How can I effectively implement linked list functionality in Python?

Using Linked Lists in Python

In Python, the standard list and tuple data structures are not true linked lists. Linked lists have unique advantages, including constant-time concatenation and easy referencing of distinct sections.

To define a linked list in Python, you can use the following code:

>>> class Node:
...     def __init__(self, data):
...         self.data = data
...         self.next = None

This defines a "Node" class that can store a piece of data and reference the next node in the list.

To create a linked list, create nodes and link them together:

>>> head = Node(1)
>>> second = Node(2)
>>> third = Node(3)
>>> head.next = second
>>> second.next = third

This code creates a linked list with head, second, and third as nodes. The head node is the starting point of the list.

To access elements in the list, traverse the nodes:

>>> current_node = head
>>> while current_node is not None:
...     print(current_node.data)
...     current_node = current_node.next

This code prints the data in each node in the list.

For certain applications, a deque (double-ended queue) may also be appropriate. Deques allow for adding and removing items from both ends with a O(1) time complexity.

<code class="python">>>> from collections import deque
>>> d = deque([1,2,3,4])
>>> d.pop()
4
>>> d
deque([1, 2, 3])</code>

By using linked lists or deques, you can effectively implement data structures in Python that have the advantageous properties of linked lists.

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