Linked Data Lists structures in Rust Lang | Singly Linked List Explained & Implemented Step-by-Step

Linked Lists in Rust | Singly Linked List Explained & Implemented Step-by-Step | Rust Data Structures
Master Singly Linked Lists in Rust – A comprehensive guide to understanding and implementing linked lists in Rust. Learn how linked lists work, how they differ from arrays, and how to build a singly linked list step by step using Rust's unique memory management system.

🔹 **What You’ll Learn in This Video:**
✅ What is a Singly Linked List?
✅ How Linked Lists Work in Rust
✅ Differences Between Linked Lists & Arrays
✅ Step-by-Step Implementation of a Singly Linked List
✅ Understanding Ownership, Borrowing, and Memory Management in Rust
**Introduction to Linked Lists**
A linked list is a dynamic data structure where elements (nodes) are linked using pointers. Unlike arrays, linked lists do not require a predefined size, making them flexible for dynamic data storage.

### 🔍 **How a Singly Linked List Works:**
1️⃣ Each node contains **two components**:
- **Data** (value stored in the node)
- **Next pointer** (reference to the next node in the list)
2️⃣ The list starts with a **head node**, pointing to the first element.
3️⃣ The last node points to **None** (similar to NULL in other languages), indicating the end of the list.

### 🛠 **Understanding Nodes and Pointers:**
Let's visualize a linked list with four nodes:
```
[1 | *] → [2 | *] → [3 | *] → [4 | None]
```
- Each node contains a value and a reference to the next node.
- The last node (4) has `None` as its next value, marking the end of the list.

📌 **Why Use Linked Lists Instead of Arrays?**
✅ **Dynamic Size:** Unlike arrays, linked lists can grow and shrink dynamically.
✅ **Efficient Insertions & Deletions:** No need for shifting elements, making operations faster.
✅ **Memory Utilization:** Allocates memory as needed, avoiding waste.

---

### **💻 Rust Code Implementation for Singly Linked List:**
```rust
use std::option::Option;
use std::rc::Rc;
use std::cell::RefCell;

#[derive(Debug)]
struct Node {
data: i32,
}

#[derive(Debug)]
struct LinkedList {
head: Option Rc RefCell Node ,
}

impl LinkedList {
fn new() - Self {
LinkedList { head: None }
}

fn append(&mut self, data: i32) {
let new_node = Rc::new(RefCell::new(Node { data, next: None }));
Some(ref head) = {
}
}
}
}

fn display(&self) {
while let Some(node) = temp {
}
println!("None");
}
}

fn main() {
let mut list = LinkedList::new();

}
```
---

Code Breakdown:**
- **Node Struct:** Contains `data` and `next` (a pointer to the next node).
- **LinkedList Struct:** Manages the head node and provides operations.
- **`append` Method:** Adds new elements to the list dynamically.
- **`display` Method:** Prints the linked list in a readable format.

---

### **🔹 Why Rust’s Ownership System Makes Linked Lists Challenging?**
Rust’s memory safety guarantees make implementing linked lists slightly tricky. To manage ownership and borrowing:
✅ We use **`* to enable multiple ownership while allowing mutation.
✅ **`Option is used to handle possible `None` values safely.

---

### **💡 More Data Structures in Rust to Learn:**
📢 **Upcoming Tutorials:**
✅ Doubly Linked Lists
✅ Stack & Queue in Rust
✅ Binary Search Trees
✅ HashMaps & Graphs

---

📌 **Got Questions? Drop them in the comments!**
📌 **Like & Subscribe for More Rust Programming Tutorials!**

---

### **📢 Hashtags for Maximum Reach:**
#RustProgramming #DataStructures #RustLinkedList #SinglyLinkedList #RustLang #CodingTutorial #Algorithms #RustCode #LearnRust #RustForBeginners #RustTutorial #ProgrammingTutorial #SoftwareDevelopment #RustBeginner #RustAlgorithms #RustSorting #ComputerScience #CodingForBeginners #SortingAlgorithms #TechEducation #CodingCommunity #Developer #LearnToCode #RustProjects #RustConcepts #RustDSA #TechSkills #ProgrammingLife #CodingInterview #RustDev #CompetitiveProgramming #FullStackDevelopment #RustCourse #BackendDevelopment #RustLanguage #RustDevelopment #DataStructuresAndAlgorithms #RustBootcamp #WebDevelopment #CodingChallenge #SoftwareEngineering