LazyCoder

Traverse a Linked List

Learn the simplest linked list loop correctly and understand what each move to next actually means.

Learning outcomes

  • Follow the traversal loop from head to null.
  • Understand why null is the correct stop condition.
  • Build confidence before solving more advanced linked list problems.

Why this page matters

Traversal is the base pattern behind search, counting, printing, and many update operations. If traversal feels uncertain, every later problem becomes slower and more error-prone.

How to read the loop

The loop does not jump through memory magically. Each assignment moves the cursor from one node object to the next link stored inside the current node. The tool makes that movement explicit.

Worked example

  1. Create A -> B -> C and set temp to head.
  2. Visit the current node before moving temp to temp.next.
  3. Stop when temp becomes null because there is no next node to follow.

FAQ

Should head move during traversal?

Usually no. Keep head as the original entry point and use a separate cursor such as temp or current.

Why is null part of the model?

Null marks the end of the chain. If you do not model the end explicitly, your loop logic becomes ambiguous.