Detect if a Linked List is Circular in DSA C - Build from Scratch

Detect if a Linked List is Circular

📖 Scenario: Imagine you have a chain of connected train cars. Normally, the last car is not connected to any other car. But sometimes, the last car connects back to one of the earlier cars, making a loop. This is called a circular chain.In programming, a linked list is like this chain of train cars. We want to check if the linked list forms a loop (is circular) or not.

🎯 Goal: You will create a linked list, then write code to check if it is circular (has a loop) or not. Finally, you will print the result.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a linked list with 4 nodes containing values 10, 20, 30, 40

Add a pointer variable to help detect circularity

Write a function to check if the linked list is circular

Print "Circular" if the list has a loop, otherwise print "Not Circular"

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Detecting loops in linked lists is important in software that manages chains of data or tasks, such as operating systems, network packet routing, and memory management.

💼 Career

Understanding how to detect circular linked lists helps in debugging and optimizing programs that use linked data structures, a common task in software development and technical interviews.

1

Create a linked list with 4 nodes

Create a linked list with 4 nodes containing values 10, 20, 30, and 40. Use a struct called Node with an int data and a Node* next. Create a pointer called head that points to the first node.

DSA C

# Define struct Node
// Create 4 nodes with data 10, 20, 30, 40
// Link nodes so that head points to first node
// Your code here

Hint

Remember to create each node with malloc and link them by setting the next pointer.

2

Add a pointer to help detect circularity

Add a pointer variable called slow and set it to head. Also add a pointer called fast and set it to head. These will help us check if the list is circular.

DSA C

#include 
#include 

typedef struct Node {
    int data;
    struct Node* next;
} Node;

int main() {
    Node* head = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
    Node* second = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
    Node* third = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
    Node* fourth = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));

    head->data = 10;
    head->next = second;

    second->data = 20;
    second->next = third;

    third->data = 30;
    third->next = fourth;

    fourth->data = 40;
    fourth->next = NULL;

    // Add pointers slow and fast to head
    // Your code here

    return 0;
}

Hint

Set both slow and fast pointers to head to start checking from the beginning.

3

Write a function to check if the linked list is circular

Write a function called isCircular that takes a Node* called head and returns 1 if the list is circular, otherwise 0. Use the slow and fast pointer technique: move slow by one step and fast by two steps. If they meet, the list is circular. If fast or fast->next becomes NULL, the list is not circular.

DSA C

#include 
#include 

typedef struct Node {
    int data;
    struct Node* next;
} Node;

int isCircular(Node* head) {
    // Use slow and fast pointers to detect loop
    // Your code here
}

int main() {
    Node* head = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
    Node* second = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
    Node* third = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
    Node* fourth = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));

    head->data = 10;
    head->next = second;

    second->data = 20;
    second->next = third;

    third->data = 30;
    third->next = fourth;

    fourth->data = 40;
    fourth->next = NULL;

    Node* slow = head;
    Node* fast = head;

    return 0;
}

Hint

Move slow by one step and fast by two steps inside a loop. If they meet, return 1. If fast reaches NULL, return 0.

4

Print if the linked list is circular or not

Call the function isCircular with head. If it returns 1, print "Circular". Otherwise, print "Not Circular".

DSA C

#include 
#include 

typedef struct Node {
    int data;
    struct Node* next;
} Node;

int isCircular(Node* head) {
    Node* slow = head;
    Node* fast = head;

    while (fast != NULL && fast->next != NULL) {
        slow = slow->next;
        fast = fast->next->next;

        if (slow == fast) {
            return 1; // Circular
        }
    }
    return 0; // Not circular
}

int main() {
    Node* head = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
    Node* second = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
    Node* third = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
    Node* fourth = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));

    head->data = 10;
    head->next = second;

    second->data = 20;
    second->next = third;

    third->data = 30;
    third->next = fourth;

    fourth->data = 40;
    fourth->next = NULL;

    Node* slow = head;
    Node* fast = head;

    // Call isCircular and print result
    // Your code here

    return 0;
}

Hint

Use if (isCircular(head)) to check. Print "Circular" if true, else "Not Circular".

Practice

1. What does it mean if a linked list is circular?

easy

A. The last node points back to one of the previous nodes, forming a loop

B. The linked list has no nodes

C. The linked list nodes are sorted in ascending order

D. The linked list has only one node

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand linked list structure

   A linked list is a chain of nodes where each node points to the next node.

2. Step 2: Identify circular linked list property

   If the last node points back to any previous node, it creates a loop, making the list circular.

3. Final Answer:

   The last node points back to one of the previous nodes, forming a loop -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Circular linked list = last node points back [OK]

Hint: Circular means last node links back inside list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking circular means sorted
• Confusing empty list with circular
• Assuming single node list is always circular

2. Which of the following C code snippets correctly checks if a linked list is circular?

easy

A. for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) { head = head->next; } return 0;

B. if (head == NULL) return 1; else return 0;

C. while (head->next != NULL) { head = head->next; } return 1;

D. while (head != NULL) { head = head->next; if (head == start) return 1; } return 0;

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze code logic for circular detection

   The code moves through nodes until it finds the start node again, indicating a loop.

2. Step 2: Check other options for correctness

   if (head == NULL) return 1; else return 0; only checks if list is empty, not circular. while (head->next != NULL) { head = head->next; } return 1; stops at NULL, no loop check. for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) { head = head->next; } return 0; blindly moves 10 steps without loop check.

3. Final Answer:

   while (head != NULL) { head = head->next; if (head == start) return 1; } return 0; -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Loop check by revisiting start node = while (head != NULL) { head = head->next; if (head == start) return 1; } return 0; [OK]

Hint: Check if traversal returns to start node [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Only checking for NULL without loop detection
• Using fixed iteration count instead of loop condition
• Returning true for empty list

3. What will be the output of the following C code snippet?

typedef struct Node {
  int data;
  struct Node* next;
} Node;

int isCircular(Node* head) {
  if (head == NULL) return 0;
  Node* temp = head->next;
  while (temp != NULL && temp != head) {
    temp = temp->next;
  }
  return (temp == head);
}

int main() {
  Node a, b, c;
  a.data = 1; b.data = 2; c.data = 3;
  a.next = &b; b.next = &c; c.next = &a;
  printf("%d", isCircular(&a));
  return 0;
}

medium

A. Runtime error

B. 0

C. 1

D. Compilation error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand linked list setup

   Nodes a, b, c are linked in a circle: a->b->c->a.

2. Step 2: Trace isCircular function

   Function moves temp pointer until it finds head again or NULL. Here, temp will reach head again, so returns 1.

3. Final Answer:

   1 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Loop detected, returns 1 [OK]

Hint: Returns 1 if traversal loops back to head [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming NULL termination means circular
• Confusing return values 0 and 1
• Not initializing temp correctly

4. Identify the bug in the following code that tries to detect if a linked list is circular:

int isCircular(Node* head) {
  Node* slow = head;
  Node* fast = head->next;
  while (fast != NULL && fast->next != NULL) {
    if (slow == fast) return 1;
    slow = slow->next;
    fast = fast->next->next;
  }
  return 0;
}

medium

A. slow pointer should move two steps, fast one step

B. fast pointer initialization should be head, not head->next

C. The loop condition should check only fast != NULL

D. Return values are reversed

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Floyd's cycle detection setup

   Both slow and fast pointers should start at head to detect cycle properly.

2. Step 2: Identify initialization error

   fast is initialized to head->next, which can miss cycle detection if list has only one node or cycle starts at head.

3. Final Answer:

   fast pointer initialization should be head, not head->next -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Initialize fast = head for correct cycle detection [OK]

Hint: Start both pointers at head for Floyd's cycle detection [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Starting fast pointer one step ahead
• Swapping slow and fast pointer steps
• Ignoring null checks in loop condition

5. You have a singly linked list where the last node's next pointer is unknown. How would you modify the list to make it circular and then detect the cycle using Floyd's algorithm? Choose the correct sequence of steps.

hard

A. 1. Traverse to last node
2. Set last node's next to head
3. Use Floyd's algorithm to detect cycle

B. 1. Set head's next to NULL
2. Use Floyd's algorithm
3. Traverse list

C. 1. Reverse the list
2. Set last node's next to NULL
3. Use Floyd's algorithm

D. 1. Traverse to middle node
2. Set middle node's next to head
3. Use Floyd's algorithm

Solution

1. Step 1: Make the list circular by linking last node to head

   Traverse the list to find the last node, then set its next pointer to head to form a loop.

2. Step 2: Apply Floyd's cycle detection algorithm

   Use slow and fast pointers starting at head to detect the cycle created.

3. Final Answer:

   1. Traverse to last node 2. Set last node's next to head 3. Use Floyd's algorithm to detect cycle -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Make circular then detect cycle with Floyd's algorithm [OK]

Hint: Link last node to head before running cycle detection [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting wrong node's next pointer
• Not traversing to last node correctly
• Using Floyd's algorithm before making list circular