Cycle start node of Cycle linked list - c++

Question

I'm trying to implement a program for finding a starting node of circular linked list. My code is-
struct node
{
char data;
struct node *link;
} ;
char FindStartNode(struct node **q)
{
struct node *r,*t;
r = *q;
t = *q;
while(t->link != NULL)
{
r = r->link;
t = t->link->link;
if(r == t)
{
break;
}
}
if(t == NULL )
return NULL;
r = *q;
while(r != t)
{
t = t->link;
r = r->link;
}
return t->data;
}
int main()
{
struct node *p;
p = NULL;
char num;
Append(&p,'A');
Append(&p,'B');
Append(&p,'C');
Append(&p,'D');
Append(&p,'E');
Append(&p,'C');
Display(p);
num = FindStartNode(&p);
printf("\nStarting node of the cycle linked list is:- %c",num);
_getch();
return 0;
}
int Append(struct node **q, char data)
{
struct node *r,*t;
r = (struct node *)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
r->data = data;
r->link = NULL;
if(*q == NULL)
*q = r;
else
{
t = *q;
while(t->link != NULL)
{
t = t->link;
}
t->link = r;
}
return 0;
}
int Display(struct node *q)
{
while(q != NULL)
{
printf("%c\t",q->data);
q = q->link;
}
return 0;
}
ths is my code. I'm not getting any value in return t->data part or I'm unable to find the start node of cycle ink list.Any help?

Answer 1

t = t->link->link; // t->link can be null
//so t = t->link->link can be a crash or illegal reference
Change the loop to:
while(t != NULL)
{
r = r->link;
t = t->link;
if(t == NULL)
break; // or return no circle
else t = t->link;
if(r == t)
{
break;
}
}
I have gone through your code. Comparing with the algorithm discussion here it seems to be OK. But you are returning a char why dont you return a pointer so that you can check if it is NULL or not. In case it is not null then issue pt->tada. This makes more sense.
I checked you code it seems you are not implementing circular linked list correctly in Append(). I am providing you with a working implementation below. See how I modified Append()
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct node
{
char data;
struct node *link;
} ;
char FindStartNode(struct node **q)
{
struct node *r,*t;
r = *q;
t = *q;
while(t->link != NULL)
{
r = r->link;
t = t->link->link;
if(r == t)
{
break;
}
}
if(t == NULL )
return NULL;
r = *q;
while(r != t)
{
t = t->link;
r = r->link;
}
return t->data;
}
int Append(struct node **q, char data);
int main()
{
struct node *p;
p = NULL;
char num;
Append(&p,'A');
Append(&p,'B');
Append(&p,'C');
Append(&p,'D');
Append(&p,'E');
Append(&p,'C');
//Display(p);
num = FindStartNode(&p);
printf("\nStarting node of the cycle linked list is:- %c\n",num);
//_getch();
return 0;
}
int Append(struct node **q, char data)
{
struct node *r,*t, *startOfcycle=NULL;
r = (struct node *)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
r->data = data;
r->link = NULL;
if(*q == NULL)
*q = r;
else
{
t = *q;
while(t->link != NULL)
{
if(t->data == data)
startOfcycle = t;
t = t->link;
}
if(startOfcycle == NULL)
t->link = r;
else {// there is a cycle point to the start of cycle
t->link = startOfcycle;
free(r);
}
}
return 0;
}
int Display(struct node *q)
{
while(q != NULL)
{
printf("%c\t",q->data);
q = q->link;
}
Please note that Display function is also wrong as runs an infinite loop of the linked list is circular. I have not modified it since it is not relevant to you question. Thanks.

Answer 2

...
p = NULL;
char num;
Append(&p,'A');
...
You are trying to assign to NULL, which Append handles, but you are doing it repeatedly, which means you won't make a list, just a bunch of dangling nodes.
You need to make one node to start, outside of append, as your seed node, and pass that in.