Circular Linked List

A circular linked list is a type of linked list in which the first and the last nodes are also connected to each other to form a circle.

There are basically two types of circular linked list:

1. Circular Singly Linked List

Here, the address of the last node consists of the address of the first node.

Circular Linked List Representation
Circular Linked List Representation

2. Circular Doubly Linked List

Here, in addition to the last node storing the address of the first node, the first node will also store the address of the last node.

Circular Doubly Linked List Representation
Circular Doubly Linked List Representation

Note: We will be using the singly circular linked list to represent the working of circular linked list.


Representation of Circular Linked List

Let's see how we can represent a circular linked list on an algorithm/code. Suppose we have a linked list:

Initial circular linked list
Initial circular linked list

Here, the single node is represented as

struct Node {
    int data;
    struct Node * next;
};

Each struct node has a data item and a pointer to the next struct node.

Now we will create a simple circular linked list with three items to understand how this works.

/* Initialize nodes */
struct node *last;
struct node *one = NULL;
struct node *two = NULL;
struct node *three = NULL;

/* Allocate memory */
one = malloc(sizeof(struct node));
two = malloc(sizeof(struct node));
three = malloc(sizeof(struct node));

/* Assign data values */
one->data = 1;
two->data = 2;
three->data = 3;

/* Connect nodes */
one->next = two;
two->next = three;
three->next = one;

/* Save address of third node in last */
last = three;

In the above code, one, two, and three are the nodes with data items 1, 2, and 3 respectively.

For node one

  • next stores the address of two (there is no node before it)

For node two

  • next stores the address of three

For node three

  • next stores NULL (there is no node after it)
  • next points to node one

Insertion on a Circular Linked List

We can insert elements at 3 different positions of a circular linked list:

  1. Insertion at the beginning
  2. Insertion in-between nodes
  3. Insertion at the end

Suppose we have a circular linked list with elements 1, 2, and 3.

Initial circular linked list
Initial circular linked list

Let's add a node with value 6 at different positions of the circular linked list we made above. The first step is to create a new node.

  • allocate memory for newNode
  • assign the data to newNode
New node
New node

1. Insertion at the Beginning

  • store the address of the current first node in the newNode (i.e. pointing the newNode to the current first node)
  • point the last node to newNode (i.e making newNode as head)
Insert at the beginning
Insert at the beginning

2. Insertion in between two nodes

Let's insert newNode after the first node.

  • travel to the node given (let this node be p)
  • point the next of newNode to the node next to p
  • store the address of newNode at next of p
Insertion at a node
Insertion at a node

3. Insertion at the end

  • store the address of the head node to next of newNode (making newNode the last node)
  • point the current last node to newNode
  • make newNode as the last node
Insert at the end
Insert at the end

Deletion on a Circular Linked List

Suppose we have a double-linked list with elements 1, 2, and 3.

Initial circular linked list
Initial circular linked list

1. If the node to be deleted is the only node

  • free the memory occupied by the node
  • store NULL in last

2. If last node is to be deleted

  • find the node before the last node (let it be temp)
  • store the address of the node next to the last node in temp
  • free the memory of last
  • make temp as the last node
Delete the last node
Delete the last node

3. If any other nodes are to be deleted

  • travel to the node to be deleted (here we are deleting node 2)
  • let the node before node 2 be temp
  • store the address of the node next to 2 in temp
  • free the memory of 2
Delete a specific node
Delete a specific node

Circular Linked List Code in Python, Java, C, and C++

# Python code to perform circular linked list operations

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


class CircularLinkedList:
    def __init__(self):
        self.last = None

    def addToEmpty(self, data):

        if self.last != None:
            return self.last

        # allocate memory to the new node and add data to the node
        newNode = Node(data)

        # assign last to newNode
        self.last = newNode

        # create link to iteself
        self.last.next = self.last
        return self.last

    # add node to the front
    def addFront(self, data):

        # check if the list is empty
        if self.last == None:
            return self.addToEmpty(data)

        # allocate memory to the new node and add data to the node
        newNode = Node(data)

        # store the address of the current first node in the newNode
        newNode.next = self.last.next

        # make newNode as last
        self.last.next = newNode

        return self.last

    # add node to the end
    def addEnd(self, data):
        # check if the node is empty
        if self.last == None:
            return self.addToEmpty(data)

        # allocate memory to the new node and add data to the node
        newNode = Node(data)

        # store the address of the last node to next of newNode
        newNode.next = self.last.next

        # point the current last node to the newNode
        self.last.next = newNode

        # make newNode as the last node
        self.last = newNode

        return self.last

    # insert node after a specific node
    def addAfter(self, data, item):

        # check if the list is empty
        if self.last == None:
            return None

        newNode = Node(data)
        p = self.last.next
        while p:

            # if the item is found, place newNode after it
            if p.data == item:

                # make the next of the current node as the next of newNode
                newNode.next = p.next

                # put newNode to the next of p
                p.next = newNode

                if p == self.last:
                    self.last = newNode
                    return self.last
                else:
                    return self.last
            p = p.next
            if p == self.last.next:
                print(item, "The given node is not present in the list")
                break

    # delete a node
    def deleteNode(self, last, key):

        # If linked list is empty
        if last == None:
            return

        # If the list contains only a single node
        if (last).data == key and (last).next == last:

            last = None

        temp = last
        d = None

        # if last node is to be deleted
        if (last).data == key:

            # find the node before the last node
            while temp.next != last:
                temp = temp.next

            # point temp node to the next of last i.e. first node
            temp.next = (last).next
            last = temp.next

        # travel to the node to be deleted
        while temp.next != last and temp.next.data != key:
            temp = temp.next

        # if node to be deleted was found
        if temp.next.data == key:
            d = temp.next
            temp.next = d.next

        return last

    def traverse(self):
        if self.last == None:
            print("The list is empty")
            return

        newNode = self.last.next
        while newNode:
            print(newNode.data, end=" ")
            newNode = newNode.next
            if newNode == self.last.next:
                break


# Driver Code
if __name__ == "__main__":

    cll = CircularLinkedList()

    last = cll.addToEmpty(6)
    last = cll.addEnd(8)
    last = cll.addFront(2)
    last = cll.addAfter(10, 2)

    cll.traverse()

    last = cll.deleteNode(last, 8)
    print()
    cll.traverse()
// Java code to perform circular linked list operations

class CircularLinkedList {

  static class Node {
    int data;
    Node next;
  };

  static Node addToEmpty(Node last, int data) {
    if (last != null)
      return last;

    // allocate memory to the new node
    Node newNode = new Node();

    // assign data to the new node
    newNode.data = data;

    // assign last to newNode
    last = newNode;

    // create link to iteself
    newNode.next = last;

    return last;
  }

  // add node to the front
  static Node addFront(Node last, int data) {
    if (last == null)
      return addToEmpty(last, data);

    // allocate memory to the new node
    Node newNode = new Node();

    // add data to the node
    newNode.data = data;

    // store the address of the current first node in the newNode
    newNode.next = last.next;

    // make newNode as head
    last.next = newNode;

    return last;
  }

  // add node to the end
  static Node addEnd(Node last, int data) {
    if (last == null)
      return addToEmpty(last, data);

    // allocate memory to the new node
    Node newNode = new Node();

    // add data to the node
    newNode.data = data;

    // store the address of the head node to next of newNode
    newNode.next = last.next;

    // point the current last node to the newNode
    last.next = newNode;

    // make newNode as the last node
    last = newNode;

    return last;
  }

  static Node addAfter(Node last, int data, int item) {
    if (last == null)
      return null;

    Node newNode, p;
    p = last.next;
    do {
      // if the item is found, place newNode after it
      if (p.data == item) {
        // allocate memory to the new node
        newNode = new Node();

        // add data to the node
        newNode.data = data;

        // make the next of the current node as the next of newNode
        newNode.next = p.next;

        // put newNode to the next of p
        p.next = newNode;

        // if p is the last node, make newNode as the last node
        if (p == last)
          last = newNode;
        return last;
      }
      p = p.next;
    } while (p != last.next);

    System.out.println(item + "The given node is not present in the list");
    return last;

  }

	// delete a node
  static Node deleteNode(Node last, int key) {
    // if linked list is empty
    if (last == null)
      return null;

    // if the list contains only a single node
    if (last.data == key && last.next == last) {
      last = null;
      return last;
    }

    Node temp = last, d = new Node();

    // if last is to be deleted
    if (last.data == key) {
      // find the node before the last node
      while (temp.next != last) {
        temp = temp.next;
      }

      // point temp node to the next of last i.e. first node
      temp.next = last.next;
      last = temp.next;
    }

    // travel to the node to be deleted
    while (temp.next != last && temp.next.data != key) {
      temp = temp.next;
    }

    // if node to be deleted was found
    if (temp.next.data == key) {
      d = temp.next;
      temp.next = d.next;
    }
    return last;
  }

  static void traverse(Node last) {
    Node p;

    if (last == null) {
      System.out.println("List is empty.");
      return;
    }

    p = last.next;

    do {
      System.out.print(p.data + " ");
      p = p.next;

    }
    while (p != last.next);

  }

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    Node last = null;

    last = addToEmpty(last, 6);
    last = addEnd(last, 8);
    last = addFront(last, 2);

    last = addAfter(last, 10, 2);

    traverse(last);

    deleteNode(last, 8);
    traverse(last);
  }
}
// C code to perform circular linked list operations

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

struct Node {
  int data;
  struct Node* next;
};

struct Node* addToEmpty(struct Node* last, int data) {
  if (last != NULL) return last;

  // allocate memory to the new node
  struct Node* newNode = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));

  // assign data to the new node
  newNode->data = data;

  // assign last to newNode
  last = newNode;

  // create link to iteself
  last->next = last;

  return last;
}

// add node to the front
struct Node* addFront(struct Node* last, int data) {
  // check if the list is empty
  if (last == NULL) return addToEmpty(last, data);

  // allocate memory to the new node
  struct Node* newNode = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));

  // add data to the node
  newNode->data = data;

  // store the address of the current first node in the newNode
  newNode->next = last->next;

  // make newNode as head
  last->next = newNode;

  return last;
}

// add node to the end
struct Node* addEnd(struct Node* last, int data) {
  // check if the node is empty
  if (last == NULL) return addToEmpty(last, data);

  // allocate memory to the new node
  struct Node* newNode = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));

  // add data to the node
  newNode->data = data;

  // store the address of the head node to next of newNode
  newNode->next = last->next;

  // point the current last node to the newNode
  last->next = newNode;

  // make newNode as the last node
  last = newNode;

  return last;
}

// insert node after a specific node
struct Node* addAfter(struct Node* last, int data, int item) {
  // check if the list is empty
  if (last == NULL) return NULL;

  struct Node *newNode, *p;

  p = last->next;
  do {
  // if the item is found, place newNode after it
  if (p->data == item) {
    // allocate memory to the new node
    newNode = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));

    // add data to the node
    newNode->data = data;

    // make the next of the current node as the next of newNode
    newNode->next = p->next;

    // put newNode to the next of p
    p->next = newNode;

    // if p is the last node, make newNode as the last node
    if (p == last) last = newNode;
    return last;
  }

  p = p->next;
  } while (p != last->next);

  printf("\nThe given node is not present in the list");
  return last;
}

// delete a node
void deleteNode(struct Node** last, int key) {
  // if linked list is empty
  if (*last == NULL) return;

  // if the list contains only a single node
  if ((*last)->data == key && (*last)->next == *last) {
  free(*last);
  *last = NULL;
  return;
  }

  struct Node *temp = *last, *d;

  // if last is to be deleted
  if ((*last)->data == key) {
  // find the node before the last node
  while (temp->next != *last) temp = temp->next;

  // point temp node to the next of last i.e. first node
  temp->next = (*last)->next;
  free(*last);
  *last = temp;
  }

  // travel to the node to be deleted
  while (temp->next != *last && temp->next->data != key) {
  temp = temp->next;
  }

  // if node to be deleted was found
  if (temp->next->data == key) {
  d = temp->next;
  temp->next = d->next;
  free(d);
  }
}

void traverse(struct Node* last) {
  struct Node* p;

  if (last == NULL) {
  printf("The list is empty");
  return;
  }

  p = last->next;

  do {
  printf("%d ", p->data);
  p = p->next;

  } while (p != last->next);
}

int main() {
  struct Node* last = NULL;

  last = addToEmpty(last, 6);
  last = addEnd(last, 8);
  last = addFront(last, 2);

  last = addAfter(last, 10, 2);

  traverse(last);

  deleteNode(&last, 8);

  printf("\n");

  traverse(last);

  return 0;
}
// C++ code to perform circular linked list operations

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

struct Node {
  int data;
  struct Node* next;
};

struct Node* addToEmpty(struct Node* last, int data) {
  if (last != NULL) return last;

  // allocate memory to the new node
  struct Node* newNode = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));

  // assign data to the new node
  newNode->data = data;

  // assign last to newNode
  last = newNode;

  // create link to iteself
  last->next = last;

  return last;
}

// add node to the front
struct Node* addFront(struct Node* last, int data) {
  // check if the list is empty
  if (last == NULL) return addToEmpty(last, data);

  // allocate memory to the new node
  struct Node* newNode = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));

  // add data to the node
  newNode->data = data;

  // store the address of the current first node in the newNode
  newNode->next = last->next;

  // make newNode as head
  last->next = newNode;

  return last;
}

// add node to the end
struct Node* addEnd(struct Node* last, int data) {
  // check if the node is empty
  if (last == NULL) return addToEmpty(last, data);

  // allocate memory to the new node
  struct Node* newNode = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));

  // add data to the node
  newNode->data = data;

  // store the address of the head node to next of newNode
  newNode->next = last->next;

  // point the current last node to the newNode
  last->next = newNode;

  // make newNode as the last node
  last = newNode;

  return last;
}

// insert node after a specific node
struct Node* addAfter(struct Node* last, int data, int item) {
  // check if the list is empty
  if (last == NULL) return NULL;

  struct Node *newNode, *p;

  p = last->next;
  do {
  // if the item is found, place newNode after it
  if (p->data == item) {
    // allocate memory to the new node
    newNode = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));

    // add data to the node
    newNode->data = data;

    // make the next of the current node as the next of newNode
    newNode->next = p->next;

    // put newNode to the next of p
    p->next = newNode;

    // if p is the last node, make newNode as the last node
    if (p == last) last = newNode;
    return last;
  }

  p = p->next;
  } while (p != last->next);

  cout << "\nThe given node is not present in the list" << endl;
  return last;
}

// delete a node
void deleteNode(Node** last, int key) {
  // if linked list is empty
  if (*last == NULL) return;

  // if the list contains only a single node
  if ((*last)->data == key && (*last)->next == *last) {
  free(*last);
  *last = NULL;
  return;
  }

  Node *temp = *last, *d;

  // if last is to be deleted
  if ((*last)->data == key) {
  // find the node before the last node
  while (temp->next != *last) temp = temp->next;

  // point temp node to the next of last i.e. first node
  temp->next = (*last)->next;
  free(*last);
  *last = temp->next;
  }

  // travel to the node to be deleted
  while (temp->next != *last && temp->next->data != key) {
  temp = temp->next;
  }

  // if node to be deleted was found
  if (temp->next->data == key) {
  d = temp->next;
  temp->next = d->next;
  free(d);
  }
}

void traverse(struct Node* last) {
  struct Node* p;

  if (last == NULL) {
  cout << "The list is empty" << endl;
  return;
  }

  p = last->next;

  do {
  cout << p->data << " ";
  p = p->next;

  } while (p != last->next);
}

int main() {
  struct Node* last = NULL;

  last = addToEmpty(last, 6);
  last = addEnd(last, 8);
  last = addFront(last, 2);

  last = addAfter(last, 10, 2);

  traverse(last);

  deleteNode(&last, 8);
  cout << endl;

  traverse(last);

  return 0;
}

Circular Linked List Complexity

Circular Linked List Complexity Time Complexity Space Complexity
Insertion Operation O(1) or O(n) O(1)
Deletion Operation O(1) O(1)

1. Complexity of Insertion Operation

  • The insertion operations that do not require traversal have the time complexity of O(1).
  • And, an insertion that requires traversal has a time complexity of O(n).
  • The space complexity is O(1).

2. Complexity of Deletion Operation

  • All deletion operations run with a time complexity of O(1).
  • And, the space complexity is O(1).

Why Circular Linked List?

  1. The NULL assignment is not required because a node always points to another node.
  2. The starting point can be set to any node.
  3. Traversal from the first node to the last node is quick.

Circular Linked List Applications

  • It is used in multiplayer games to give a chance to each player to play the game.
  • Multiple running applications can be placed in a circular linked list on an operating system. The os keeps on iterating over these applications.
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