Why does the Struct *node next works for linked list in C++?

Question

Wouldn't it be the same to just have an embedded object of the same structure that is not a pointer?

Struct Node
{
int data;
Node next;
};
//vs
Struct Node
{
int data;
Node * next;
};

If you have a house, can you embed another similar house inside that house ? No. But you can leave a note in that house with the address of another house. — nos
– nos, Commented Mar 6, 2016 at 2:52

058 094 041 · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-06 02:48:22Z

1

No!

Having the following struct:

struct Node {
    Node other;
};

Is illegal! Node doesn't have a defined size; the compiler can't build it correctly. A Node would contain a Node which would contain a Node.. wait what?

A pointer however is fine, it just points to a section of memory. When defining a pointer, the type that it points to doesn't have to be complete, it just has to defined.

struct Node;

int main() {
    Node* a; // Fine, no errors.
    Node b; // Incomplete type error
}

edited Mar 6, 2016 at 2:48

answered Mar 6, 2016 at 2:41

058 094 041

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