf("%d \n", List1->value);
printf("%d \n", List1->next->value);
return 0;
}
The first if in addnode is always executed but i want to append the list if its not empty but it seems like it never work. Ill also get segmenation fault because in the last printf it tries to take the next element in the list but its never initialized like i want.
If everthing worked as i wanted i should have printed out
printf("%d\n", List1->value)
20
printf("%d\n", List1->value)
20
printf("%d\n", List1->next->value)
30
The size you are passing to malloc is wrong.
You are allocating a struct list, not a struct list *.
If you are trying to append a new list item, remember (*List)->next will already be NULL on the second call. The malloc following that uses the pointer before the NULL list item (*List) when it should be assigned to the next list item, the one that is NULL, to make it non-NULL ((*List)->next=malloc(struct list);).
Also, your malloc should be using sizeof(struct list), without the *. If you add the *, you're allocating a struct list **. A rule you can use is use one * fewer than the destination type as the sizeof operand. Since your destination is *List, which is of type struct list *, use sizeof(struct list). Alternatively, because your destination is *List, use sizeof **List (use one more * than the destination variable has). This avoids you needing to know the type. It won't matter if List or *List is NULL because the sizeof operation is executed first; pointer dereferencing never occurs since sizeof works on the type of the variable.
Modify your program like this
int addNode(struct list **List, int number)
{
struct list *new, *tmp; // new = create new node, tmp = navigate to last
new = malloc(sizeof(struct list));
if(!new) { //always validate "malloc"
perror("malloc");
exit(1);
}
new -> value = value; // assigning values to new node
new -> next = NULL;
if(!(*list)) { //Check if list is empty or not, plz initialize *list#main() with NULL as like your program. or write seperate function to initialize
*list = new;
return 0; //no need write else condition, bcoz its the first node. and u can directly return
}
tmp = *list;
while(tmp -> next) // To navigate to last node
tmp = tmp -> next;
tmp -> next = new; //creating link to new node
return 0;
}
It's better to write print function seperatly.
int print(struct list **list)
{
struct *current; //current is your current node position
current = *list;
while(current) { //loop till current node addr == NULL
printf("%d\t", current -> value);
current = current -> next;
}
printf("\n");
return 0;
}
I am creating a linked list as in the previous question I asked. I have found that the best way to develop the linked list is to have the head and tail in another structure. My products struct will be nested inside this structure. And I should be passing the list to the function for adding and deleting. I find this concept confusing.
I have implemented the initialize, add, and clean_up. However, I am not sure that I have done that correctly.
When I add a product to the list I declare some memory using calloc. But I am thinking shouldn't I be declaring the memory for the product instead. I am really confused about this adding.
Many thanks for any suggestions,
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#define PRODUCT_NAME_LEN 128
typedef struct product_data
{
int product_code;
char product_name[PRODUCT_NAME_LEN];
int product_cost;
struct product_data_t *next;
}product_data_t;
typedef struct list
{
product_data_t *head;
product_data_t *tail;
}list_t;
void add(list_t *list, int code, char name[], int cost);
void initialize(list_t *list);
void clean_up(list_t *list);
int main(void)
{
list_t *list = NULL;
initialize(list);
add(list, 10, "Dell Inspiron", 1500);
clean_up(list);
getchar();
return 0;
}
void add(list_t *list, int code, char name[], int cost)
{
// Allocate memory for the new product
list = calloc(1, sizeof(list_t));
if(!list)
{
fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocated memory");
exit(1);
}
if(list)
{
// First item to add to the list
list->head->product_code = code;
list->head->product_cost = cost;
strncpy(list->head->product_name, name, sizeof(list->head->product_name));
// Terminate the string
list->head->product_name[127] = '/0';
}
}
// Initialize linked list
void initialize(list_t *list)
{
// Set list node to null
list = NULL;
list = NULL;
}
// Release all resources
void clean_up(list_t *list)
{
list_t *temp = NULL;
while(list)
{
temp = list->head;
list->head = list->head->next;
free(temp);
}
list = NULL;
list = NULL;
temp = NULL;
}
============================== Edited ============================
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#define PRODUCT_NAME_LEN 64
// typedef struct product_data product_data_t;
typedef struct product_data
{
int product_code;
char product_name[PRODUCT_NAME_LEN];
int product_cost;
}product_data_t;
typedef struct list
{
struct list *head;
struct list *tail;
struct list *next;
struct list *current_node;
product_data_t *data;
}list_t;
void add(list_t *list, int code, char name[], int cost);
int main(void)
{
list_t *list = NULL;
list = initialize(list);
add(list, 1001, "Dell Inspiron 2.66", 1299);
add(list, 1002, "Macbook Pro 2.66", 1499);
clean_up(list);
getchar();
return 0;
}
void add(list_t *list, int code, char name[], int cost)
{
/* Allocate memory for the new product */
product_data_t *product = (product_data_t*) calloc(1, sizeof(*product));
if(!product)
{
fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory.");
exit(1);
}
/* This is the first item in the list */
product->product_code = code;
product->product_cost = cost;
strncpy(product->product_name, name, sizeof(product->product_name));
product->product_name[PRODUCT_NAME_LEN - 1] = '\0';
if(!list->head)
{
/* Assign the address of the product. */
list = (list_t*) product;
/* Set the head and tail to this product */
list->head = (list_t*) product;
list->tail = (list_t*) product;
}
else
{
/* Append to the tail of the list. */
list->tail->next = (list_t*) product;
list->tail = (list_t*) product;
}
/* Assign the address of the product to the data on the list. */
list->data = (list_t*) product;
}
If you are looking to better understand the basics of linked lists, take a look at the following document:
http://cslibrary.stanford.edu/103/LinkedListBasics.pdf
Arguably you want your list data structure to be external to the data that it stores.
Say you have:
struct Whatever
{
int x_;
}
Then your list structure would look like this:
struct Whatever_Node
{
Whatever_Node* next_
Whatever* data_
}
Ryan Oberoi commented similarly, but w/o example.
In your case the head and tail could simply point to the beginning and end of a linked-list. With a singly linked-list, only the head is really needed. At it's most basic, a linked-list can be made by using just a struct like:
typedef struct listnode
{
//some data
struct listnode *next;
}listnodeT;
listnodeT *list;
listnodeT *current_node;
list = (listnodeT*)malloc(sizeof(listnodeT));
current_node = list;
and as long as list is always pointing to the beginning of the list and the last item has next set to NULL, you're fine and can use current_node to traverse the list. But sometimes to make traversing the list easier and to store any other data about the list, a head and tail token are used, and wrapped into their own structure, like you have done. So then your add and initialize functions would be something like (minus error detection)
// Initialize linked list
void initialize(list_t *list)
{
list->head = NULL;
list->tail = NULL;
}
void add(list_t *list, int code, char name[], int cost)
{
// set up the new node
product_data_t *node = (product_data_t*)malloc(sizeof(product_data_t));
node->code = code;
node->cost = cost;
strncpy(node->product_name, name, sizeof(node->product_name));
node->next = NULL;
if(list->head == NULL){ // if this is the first node, gotta point head to it
list->head = node;
list->tail = node; // for the first node, head and tail point to the same node
}else{
tail->next = node; // append the node
tail = node; // point the tail at the end
}
}
In this case, since it's a singly linked-list, the tail is only really useful for appending items to the list. To insert an item, you'll have to traverse the list starting at the head. Where the tail really comes in handy is with a doubly-linked list, it allows you to traverse the list starting at either end. You can traverse this list like
// return a pointer to element with product code
product_data_t* seek(list_t *list, int code){
product_data_t* iter = list->head;
while(iter != NULL)
if(iter->code == code)
return iter;
iter = iter->next;
}
return NULL; // element with code doesn't exist
}
Often times, the head and tail are fully constructed nodes themselves used as a sentinel to denote the beginning and end of a list. They don't store data themselves (well rather, their data represent a sentinel token), they are just place holders for the front and back. This can make it easier to code some algorithms dealing with linked lists at the expense of having to have two extra elements. Overall, linked lists are flexible data structures with several ways to implement them.
oh yeah, and nik is right, playing with linked-lists are a great way to get good with pointers and indirection. And they are also a great way to practice recursion too! After you have gotten good with linked-list, try building a tree next and use recursion to walk the tree.
I am not writing the code here but you need to do the following:
Create and object of list, this will remain global for the length of program.
Malloc the size of product _ data _ t.
For first element (head is NULL), point head to the malloced' address.
To add next element, move to the end of list and then add the pointer of malloced address to next of last element. (The next of the last element will always be NULL, so thats how you traverse to end.)
Forget tail for a while.
If you are learning C pointer theory this is a good exercise.
Otherwise, it feels like too much indirection for code that is not generic (as in a library).
Instead of allocating a static 128 byte character string, you might want to do some more pointer practice and use an allocated exact length string that you clean up at exit.
Academically, kungfucraigs' structure looks more generic then the one you have defined.
You're calloc'ing space for your list_t struct, just pointers to list head and tail, which isn't what you want to do.
When you add to a linked list, allocate space for an actual node in the list, which is your product_data_t struct.
You're allocating the wrong chunk of memory. Instead of allocating memory for each list element, you're allocating for the list head and tail.
For simplicity, get rid of the separate structure for the head and tail. Make them global variables (the same scope they're in now) and change them to be listhead and listtail. This will make the code much more readable (you won't be needlessly going through a separate structure) and you won't make the mistake of allocating for the wrong struct.
You don't need a tail pointer unless you're going to make a doubly linked list. Its not a major element to add once you create a linked list, but not necessary either.
In memory your items are linked by pointers in the list structure
item1 -> item2
Why not make the list structure part of your item?
Then you allocate a product item, and the list structure is within it.
typedef struct product_data
{
int product_code;
char product_name[PRODUCT_NAME_LEN];
int product_cost;
struct list_t list; // contains the pointers to other product data in the list
}product_data_t;
I think u first need to Imagin back-end. Code are nothing to important. Go here and visualize back-end basic c code of all insertion.
1) Insertion at beginning Visit and scroll to get every instruction execution on back- end
And u need front and imagin Go here
Back end imagin
And All other possible insertion here.
And important thing u can use this way.
struct Node{
int data;//data field
struct Node*next;//pointer field
};
struct Node*head,*tail; // try this way
or short cut
struct Node{
int data;//data field
struct Node*next;//pointer field
}*head,*tail; //global root pointer
And << Click >> To visualize other linked list problem.
Thanks.
A demo for Singly Linked List. If you prefer, try to check Circular Linked List and Doubly Linked List.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
typedef struct node {
int val;
struct node * next;
} node_t;
// Iterating over a list
void
print_list(node_t *head)
{
node_t *current = head;
while(current != NULL)
{
printf("%d\n", current->val);
current = current->next;
}
}
// Adding an item to the end of the list
void
push_end(node_t *head, int val)
{
node_t *current = head;
while (current->next != NULL)
{
current = current->next;
}
current->next = malloc(sizeof(node_t));
current->next->val = val;
current->next->next = NULL;
}
// Adding an item to the head of the list
void
push_head(node_t **head, int val)
{
node_t *new_node = NULL;
new_node = malloc(sizeof(node_t));
new_node->val = val;
new_node->next = *head;
*head = new_node;
}
// Removing the head item of the list
int
pop_head(node_t **head)
{
int retval = -1;
node_t *next_node = NULL;
if (*head == NULL) {
return -1;
}
next_node = (*head)->next;
retval = (*head)->val;
free(*head);
*head = next_node;
return retval;
}
// Removing the last item of the list
int
pop_last(node_t *head)
{
int retval = 0;
node_t *current = NULL;
if (head->next == NULL) {
retval = head->val;
free(head);
return retval;
}
/* get to the second to last node in the list */
current = head;
while (current->next->next != NULL) {
current = current->next;
}
/* now current points to the second to last item of the list.
so let's remove current->next */
retval = current->next->val;
free(current->next);
current->next = NULL;
return retval;
}
// Removing a specific item
int
remove_by_index(node_t **head, int n)
{
int i = 0;
int retval = -1;
node_t *current = *head;
node_t *temp_node = NULL;
if (n == 0) {
return pop_head(head);
}
for (i = 0; i < n - 1; i++) {
if (current->next == NULL) {
return -1;
}
current = current->next;
}
temp_node = current->next;
retval = temp_node->val;
current->next = temp_node->next;
free(temp_node);
return retval;
}
int
main(int argc, const char *argv[])
{
int i;
node_t * testnode;
for (i = 0; i < argc; i++)
{
push_head(&testnode, atoi(argv[i]));
}
print_list(testnode);
return 0;
}
// http://www.learn-c.org/en/Linked_lists
// https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/data-structures/linked-list/
The linked list implementation inspired by the implementation used in the Linux kernel:
// for 'offsetof', see: https://stackoverflow.com/q/6433339/5447906.
#include <stddef.h>
// See: https://stackoverflow.com/q/10269685/5447906.
#define CONTAINER_OF(ptr, type, member) \
( (type *) ((char *)(ptr) - offsetof(type, member)) )
// The macro can't be used for list head.
#define LIST_DATA(ptr, type, member) \
CONTAINER_OF(ptr, type, member);
// The struct is used for both: list head and list nodes.
typedef struct list_node
{
struct list_node *prev, *next;
}
list_node;
// List heads must be initialized by this function.
// Using the function for list nodes is not required.
static inline void list_head_init(list_node *node)
{
node->prev = node->next = node;
}
// The helper function, mustn't be used directly.
static inline void list_add_helper(list_node *prev, list_node *next, list_node *nnew)
{
next->prev = nnew;
nnew->next = next;
nnew->prev = prev;
prev->next = nnew;
}
// 'node' must be a list head or a part of a list.
// 'nnew' must not be a list head or a part of a list. It may
// be uninitialized or contain any data (even garbage).
static inline void list_add_after(list_node *node, list_node *nnew)
{
list_add_helper(node, node->next, nnew);
}
// 'node' must be a list head or a part of a list.
// 'nnew' must not be a list head or a part of a list. It may
// be uninitialized or contain any data (even garbage).
static inline void list_add_before(list_node *node, list_node *nnew)
{
list_add_helper(node->prev, node, nnew);
}
// 'node' must be part of a list.
static inline list_node *list_del(list_node *node)
{
node->prev->next = node->next;
node->next->prev = node->prev;
return node->prev;
}
Example of usage:
#include <stdio.h>
// The struct must contain 'list_node' to be able to be inserted to a list
typedef struct
{
int data;
list_node node;
}
my_struct;
// Convert 'list_node *' to 'my_struct*' that contains this 'list_node'
static inline my_struct* get_my_struct(list_node *node_ptr)
{
return LIST_DATA(node_ptr, my_struct, node);
}
void print_my_list(list_node *head)
{
printf("list: {");
for (list_node *cur = head->next; cur != head; cur = cur->next)
{
my_struct *my = get_my_struct(cur);
printf(" %d", my->data);
}
printf(" }\n");
}
// Print 'cmd' and run it. Note: newline is not printed.
#define TRACE(cmd) \
(printf("%s -> ", #cmd), (cmd))
int main()
{
// The head of the list and the list itself. It doesn't contain any data.
list_node head;
list_head_init(&head);
// The list's nodes, contain 'int' data in 'data' member of 'my_struct'
my_struct el1 = {1};
my_struct el2 = {2};
my_struct el3 = {3};
print_my_list(&head); // print initial state of the list (that is an empty list)
// Run commands and print their result.
TRACE( list_add_after (&head , &el1.node) ); print_my_list(&head);
TRACE( list_add_after (&head , &el2.node) ); print_my_list(&head);
TRACE( list_add_before(&el1.node, &el3.node) ); print_my_list(&head);
TRACE( list_del (head.prev) ); print_my_list(&head);
TRACE( list_add_before(&head , &el1.node) ); print_my_list(&head);
TRACE( list_del (&el3.node) ); print_my_list(&head);
return 0;
}
The result of execution of the code above:
list: { }
list_add_after (&head , &el1.node) -> list: { 1 }
list_add_after (&head , &el2.node) -> list: { 2 1 }
list_add_before(&el1.node, &el3.node) -> list: { 2 3 1 }
list_del (head.prev) -> list: { 2 3 }
list_add_before(&head , &el1.node) -> list: { 2 3 1 }
list_del (&el3.node) -> list: { 2 1 }
http://coliru.stacked-crooked.com/a/6e852a996fb42dc2
Of course in real life you will most probably use malloc for list elements.
In C language, we need to define a Node to store an integer data and a pointer to the next value.
struct Node{
int data;
struct Node *next;
};
To add a new node, we have a function add which has data as an int parameter. At first we create a new Node n. If the program does not create n then we print an error message and return with value -1. If we create the n then we set the data of n to have the data of the parameter and the next will contain the root as it has the top of the stack. After that, we set the root to reference the new node n.
#include <stdio.h>
struct node
{
int data;
struct node* next;
};
int main()
{
//create pointer node for every new element
struct node* head = NULL;
struct node* second = NULL;
struct node* third = NULL;
//initialize every new pointer with same structure memory
head = malloc(sizeof(struct node));
second = malloc(sizeof(struct node));
third = malloc(sizeof(struct node));
head->data = 18;
head->next = second;
second->data = 20;
second->next = third;
third->data = 31;
third->next = NULL;
//print the linked list just increment by address
for (int i = 0; i < 3; ++i)
{
printf("%d\n",head->data++);
return 0;
}
}
This is a simple way to understand how does pointer work with the pointer. Here you need to just create pointer increment with new node so we can make it as an automatic.
Go STL route. Declaring linked lists should be agnostic of the data. If you really have to write it yourself, take a look at how it is implemented in STL or Boost.
You shouldn't even keep the *next pointer with your data structure. This allows you to use your product data structure in a various number of data structures - trees, arrays and queues.
Hope this info helps in your design decision.
Edit:
Since the post is tagged C, you have equivalent implementations using void* pointers that follow the basic design principle. For an example, check out:
Documentation | list.c | list.h