Arizona State University (ASU) CSE240 Introduction to Programming Languages Midterm Practice Exam

A linked list is preferred over an array in scenarios where elements need to be frequently added or removed. This is due to the dynamic nature of linked lists, which allow for efficient insertion and deletion of elements without the need to shift the other elements, as is required with arrays.

When using an array, adding or removing elements, especially from the middle or beginning, involves moving subsequent elements to maintain the order, which can be time-consuming and inefficient, especially for large arrays. In contrast, linked lists utilize pointers to connect nodes, enabling direct insertion or removal operations that can be performed in constant time, assuming you already have a reference to the node before the target position.

Furthermore, linked lists can grow and shrink in size dynamically, so they don't require a predefined fixed memory size, making them more flexible in situations where frequent modifications to the list are expected. This flexibility and efficiency in modifications illustrate why linked lists would be the better choice in scenarios requiring frequent additions or removals of elements.