why is a double pointer being used to create a Queue? - c++

I have two classes Node and Queue. In Queue constructor we need to create an array of type Node in the heap. My question is why we should use a double pointer Node **Q and then create an array Q=new Node*[size] like this when we could have done created an array of Nodes with a single pointer? like Node *Q and Q = new Node[size]
class Node
{
public:
Node *lchild;
int data;
Node *rchild;
};
class Queue {
private:
int front;
int rear;
int size;
Node **Q;
public:
Queue(){front=rear=-1;size=10;Q=new Node*[size];}
Queue(int size){front=rear=-1;this->size=size;;Q=new
Node*[size];}
void enqueue(Node *x);
Node *dequeue();
int isEmpty(){ return front==rear;}
};

First, let's make it clear that we are looking at two distinct data structure:
A binary tree, which is defined by Node objects.
A queue backed by a fixed-size buffer (possibly it's a ring buffer).
There is also an algorithm that uses these data structures. Based on one of the comments, this algorithm builds a binary tree from the queued nodes. In other words, the algorithm want to modify the original Node objects - it doesn't want to modify copies of them.
So the reason to allocate an array of Node * is so that the queue doesn't have to copy the Node objects. Instead, the pointer that is enqueued is the very same pointer that is later dequeued. This allows the linking algorithm to operate on the original nodes, and therefore to have the desired effect.

Related

Nested linked list in C++

I'm trying to build a nested linked list in C++ (pretty new to C++).
The node in the list could be an integer value or another linked list that has all integer values.
I have gone through other posts on SO, and I understand I should use a union for multiple data types for the node data type.
This is what I have until now.
class linkedList {
private:
struct node {
union data {
int val;
linkedList* list;
};
data currData;
node* next; // a pointer which will point to the next node
}*p;
My question is how do I start allocating the list pointer within the node struct.
For val, I know I can do p->currData->val =5, for example.
I wouldn't use a union. I would just keep a value for each and a typefield of some sort so you know what it is.
class LinkedList {
public:
class Node {
LinkedList * list = nulptr;
int value = 0;
Node * next = nullptr;
};
};
In this case, if list is nullptr, then it's not a node pointing to a new list. Or you could explicitly add a type, but for something this simple, I probably wouldn't.
p->value = 5;

Printing elements of a linked list, but instead, it prints reversed C++

here i simply wanted to print the elements of the linked list i created but it is printing the list in REVERSE order. looks like there is a mistake in the code.help me solve it
push function adds node to linked list every time we input element to be inserted in linked list.I've passed reference of head and data. A node gets dynamically created every time push fuction called. I am using c++ here.
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class node{
public:
int data;
node* next;
};
//creating linked list
void push(node** head_ref,int new_data) //passing address of head and data to put in list
{
node* new_node=new node(); //new node created
new_node->data=new_data; //data inserted
new_node->next=*(head_ref);
*(head_ref)=new_node;
}
int main()
{
node* head=NULL;
int n;
cin>>n; //number of elements in linked list
for(int i=0;i<n;i++)
{
int val;
cin>>val;
push(&head,val); //push function which creates a linked list
}
//while loop for printing elements of linked list
while(head!=NULL)
{
cout<<head->data;
head=head->next;
}
return 0;
}
What you currently do is assigning each node to be the predecessor of the current head, so in the end your head will be the latest element you added , its successor the second last element, its successor the third last element etc. and thus resulting to a reversed list.
You should assign the new node as successor of the current "head", like this:
void push(node** tail_ref,int new_data) //passing address of tail and data to put in list
{
node* new_node=new node(); //new node created
new_node->data=new_data; //data inserted
(*tail_ref)->next= new_node;
*(tail_ref)=new_node;
}
Note that I renamed head_ref to tail_ref in the snippet above, which better describes what the pointer actually represents: a pointer to the current last element of the list, hence the tail of the list.
Of course, you will need to save the pointer to the first element. Otherwise you won't be able to iterate through your linked list.
Extension to Simon's answer, which is correct so far:
You already have a class 'node' – why not create a class 'list' or 'linked_list' as well:
class LinkedList
{
node* m_head = nullptr;
node* m_tail = nullptr;
};
Now you always have head and tail combined and don't need to store them separately. Note that in above example, they are both private. That's actually how you should design your class. If you don't, then you allow a user to break the list implementation from outside (someone might, for instance, just set one of these pointers to nullptr, producing a memory leak in case of head).
However, now you will have to provide appropriate means to access and modify the list:
class LinkedList
{
public:
void append(int new_data); // as Simon proposed
void prepend(int new_data); // your implementation
int head();
int tail();
void dropHead();
//void dropTail(); // is an O(n) operation with singly linked list, though!
private:
node* m_head = nullptr;
node* m_tail = nullptr;
};
The node class is very closely linked to your list, you might consider not letting it be a stand-alone class, but making it a nested class instead. There's yet quite a bit to add (e. g. how to iterate over the list). To get some hints I recommend to peek a bit into STL and get familiar with the concept of iterators.
Finally: Stop re-inventing the wheel. STL already provides fully implemented doubly (std::list) and singly (std::forward_list) linked lists. It's fine to experiment with an own implementation to get to know how the winds blow, but once you know, switch back to STL.

Linked ArrayList Implementation

I am trying to implement a Linked ArrayList in C++ for instruction purposes, I've hit a snag though and I'm unsure how to unsnag it. My pointer array doesn't seem to be composed of pointers, but of actual objects.
Keeping my code as brief as possible.
//arraylist.h//
class classArrayList {
private:
class Node {
Node();
//accessors
};
Node* classArray;
public:
classArrayList();
};
//arraylist.cpp//
classArrayList::classArrayList() {
Node* node = new Node();
this->setHead(node);
this->setMaxSize(5);
classArray = new Node[5];
this->classArray[0] = *node;
this->setSize(1);
}
void classArrayList::deleteNode( int index ) {
Node* my_current = &this->classArray[index];
//blahblah
}
But when I go to delete a node, "my_current" doesn't link to whatever would be next or prev in this list. Trying to delete at position zero, no next.
So there's definately a node with data but it doesn't have its links, but checking the debugger my linked list is fine and works, so its whatever the array is pointing to that's screwing up.
So instead of pointing to the list, its pointing to unique instances, how can I fix this?
My code to add something new to the array is: this->classArray[some_index] = *new_node;
To clarify, I wanna be able to have an array that points sequencially to each object in my linked list. And then when I ask for one at any n in my arraylist, reference it to a pointer and then do thins to the object in my list through its position in the array, rather than increment through the list until I find the nth one I want.
Make your classArray a double pointer and create a Node pointer array. Node* classArray; Copy the address of head of your list to each array.
classArray = new Node*[5];
In your code by your statement this->classArray[0] = *node; you are not storing the address of the newly created, instead content of newly created node. And by deleting you are not removing the dynamically created list head.
For copying the address of newly created list you should use
this->classArray[0] = node;
The code works as it should. When you delete a node from your linked list, you delete the data under the pointer. As you set my_current to the address of the deleted node, you actually don't point to anything. The problem doesn't lie in the code, but in your understanding of the subject.
In order to really make a working linked list, every node should consist of a pointer to the next node. That way, when you delete a node, you'll first be able to retrieve the next node from the pointer, and set your my_current to a valid address.
In order to solve your problem, you should actually read a bit about the subject.
If you want to access the elements in "array style", overload the operator [].
Node& classArrayList::operator [](unsigned int index)
{
Node *node = head;
for(unsigned int i=0;i<index;i++)
if(node->next()) node = node->next();
else break;
return *node;
}

Good Node definition for ordered tree in C++

I have a rooted ordered tree representing sets of integers. Each node stores the size of the associated subtree, and also the max and min elements in this subtree. The branch degree of all the nodes if fixed (but determined at runtime). Also for sufficiently small subtrees I would like to change the representation to a bitmap for the subset associated. For example the root node may store a set of size 1000000, one of this children would store a subset of size 100000, then again one of his children would store a subset of size 10000 and in the next level we would stop using this representation and store just a plain bitmap for the associated subset.
I'm trying to implement this structure in C++ and my definition for the node type stores three integers (size, min and max), an array of pointers (something like node_t ** children) to subtrees and the bitmap (in case we are using this representation). The problem is that all the nodes are storing at least one element which is irrelevant (if the set is big enough we would be using the array of pointers but not the bitmap, for example). How should the node type be declared to solve this problem ? I thought about using two subtypes of node (one for each case) but I am not sure what the impact on the performance at runtime would be.
Thanks in advance.
PS. Please let me know if the question is unclear to edit it.
Since you're using multiple representations, you'll probably need at least two node types: The first will be a generic node that handles the root as well as nearby descendants, and the second type will contain a pointer to a map. The latter nodes don't have any children persay, but their immediate ancestors should see them as an entire sub-tree rather than a terminating node that points to a map.
Since each of the upper nodes have pointers to their children, you'll need a way to ensure that these pointers are also able to point to the mapNodes as well as the branching ones. A good way to do this is to create a virtual base node type with a virtual function that returns whatever data you're looking for. For example:
class baseNode {
virtual int getLargest();
virtual baseNode* addData(int);
};
class leafNode : baseNode { //for non-map termination
leafNode(int in) {Data = in;}
int getLargest() {return Data;}
baseNode* addData(int);
int Data;
};
class treeNode : baseNode {
public:
int getLargest(); //returns leftChild->getLargest(), etc
baseNode* addData(int);
baseNode* leftChild;//can point to either a treeNode or mapNode
baseNode* rightChild;
};
class mapNode : baseNode {
baseNode* addData(int);
int getLargest(); //parses subMap to find/return the desired value
Map* subMap;
};
You'll need a bit of finessing to get it to do what you need it to, but the principle is the same. Keep in mind that with 1m objects, every byte you add increases the net memory use by about a megabyte, so do try to keep things minimal. If all of your branching nodes eventually reach a mapNode, you can eliminate the leafNode declaration altogether.
Adding data to the structure is tricky, especially since you're working with multiple types and the parents (hopefully) don't know anything about their neighbors; Use virtual accessors to do what's needed. In many scenarios, if a branching node tries to add a value 'down the line', the child node it references may need to change type. In this case, the child should construct the new substructure then return it to the parent. This can be done like so:
baseNode* treeNode::addData(int in) {
if ((childCount+1) < threshold) { //not enough to merit a map
//....
//if (input needs to go to the leftChild) {
if (leftChild == 0) {
leftChild = new leafNode(in);
} else {
leftChild = leftChild->addData(in);
}
//}
return (baseNode*)this; //casting may be optional
} else { //new Data merits converting self + kids into a map
mapNode* newMap = new mapNode();
//Set newMap->subMap to children, deleting as you go
delete this;//remove self after return
return (baseNode*)newMap; //return the mapNode holding subtree
}
}
baseNode* leafNode::addData(int in) {
treeNode* tmpNode = new treeNode(); //create replacement
tmpNode->leftChild = this; //pin self to new node
tmpNode->rightChild = new leafNode(in); //store data
return (baseNode*)tmpNode;
}
baseNode* mapNode::addData(int in) {
subMap->addValue(in);//However you do it...
return (baseNode*)this; //parent is always a treeNode
}
The leftChild = leftChild->addData(in); usually won't actually modify anything, especially if it points to a treeNode, however it doesn't really hurt anything to do so and the extra if (newPtr != leftChild) check would just add unnecessary overhead. Note that it will cause a change if a leafNode needs to change into a treeNode with multiple kids, or if it's a treeNode with enough children to merit changing itself (and it's kids!) into a mapNode.

How to structure this tree of nodes?

I'm writing a program in C++ that uses genetic techniques to optimize an expression tree.
I'm trying to write a class Tree which has as a data member Node root. The node constructor generates a random tree of nodes with +,-,*,/ as nodes and the integers as leaves.
I've been working on this awhile, and I'm not yet clear on the best structure. Because I need to access any node in the tree in order to mutate or crossbreed the tree, I need to keep a dicionary of the Nodes. An array would do, but it seems that vector is the recommended container.
vector<Node> dict;
So the Tree class would contain a vector dict with all the nodes of the tree (or pointers to same), the root node of the tree, and a variable to hold a fitness measure for the tree.
class Tree
{
public:
typedef vector<Node>dict;
dict v;
Node *root;
float fitness;
Tree(void);
~Tree();
};
class Node
{
public:
char *cargo;
Node *parent;
Node *left;
Node *right;
bool entry;
dict v;
Node(bool entry, int a_depth, dict v, Node *pparent = 0);
};
Tree::Tree()
{
Node root(true, tree_depth, v);
};
There seems to be no good place to put typedef vector<Node>dict;, because if it goes in the definition of Tree, it doesn't know about Node, and will give an error saying so. I havn't been able to find a place to typedef it.
But I'm not even sure if a vector is the best container. The Nodes just need to be indexed sequentally. The container would need to grow as there could be 200 to 500 Nodes.
I think a standard Binary Tree should do... here is an example of a (binary) expression tree node:
const int NUMBER = 0, // Values representing two kinds of nodes.
OPERATOR = 1;
struct ExpNode { // A node in an expression tree.
int kind; // Which type of node is this?
// (Value is NUMBER or OPERATOR.)
double number; // The value in a node of type NUMBER.
char op; // The operator in a node of type OPERATOR.
ExpNode *left; // Pointers to subtrees,
ExpNode *right; // in a node of type OPERATOR.
ExpNode( double val ) {
// Constructor for making a node of type NUMBER.
kind = NUMBER;
number = val;
}
ExpNode( char op, ExpNode *left, ExpNode *right ) {
// Constructor for making a node of type OPERATOR.
kind = OPERATOR;
this->op = op;
this->left = left;
this->right = right;
}
}; // end ExpNode
So when you're doing crossover or mutation and you want to select a random node you just do the following:
Count the number of nodes in the tree (only need to do this ones in the constructor).
Select a random index from 0 to the size of the tree.
Visit each node and subtract 1 from the random index until you reach zero.
Return the node when the index is 0.
In this case you don't need to know anything about the parent of the node. So mating/mutation should look like this:
select nodeX
select nodeY
if( Rand(0,1) == 1 )
nodeY->left = nodeX;
else
nodeY->right = nodeX;
And that should be it...
I don't think the Node or the Tree are the first classes to write.
I'd start with Expression. In your case you need at least a BinaryExpression, as well as an expression with no subnodes (constants or variables). Each Binary expression should contain auto_ptr<Expression> lhs and auto_ptr<Expression> rhs.
You could then easily write a function to enumerate through the expression tree's members. If performance turns out to be relevant, you can cache the list of expressions in the tree, and invalidate it manually when you change the expression. Anything more advanced is likely to be slower and more error prone.
I don't see why an expression needs to know it's parent expression. It only makes life harder when you start editing expressions.
You may implement a list over nodes. Then, each node will have two additional pointers inside:
class Node{
...
Node* sequentialPrevious;
Node* sequentialNext;
...
}
And so will the tree:
class Tree{
...
Node* sequentialFirst;
Node* sequentialLast;
...
}
Than you will be albe to move bidirectionally over nodes just by jumping to sequentialFirst or sequentialLast and then iteratively to sequentialNext or sequentialPrevious. Of course, Node constructor and destructor must be properly implemented to keep those pointers up to date.