What are the differences between linked lists and arrays?

What are the differences between linked lists and arrays?

Arrays are fixed-size data structures that store elements in contiguous memory locations, while linked lists are dynamic and consist of nodes that point to the next node.

Can you explain the advantages of using linked lists over arrays?

Linked lists allow for efficient insertions and deletions since you only need to update pointers, whereas arrays require shifting elements.

What about the performance in terms of accessing elements?

Arrays provide O(1) time complexity for accessing elements by index, while linked lists require O(n) time complexity as you must traverse the list.

Are there any scenarios where I should prefer arrays?

Yes, if you need fast access to elements and the size of the data is known and fixed, arrays are generally preferred.