What distinguishes a linked list from an array?

A linked list is fundamentally different from an array in its structure and how it stores data. The defining characteristic of a linked list is that it uses pointers to connect its elements, known as nodes. Each node in a linked list contains data and a reference (or pointer) to the next node in the sequence. This allows linked lists to support efficient insertions and deletions since elements do not need to be shifted as they do with arrays.

While choices regarding memory storage and data types touch on important concepts, the primary distinction lies in the use of pointers in linked lists. This linking mechanism enables data to be stored non-contiguously in memory, allowing for more flexible memory management as compared to arrays, which require elements to be stored in a contiguous block of memory. Linked lists thus provide dynamic memory utilization without a predefined size, contrasting with the static nature of arrays which can lead to limitations in capacity or inefficient use of allocated space.

Dynamic resizing is a feature often discussed in the context of arrays, especially in languages that support dynamic arrays or array lists, but this is not inherent to basic array functionality itself. Likewise, while arrays can hold elements of a single data type (depending on their implementation), this does not serve as a distinguishing factor against linked lists