An interactive concept flow for arrays and linked lists: cost follows access pattern, from its assumptions through the main operation and boundary checks.
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readyAn array stores elements in contiguous indexed positions. This makes locating element i a direct address calculation and often keeps nearby values close in cache. A linked list stores each value alongside a reference to another node, which makes traversal follow pointers instead of predictable offsets.
Use the stages in order to explain arrays and linked lists: cost follows access pattern. Each stage makes one assumption visible: what the operation promises, what representation it uses, how state changes, which boundary can invalidate a shortcut, and what evidence confirms the result.
For a worked explanation, continue to the topic article and execution trace.
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