Thread: next pointer in linked list

  1. #1
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    next pointer in linked list

    Here is my code for a linked list.

    LinkedList.h
    Code:
    #ifndef LINKEDLIST_H
    #define LINKEDLIST_H
    
    class LinkedList
    {
        public:
            LinkedList();
            ~LinkedList();
            void createNode(char name[]);//creates a node at end of list
            void dump();//prints contents of all nodes
    
        private:
            unsigned int length;
            struct Node
            {
                char name[20];
                Node *next;
            };
            Node *startPointer;
    
    };
    
    #endif // LINKEDLIST_H
    LinkedList.cpp
    Code:
    #include <cstdlib>
    #include <iostream>
    #include <string.h>
    #include "..\include\LinkedList.h"
    
    LinkedList::LinkedList() : length(0), startPointer(NULL)
    {
    
    }
    
    
    LinkedList::~LinkedList()
    {
    
    }
    
    void LinkedList::createNode(char name[])
    {
        if(startPointer == NULL)
        {
            startPointer = new Node;//Node is a struct
            (*startPointer).next = NULL;
            strcpy((*startPointer).name, name);
          
        }
        else
        {
            Node *temp = startPointer;
            while((*temp).next != NULL)
                temp = (*temp).next;
            (*temp).next = new Node;
            temp = (*temp).next;
            strcpy((*temp).name, name);
            (*temp).next = NULL;
        }
    }
    
    void LinkedList::dump()
    {
        Node *temp = startPointer;
        std::cout << (*temp).name << std::endl;
        while((*temp).next != NULL)
        {
            temp = (*temp).next;
            std::cout << (*temp).name << std::endl;
        }
    }
    In a previous thread it was mentioned that I could set the next pointer to null using the constructor of the struct. I found an example from this website

    Code:
    struct node
    {
        node(int data_p) { data=data_p; next=0; }
        int data;
        node *next;
    };
    In my header file why can't I do this?
    Code:
    struct Node
            {
                char name[20];
                Node *next = null;
            };
    What's so special about initializing the variables the first way?

    What's the best way of doing this?

  2. #2
    Sweet
    Join Date
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    You need to do it in a constructor.

    Code:
    struct Node
    {
        Node()
        {
             next = NULL;
        }
        char name[20];
        Node *next = null;
    };
    Also do you hate the -> operator or just unaware of its existence?
    Code:
    Node *temp = startPointer;
    while(temp->next != NULL)
    Woop?

  3. #3
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    I see. I was confused because I didn't realize that was a constructor and I thought struct was calling itself before it was fully defined.

  4. #4
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    I'm not using the -> operator because I'm still getting use to pointers. Using (*a).b reminds me what's actually happening. It also makes me appreciate how much easier it is to use ->

    Another thing that's bothering me is that I don't need to include libraries for making the c-string or using strcpy. According to www.cplusplus.com/reference/clibrary/cstring/ #include <string.h> is needed. According to C Strings - C Tutorial - Cprogramming.com #include <cstring> is needed.

  5. #5
    Sweet
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    <string.h> is the C header for c style string functions

    <cstring> is the C++ header for c style string functions.

    Not sure why you would want to use c-strings besides learning purposes.
    Woop?

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by prog-bman View Post
    Not sure why you would want to use c-strings besides learning purposes.
    I am doing this just to learn. Thanks for the help.

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