Simple Singly Linked List Example in C

About this page

This is a beginner linked list program — create nodes and traverse the list. All logic is in main() with no separate functions.

For insert, delete, display and count using dedicated functions, see Singly Linked List Example Program in C.

Definition:

linked list is a linear collection of data elements, called nodes, each pointing to the next node by means of a pointer. It is a data structure consisting of a group of nodes which together represent a sequence. Under the simplest form, each node is composed of data and a reference (in other words, a link) to the next node in the sequence. This structure allows for efficient insertion or removal of elements from any position in the sequence during iteration. More complex variants add additional links, allowing efficient insertion or removal from arbitrary element references

Simple Singly Linked List Example Program:

/* Simple Singly(Single) Linked List Example Program in C*/
/* Data Structure Programs,C Linked List Examples */

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

struct node {
  int value;
  struct node *next;
};

int main() {
  typedef struct node DATA_NODE;

  DATA_NODE *head_node, *first_node, *temp_node = 0;
  int count = 0;
  int loop = 1;
  first_node = 0;
  int data;

  printf("Singly(Single) Linked List Example - Basic\n");

  while (loop) {

    printf("\nEnter Element for Insert Linked List (-1 to Exit ) : \n");
    scanf("%d", &data);

    if (data >= 0) {

      temp_node = (DATA_NODE *) malloc(sizeof (DATA_NODE));

      temp_node->value = data;

      if (first_node == 0) {
        first_node = temp_node;
      } else {
        head_node->next = temp_node;
      }
      head_node = temp_node;
      fflush(stdin);
    } else {
      loop = 0;
      temp_node->next = 0;
    }
  }

  temp_node = first_node;
  printf("\nDisplay Linked List : \n");
  while (temp_node != 0) {
    printf("# %d # ", temp_node->value);
    count++;
    temp_node = temp_node -> next;
  }

  printf("\nNo Of Items In Linked List : %d", count);

  return 0;
}

Sample Output:

Singly(Single) Linked List Example - Basic

Enter Element for Insert Linked List (-1 to Exit ) :
500

Enter Element for Insert Linked List (-1 to Exit ) :
400

Enter Element for Insert Linked List (-1 to Exit ) :
300

Enter Element for Insert Linked List (-1 to Exit ) :
200

Enter Element for Insert Linked List (-1 to Exit ) :
100

Enter Element for Insert Linked List (-1 to Exit ) :
-1

Display Linked List :
# 500 # # 400 # # 300 # # 200 # # 100 #
No Of Items In Linked List : 5

------------------
(program exited with code: 0)

Related Pages

Learn the concept first, then study the code:

• Data Structures — Browse all Data Structures.
• C Pointers — Concept — pointers link nodes in a list.
• Simple Singly Linked List Example Program Using functions in C — More in linked list.
• Singly Linked List Example Program in C — More in linked list.