Why are linked lists preferred over arrays in certain situations?

Linked lists are often preferred over arrays when it comes to scenarios requiring efficient insertions and deletions. The primary reason for this is the dynamic nature of linked lists. Each element, or node, in a linked list contains a reference to the next node, allowing the list to grow or shrink in size as needed without requiring the entire structure to be reorganized in memory.

In an array, inserting or deleting an element involves shifting other elements to maintain the order. This shifting results in a time complexity of O(n) in the worst-case scenarios. Conversely, with linked lists, insertion or deletion can be accomplished in O(1) time—assuming you have a reference to the nodes being manipulated. This efficiency is particularly beneficial in situations where the volume of data changes frequently.

While other factors may be relevant in deciding between linked lists and arrays, such as memory overhead for pointers in linked lists or the advantages of contiguous memory in arrays, the ability to perform insertions and deletions quickly sets linked lists apart in terms of their utility in certain applications.