Given that this is (almost always) an optimization for providing the tools to properly traverse said list, it's not necessary. And, linked lists only point in one direction. Doubly-linked lists point in both.

The point of a linked list is to provide O(1) add and remove operations anywhere in the list, given certain assumptions. If you can do that with a Perl array (which you can), then it satisfies all the reasons why a linked list exists. The implementation of meeting those criteria is ... irrelevant.

Linked lists are, in many ways, inferior to Perl's arrays. You cannot do random access into a linked list, but you can into a Perl array.

My criteria for good software:
  1. Does it work?
  2. Can someone else come in, make a change, and be reasonably certain no bugs were introduced?

In reply to Re^3: Array VS Linked List by dragonchild
in thread Array VS Linked List by asset

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