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How To Create a Linked List in Python
Practice your Python skills by implementing a linked list
What Is a Linked List?
A linked list is a basic data structure. It is a collection of nodes that connects each node to the next node with a pointer.
Each node consists of two items:
- Data (such as a number)
- Pointer to the next node
Here is an illustration of a linked list:
How To Implement a Linked List in Python
Next, you will learn how to implement a linked list in Python. In addition, you will implement useful linked list methods, such as the insertion and deletion of nodes.
Let’s get started.
Basic structure of a linked list
Let’s create a base class to represent a linked list. A linked list object only needs to know from where the list starts. This starting node is also known as the head node:
Let’s then create a class that represents the nodes of the linked list:
As described, a node holds data and a pointer to the next node.
Awesome. Now you have a basic linked list that is ready for testing.
Let’s test your linked list by creating three nodes and a linked list object. Let’s convert the first node as the head node of the list. Then let’s set the second node as the next node of the first one, and so on:
