Exploring Linked List Traversal Algorithm in JavaScript

Introduction

Linked List is a popular data structure used to store and manage a collection of elements. Traversing a Linked List refers to visiting each node of the list in a specific order. In this article, we will explore the Linked List traversal algorithm and provide a JavaScript code snippet to illustrate its implementation.

Understanding Linked List Traversal

Traversal is the process of visiting each node in a Linked List from the beginning until the end. It allows us to access and operate on the data stored in each node. Traversal is typically performed using a loop or recursive function that iterates over the nodes, following the pointers or references between them.

Algorithm Implementation in JavaScript

Let's dive into the JavaScript implementation of the Linked List traversal algorithm. Below is a code snippet that demonstrates how to traverse a Linked List:

class Node {

  constructor(data) {

    this.data = data;

    this.next = null;

  }

}

class LinkedList {

  constructor() {

    this.head = null;

  }

  addNode(data) {

    const newNode = new Node(data);

    if (this.head === null) {

      this.head = newNode;

    } else {

      let current = this.head;

      while (current.next !== null) {

        current = current.next;

      }

      current.next = newNode;

    }

  }

  traverseList() {

    let current = this.head;

    while (current !== null) {

      console.log(current.data);

      current = current.next;

    }

  }

}

// Example usage

const linkedList = new LinkedList();

linkedList.addNode(1);

linkedList.addNode(2);

linkedList.addNode(3);

linkedList.traverseList();

Explanation of the Code

Let's break down the code snippet step by step:

1. The `Node` class represents a node in the Linked List. Each node contains a `data` property to store the value and a `next` property to reference the next node in the list.

2. The `LinkedList` class represents the Linked List data structure. It has a `head` property that points to the first node in the list.

3. The `addNode` method adds a new node to the end of the Linked List. It checks if the list is empty (i.e., `head` is null) and assigns the new node as the `head`. Otherwise, it traverses the list until it reaches the last node and appends the new node to the `next` property of the last node.

4. The `traverseList` method iterates through the Linked List, starting from the `head` node. It prints the data of each node and moves to the next node by updating the `current` variable to its `next` node.

5. In the example usage section, a new instance of the `LinkedList` class is created. Nodes with values 1, 2, and 3 are added to the list using the `addNode` method. Finally, the `traverseList` method is called to traverse and print the values of the Linked List.

Conclusion

Traversing a Linked List is a fundamental operation when working with this data structure. By understanding the traversal algorithm and its implementation in JavaScript, you can effectively iterate through a Linked List, access the data in each node, and perform operations as needed.