Question

class Nodetype
{
  int info;
  Nodetype next;

  Nodetype(int i)
  {
     info=i;
     next=null;
  }
}

My textbook has this code to create Linked List dynamically.
The question is, when the programs is executed line-by line, it defines variable ‘info’ as type ‘int’ & then variable ‘next’ as Nodetype.

What is actually happening here?

does it mean that variable ‘next’ will contain –

1. Constructor ‘Nodetype’
2. int info
3. Nodetype “next” where “next” will again have all 1,2,3 & then 3 will again have 1,2,3…and so on….till infinity?

I’m really irritated because I’m unable to understand how it works, can someone easily explain this?

Answer 1

At first variable next doesn’t point to any object(it points to null). At some time you will make it point to another node with next = new NodeType(number). The idea is that you use composition – you have one instance of class which has a reference to another instance. It is like nodeA points to nodeB, nodeB points to nodeC. Here you have three instances and the first instance has a reference to the second instance and the second instance has a reference to the third instance. The third instance is the last one and its next instance points to null.