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Exploring Circular Linked Lists in Java
Linked lists are a fundamental data structure in computer science, offering flexibility and efficiency in managing collections of data. Among the variations of linked lists, the circular linked list stands out for its unique structure and applications. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the concept of circular linked lists, explore their implementation in Java, and discuss their advantages and use cases.
Understanding Circular Linked Lists
A circular linked list is similar to a regular linked list, with the key distinction being that the last node points back to the first node, forming a circle. Unlike linear linked lists, which have a NULL pointer at the end, circular linked lists have no NULL pointers within the list itself. This circular structure allows for traversal from any node to any other node within the list.
The basic components of a circular linked list include:
- Node: A unit of data that contains both the data value and a reference (pointer) to the next node in the sequence.
- Head: A reference to the first node in the list. In a circular linked list, this node is connected to the last node, forming a circle.
- Tail: Although not always explicitly maintained, it refers to the last node in the list, which points back…