← GlossaryWas this page helpful?
What does "linked list" mean in programming?
linked list is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
A data structure where each element (node) contains a value and a pointer to the next node. Unlike arrays, linked lists do not need contiguous memory, making insertions and deletions fast but random access slow.
Example
"A linked list is efficient for inserting elements in the middle but slow for index-based access."
Can you put this sentence in the right order?
Tap the words to place them here
Keep building your technical English
You just looked up what this word means. Lingua-e turns vocabulary like this into full practice: fill-in-the-blanks, listening, and real developer conversations.
Practice this for free