What is a linear table

Linear table is the most basic, simplest, and most commonly used data structure. A linear list is a type of data structure. A linear list is a finite sequence of n data elements with the same characteristics.

The relationship between data elements in a linear table is a one-to-one relationship, that is, except for the first and last data elements, other data elements are connected end to end (note that this sentence It only applies to most linear lists, not all. For example, a circular linked list is also a linear list at the logical level (it belongs to linked storage at the storage level, but the tail pointer of the last data element points to the first node)

Definition

Linear list is a type of data structure. A linear list is a finite sequence of n data elements with the same characteristics. The data element is an abstract The symbol of is a record. A linear table containing a large number of records is also called a file.

The number n in the linear table is defined as the length of the linear table. When n=0, it is called an empty table. In non- Each data element in the empty list has a certain position. If ai is used to represent the data element, then i is called the bit order of the data element ai in the linear list.

Between adjacent elements of the linear list There is a sequence-even relationship. If (a1,...,ai-1,ai,ai 1,...,an) is used to represent a sequence table, then ai-1 is ahead of ai and ai is ahead of ai 1 in the table, which is called ai- 1 is the direct predecessor element of ai, and ai 1 is the direct successor element of ai. When i=1,2,…,n-1, ai has and only one direct successor. When i=2,3,…,n When, AI has and only one direct precursor [1] .

We talk about "linear" and "nonlinear" and only discuss them at the logical level , regardless of the storage level, so doubly linked lists and circular linked lists are still linear lists.

Subdivided at the logical level of the data structure, linear tables can be divided into general linear tables and restricted linear tables. General linear tables It is what we usually call a "linear list", and nodes can be deleted or added freely. Restricted linear lists mainly include stacks and queues, and restricted means that the operations on nodes are restricted.

The logical structure of the linear table is simple and easy to implement and operate. Therefore, the data structure of the linear table is a widely used data structure in practical applications.

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