Node Structure and Pointer Design in DSA Python - Interactive Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to define a Node class with a constructor that initializes the data and next pointer.

DSA Python

class Node:
    def __init__(self, data):
        self.data = data
        self.[1] = None

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Apointer

Bprev

Clink

Dnext

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'prev' instead of 'next' for singly linked list nodes.

Using generic names like 'pointer' or 'link' which are not standard.

The next attribute is used to point to the next node in a linked list.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to create a new node and link it as the next node of the head.

DSA Python

head = Node(10)
new_node = Node(20)
head.[1] = new_node

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Anext

Bprev

Clink

Dpointer

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'prev' which is for doubly linked lists.

Using incorrect attribute names like 'link' or 'pointer'.

To link nodes in a singly linked list, assign the new node to the next attribute of the current node.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to correctly traverse the linked list and print all node data.

DSA Python

current = head
while current is not None:
    print(current.data)
    current = current.[1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Anext

Blink

Cpointer

Dprev

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'prev' which would cause errors in singly linked lists.

Using undefined attributes like 'pointer' or 'link'.

To move to the next node in the list, use the next attribute.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a linked list with three nodes and link them correctly.

DSA Python

head = Node(1)
second = Node(2)
third = Node(3)
head.[1] = second
second.[2] = third

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Anext

Bprev

Clink

Dpointer

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'prev' which is for doubly linked lists.

Using inconsistent attribute names for linking.

Each node's next attribute points to the following node in the list.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a Node class with data, next pointer, and a method to set the next node.

DSA Python

class Node:
    def __init__(self, [1]):
        self.data = [1]
        self.[2] = None
    def set_next(self, node):
        self.[3] = node

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Adata

Bnext

Dpointer

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using different names for the next pointer in different places.

Not initializing the next pointer to None.

The constructor takes data, initializes next to None, and the set_next method sets the next pointer.

Practice

1. What does the next pointer in a linked list node represent?

easy

A. It points to the previous node in the list

B. It stores the data value of the node

C. It points to the next node in the list

D. It stores the size of the list

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of next pointer

   The next pointer in a linked list node is used to connect the current node to the following node in the sequence.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other node parts

   The data part stores the value, and next specifically points to the next node, not previous or size.

3. Final Answer:

   It points to the next node in the list -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   next pointer = next node address [OK]

Hint: Remember: next always leads forward in the list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing next with data storage
• Thinking next points backward
• Assuming next stores list size

2. Which of the following is the correct way to define a simple node class in Python with a data attribute and a next pointer?

easy

A. class Node:
def __init__(self, data):
self.data = data
self.next = None

B. class Node:
def __init__(self, data):
data = self.data
next = None

C. class Node:
def __init__(self):
self.data = None
self.next = None

D. class Node:
def __init__(self, data, next):
self.data = data
next = None

Solution

1. Step 1: Check correct attribute assignment

   class Node: def __init__(self, data): self.data = data self.next = None correctly assigns self.data = data and initializes self.next = None to indicate no next node yet.

2. Step 2: Identify errors in other options

   class Node: def __init__(self, data): data = self.data next = None assigns backwards, class Node: def __init__(self): self.data = None self.next = None misses data parameter, class Node: def __init__(self, data, next): self.data = data next = None does not assign self.next properly.

3. Final Answer:

   class Node: def __init__(self, data): self.data = data self.next = None -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct attribute setup = class Node: def __init__(self, data): self.data = data self.next = None [OK]

Hint: Use self.attribute = value inside __init__ [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not using self to assign attributes
• Forgetting to initialize next to None
• Swapping assignment order

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

class Node:
    def __init__(self, data):
        self.data = data
        self.next = None

head = Node(10)
second = Node(20)
head.next = second
print(head.next.data)

medium

A. 20

B. Error

C. None

D. 10

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand node creation and linking

   Two nodes are created: head with data 10, second with data 20. Then, head.next points to second.

2. Step 2: Trace the print statement

   head.next.data accesses the data of the node after head, which is second, so it prints 20.

3. Final Answer:

   20 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   head.next.data = 20 [OK]

Hint: Follow the next pointer to get next node's data [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Printing head.data instead of head.next.data
• Confusing next pointer with data
• Expecting None because of uninitialized pointer

4. Identify the error in the following code snippet for a singly linked list node:

class Node:
    def __init__(self, data):
        self.data = data
        next = None

node1 = Node(5)
print(node1.next)

medium

A. The class name should be lowercase

B. The data attribute is missing

C. The print statement syntax is wrong

D. The next pointer is not assigned to self

Solution

1. Step 1: Check attribute assignment in __init__

   The code assigns next = None without self., so next is a local variable, not an attribute.

2. Step 2: Understand consequence on print

   Since node1.next was never set, it raises an AttributeError or prints None if accessed differently.

3. Final Answer:

   The next pointer is not assigned to self -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Missing self. causes attribute error [OK]

Hint: Always use self. to create object attributes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting self. before next
• Assuming local variable becomes attribute
• Ignoring error from missing attribute

5. You want to create a linked list with three nodes containing values 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Which code snippet correctly links the nodes?

hard

A. n1 = Node(1)
n2 = Node(2)
n3 = Node(3)
n1.next = n3
n3.next = n2
n2.next = None

B. n1 = Node(1)
n2 = Node(2)
n3 = Node(3)
n1.next = n2
n2.next = n3
n3.next = None

C. n1 = Node(1)
n2 = Node(2)
n3 = Node(3)
n1.next = None
n2.next = n1
n3.next = n2

D. n1 = Node(1)
n2 = Node(2)
n3 = Node(3)
n3.next = n2
n2.next = n1
n1.next = None

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand correct node linking order

   To create a linked list 1 -> 2 -> 3, n1.next should point to n2, and n2.next to n3. The last node n3.next should be None.

2. Step 2: Check each option's linking

   n1 = Node(1) n2 = Node(2) n3 = Node(3) n1.next = n2 n2.next = n3 n3.next = None correctly links nodes in order. The other options link nodes in wrong order or reverse.

3. Final Answer:

   n1.next = n2; n2.next = n3; n3.next = None -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Correct forward linking = n1 = Node(1) n2 = Node(2) n3 = Node(3) n1.next = n2 n2.next = n3 n3.next = None [OK]

Hint: Link nodes in order, last node points to None [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Linking nodes in reverse order
• Not setting last node's next to None
• Mixing node references