.NET HELP

C# Linked List (How It Works For Developers)

Chipego Kalinda

Updated:June 22, 2025

A linked list is a linear data structure composed of a series of nodes, which can also be called elements. Unlike arrays, where elements/nodes are stored in contiguous memory locations, linked lists utilize dynamic memory allocation, allowing elements/nodes to be scattered throughout memory.

In its simplest form, "linked lists" consist of nodes linked together linearly. Each node contains two main parts:

Data: Payload stored in the node. This can be of any data type depending on the implementation, such as integers, strings, objects, etc.
Next Pointer: A reference (or pointer) to the next node in the sequence. This pointer indicates the memory location of the following node points forward in the linked list.

The last node in a linked list typically points to a null reference, indicating the end of the list.

In this article, we will look in detail at the Linked list in C# and also explore the IronPDF library, a PDF generation tool from Iron Software.

Types of Linked Lists

1. Singly Linked List

A singly linked list has a node with only one reference, typically pointing to the next node in the sequence. Traversing the list is limited to moving in one direction, typically from the head (the initial node) to the tail (the final node).

2. Doubly Linked List

In a doubly linked list, each node contains two references: one pointing to the next node and another pointing to the previous node in the sequence. This bidirectional linkage enables traversal in both forward and backward directions.

3. Circular Linked List

In a circular linked list, the last node points back to the first node, forming a circular structure. This type of linked list can be implemented using either singly or doubly linked nodes.

Basic Operations on Linked Lists

Insertion: Adding a new node to the list at a specific position, such as the beginning, end, or middle.
Deletion: Removing a specified object node from the list, and adjusting the pointers of neighboring nodes accordingly.
Traversal: Iterating through the list to access or manipulate each node's data.
Search: Finding a specific node in the list based on its data-specified value.

Linked List in C#

In C#, you can implement a linked list using the LinkedList class from the System.Collections.Generic namespace. Here's an example of all the basic operations:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace CsharpSamples
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main()
        {
            // Create a new linked list of integers
            LinkedList<int> linkedList = new LinkedList<int>();

            // Add elements to the linked list
            linkedList.AddLast(10);
            linkedList.AddLast(20);
            linkedList.AddLast(30);
            linkedList.AddLast(40);

            // Traverse and print the elements of the linked list
            Console.WriteLine("Traverse Linked List elements:");
            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            // Display number of linked list elements
            Console.WriteLine($"Number of Linked List elements: {linkedList.Count}");

            // Find/Search for an element in the linked list
            Console.WriteLine("\nFind/Search Element Linked List elements: 30");
            var foundNode = linkedList.Find(30);

            if (foundNode != null)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(
                    $"Found Value: {foundNode.Value}, " +
                    $"Next Element: {(foundNode.Next != null ? foundNode.Next.Value.ToString() : "null")}, " +
                    $"Previous Element: {(foundNode.Previous != null ? foundNode.Previous.Value.ToString() : "null")}"
                );
            }

            // Insert an element at a specified node
            LinkedListNode<int> current = linkedList.Find(20);
            if (current != null)
            {
                linkedList.AddAfter(current, 25);
            }

            Console.WriteLine($"\nNumber of Linked List elements: {linkedList.Count}");
            Console.WriteLine("\nLinked List elements after insertion:");
            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            // Remove an existing node from the linked list
            linkedList.Remove(30);

            Console.WriteLine("\nLinked List elements after removal:");
            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            Console.WriteLine($"\nNumber of Linked List elements: {linkedList.Count}");
        }
    }
}

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace CsharpSamples
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main()
        {
            // Create a new linked list of integers
            LinkedList<int> linkedList = new LinkedList<int>();

            // Add elements to the linked list
            linkedList.AddLast(10);
            linkedList.AddLast(20);
            linkedList.AddLast(30);
            linkedList.AddLast(40);

            // Traverse and print the elements of the linked list
            Console.WriteLine("Traverse Linked List elements:");
            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            // Display number of linked list elements
            Console.WriteLine($"Number of Linked List elements: {linkedList.Count}");

            // Find/Search for an element in the linked list
            Console.WriteLine("\nFind/Search Element Linked List elements: 30");
            var foundNode = linkedList.Find(30);

            if (foundNode != null)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(
                    $"Found Value: {foundNode.Value}, " +
                    $"Next Element: {(foundNode.Next != null ? foundNode.Next.Value.ToString() : "null")}, " +
                    $"Previous Element: {(foundNode.Previous != null ? foundNode.Previous.Value.ToString() : "null")}"
                );
            }

            // Insert an element at a specified node
            LinkedListNode<int> current = linkedList.Find(20);
            if (current != null)
            {
                linkedList.AddAfter(current, 25);
            }

            Console.WriteLine($"\nNumber of Linked List elements: {linkedList.Count}");
            Console.WriteLine("\nLinked List elements after insertion:");
            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            // Remove an existing node from the linked list
            linkedList.Remove(30);

            Console.WriteLine("\nLinked List elements after removal:");
            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            Console.WriteLine($"\nNumber of Linked List elements: {linkedList.Count}");
        }
    }
}

Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic

Namespace CsharpSamples
	Public Class Program
		Public Shared Sub Main()
			' Create a new linked list of integers
			Dim linkedList As New LinkedList(Of Integer)()

			' Add elements to the linked list
			linkedList.AddLast(10)
			linkedList.AddLast(20)
			linkedList.AddLast(30)
			linkedList.AddLast(40)

			' Traverse and print the elements of the linked list
			Console.WriteLine("Traverse Linked List elements:")
			For Each item In linkedList
				Console.WriteLine(item)
			Next item

			' Display number of linked list elements
			Console.WriteLine($"Number of Linked List elements: {linkedList.Count}")

			' Find/Search for an element in the linked list
			Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Find/Search Element Linked List elements: 30")
			Dim foundNode = linkedList.Find(30)

			If foundNode IsNot Nothing Then
				Console.WriteLine($"Found Value: {foundNode.Value}, " & $"Next Element: {(If(foundNode.Next IsNot Nothing, foundNode.Next.Value.ToString(), "null"))}, " & $"Previous Element: {(If(foundNode.Previous IsNot Nothing, foundNode.Previous.Value.ToString(), "null"))}")
			End If

			' Insert an element at a specified node
			Dim current As LinkedListNode(Of Integer) = linkedList.Find(20)
			If current IsNot Nothing Then
				linkedList.AddAfter(current, 25)
			End If

			Console.WriteLine($vbLf & "Number of Linked List elements: {linkedList.Count}")
			Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Linked List elements after insertion:")
			For Each item In linkedList
				Console.WriteLine(item)
			Next item

			' Remove an existing node from the linked list
			linkedList.Remove(30)

			Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Linked List elements after removal:")
			For Each item In linkedList
				Console.WriteLine(item)
			Next item

			Console.WriteLine($vbLf & "Number of Linked List elements: {linkedList.Count}")
		End Sub
	End Class
End Namespace

$vbLabelText $csharpLabel

Code Explanation

Create a new linked list of integers using new LinkedList<int>().
Add specified value objects to the linked list.
Traverse and print the elements of the linked list using a foreach loop.
Find/search for an element in the linked list.
Insert an element at a specified node using the Find and AddAfter methods.
Remove an existing node from the linked list using the Remove method.

Output

C# Linked List (How It Works For Developers): Figure 1 - Linked List Output

Introducing IronPDF

Discover more about IronPDF is a powerful C# PDF library developed and maintained by Iron Software. It provides a comprehensive set of features for creating, editing, and extracting content from PDF documents within .NET projects.

Key Points about IronPDF

HTML to PDF Conversion

IronPDF allows you to convert HTML content to PDF format. You can render HTML pages, URLs, and HTML strings into PDFs with ease.

Rich API

The library offers a user-friendly API that enables developers to generate professional-quality PDFs directly from HTML. Whether you need to create invoices, reports, or other documents, IronPDF simplifies the process.

Cross-Platform Support

IronPDF is compatible with various .NET environments, including .NET Core, .NET Standard, and .NET Framework. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.

Versatility

IronPDF supports different project types, such as web applications (Blazor and WebForms), desktop applications (WPF and MAUI), and console applications.

Content Sources

You can generate PDFs from various content sources, including HTML files, Razor views (Blazor Server), CSHTML (MVC and Razor), ASPX (WebForms), and XAML (MAUI).

Additional Features

Add headers and footers to PDFs.
Merge, split, add, copy, and delete PDF pages.
Set passwords, permissions, and digital signatures.
Optimize performance with multithreading and asynchronous support.

Compatibility

IronPDF adheres to PDF standards, including versions 1.2 to 1.7, PDF/UA, and PDF/A. It also supports UTF-8 character encoding, base URLs, and asset encoding.

Generate PDF Document Using `LinkedList`

Now let's create a PDF document using IronPDF and also demonstrate the usage of LinkedList strings.

To start with, open Visual Studio and create a console application by selecting from project templates as shown below.

C# Linked List (How It Works For Developers): Figure 2 - New Project

Provide a project name and location.

C# Linked List (How It Works For Developers): Figure 3 - Project Configuration

Select the required .NET version.

C# Linked List (How It Works For Developers): Figure 4 - Target Framework

Install IronPDF from the Visual Studio Package manager like the one below.

C# Linked List (How It Works For Developers): Figure 5 - Install IronPDF

Or it can be installed using the below command line.

dotnet add package IronPdf --version 2024.4.2

Add the below code.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using IronPdf;

namespace CsharpSamples
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main()
        {
            var content = "<h1>Demonstrate IronPDF with C# LinkedList</h1>";
            content += "<h2>Create a new linked list of strings</h2>";
            content += "<p>Create a new linked list of strings with new LinkedList&lt;string&gt;()</p>";

            // Create a new linked list of strings
            LinkedList<string> linkedList = new LinkedList<string>();

            // Add elements to the linked list
            content += "<p>Add Apple to linkedList</p>";
            linkedList.AddLast("Apple");

            content += "<p>Add Banana to linkedList</p>";
            linkedList.AddLast("Banana");

            content += "<p>Add Orange to linkedList</p>";
            linkedList.AddLast("Orange");

            content += "<h2>Print the elements of the linked list</h2>";
            Console.WriteLine("Linked List elements:");

            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                content += $"<p>{item}</p>";
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            content += "<h2>Insert an element at a specific position</h2>";
            LinkedListNode<string> node = linkedList.Find("Banana");
            if (node != null)
            {
                linkedList.AddAfter(node, "Mango");
                content += "<p>Find Banana and insert Mango After</p>";
            }

            Console.WriteLine("\nLinked List elements after insertion:");
            content += "<h2>Linked List elements after insertion:</h2>";

            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                content += $"<p>{item}</p>";
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            content += "<h2>Remove an element from the linked list</h2>";
            linkedList.Remove("Orange");
            content += "<p>Remove Orange from linked list</p>";

            Console.WriteLine("\nLinked List elements after removal:");
            content += "<h2>Linked List elements after removal:</h2>";

            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                content += $"<p>{item}</p>";
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            // Create a PDF renderer
            var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

            // Create a PDF from HTML string
            var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(content);

            // Save to a file
            pdf.SaveAs("AwesomeIronOutput.pdf");
        }
    }
}

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using IronPdf;

namespace CsharpSamples
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main()
        {
            var content = "<h1>Demonstrate IronPDF with C# LinkedList</h1>";
            content += "<h2>Create a new linked list of strings</h2>";
            content += "<p>Create a new linked list of strings with new LinkedList&lt;string&gt;()</p>";

            // Create a new linked list of strings
            LinkedList<string> linkedList = new LinkedList<string>();

            // Add elements to the linked list
            content += "<p>Add Apple to linkedList</p>";
            linkedList.AddLast("Apple");

            content += "<p>Add Banana to linkedList</p>";
            linkedList.AddLast("Banana");

            content += "<p>Add Orange to linkedList</p>";
            linkedList.AddLast("Orange");

            content += "<h2>Print the elements of the linked list</h2>";
            Console.WriteLine("Linked List elements:");

            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                content += $"<p>{item}</p>";
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            content += "<h2>Insert an element at a specific position</h2>";
            LinkedListNode<string> node = linkedList.Find("Banana");
            if (node != null)
            {
                linkedList.AddAfter(node, "Mango");
                content += "<p>Find Banana and insert Mango After</p>";
            }

            Console.WriteLine("\nLinked List elements after insertion:");
            content += "<h2>Linked List elements after insertion:</h2>";

            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                content += $"<p>{item}</p>";
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            content += "<h2>Remove an element from the linked list</h2>";
            linkedList.Remove("Orange");
            content += "<p>Remove Orange from linked list</p>";

            Console.WriteLine("\nLinked List elements after removal:");
            content += "<h2>Linked List elements after removal:</h2>";

            foreach (var item in linkedList)
            {
                content += $"<p>{item}</p>";
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }

            // Create a PDF renderer
            var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

            // Create a PDF from HTML string
            var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(content);

            // Save to a file
            pdf.SaveAs("AwesomeIronOutput.pdf");
        }
    }
}

Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports IronPdf

Namespace CsharpSamples
	Public Class Program
		Public Shared Sub Main()
			Dim content = "<h1>Demonstrate IronPDF with C# LinkedList</h1>"
			content &= "<h2>Create a new linked list of strings</h2>"
			content &= "<p>Create a new linked list of strings with new LinkedList&lt;string&gt;()</p>"

			' Create a new linked list of strings
			Dim linkedList As New LinkedList(Of String)()

			' Add elements to the linked list
			content &= "<p>Add Apple to linkedList</p>"
			linkedList.AddLast("Apple")

			content &= "<p>Add Banana to linkedList</p>"
			linkedList.AddLast("Banana")

			content &= "<p>Add Orange to linkedList</p>"
			linkedList.AddLast("Orange")

			content &= "<h2>Print the elements of the linked list</h2>"
			Console.WriteLine("Linked List elements:")

			For Each item In linkedList
				content &= $"<p>{item}</p>"
				Console.WriteLine(item)
			Next item

			content &= "<h2>Insert an element at a specific position</h2>"
			Dim node As LinkedListNode(Of String) = linkedList.Find("Banana")
			If node IsNot Nothing Then
				linkedList.AddAfter(node, "Mango")
				content &= "<p>Find Banana and insert Mango After</p>"
			End If

			Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Linked List elements after insertion:")
			content &= "<h2>Linked List elements after insertion:</h2>"

			For Each item In linkedList
				content &= $"<p>{item}</p>"
				Console.WriteLine(item)
			Next item

			content &= "<h2>Remove an element from the linked list</h2>"
			linkedList.Remove("Orange")
			content &= "<p>Remove Orange from linked list</p>"

			Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Linked List elements after removal:")
			content &= "<h2>Linked List elements after removal:</h2>"

			For Each item In linkedList
				content &= $"<p>{item}</p>"
				Console.WriteLine(item)
			Next item

			' Create a PDF renderer
			Dim renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()

			' Create a PDF from HTML string
			Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(content)

			' Save to a file
			pdf.SaveAs("AwesomeIronOutput.pdf")
		End Sub
	End Class
End Namespace

$vbLabelText $csharpLabel

Code Explanation

First, we start by creating the content for the PDF, using a content string object. The content is generated as an HTML string.
Create a new linked list of strings with new LinkedList<string>().
Add elements to the linked list and also append information to the PDF content string.
Print the elements of the linked list and append to the PDF content.
Insert an element at a specific position using the AddAfter method; update content and print the resulting list.
Remove an element from the linked list using the Remove method, update content, and print the resulting list.
Finally, save the generated HTML content string to a PDF document using ChromePdfRenderer, RenderHtmlAsPdf, and SaveAs methods.

Output

C# Linked List (How It Works For Developers): Figure 6 - IronPDF with `LinkedList` Output

The output has a watermark that can be removed using a valid license from the IronPDF licensing page.

IronPDF License

The IronPDF library requires a license to run, and it can be obtained from the product licensing page.

Paste the key in the appSettings.json file below.

{
  "IronPdf.License.LicenseKey": "The Key Goes Here"
}

Conclusion

C# LinkedList provides a versatile data structure for managing collections of elements, offering efficient insertions and deletions while accommodating dynamic resizing, similar to the default hash function. Linked lists are commonly used in various applications and algorithms, such as implementing stacks, queues, symbol tables, and memory management systems. Understanding the characteristics and operations of linked lists is essential for building efficient and scalable software solutions.

In summary, while linked lists excel in certain scenarios, such as dynamic data structures and frequent insertions/deletions, they may not be the best choice for applications requiring frequent random access or dealing with memory-constrained environments. Careful consideration of the specific requirements and characteristics of the data can guide the selection of the most appropriate data structure for the task at hand.

The IronPDF library from Iron Software allows developers to create and manipulate PDF documents effortlessly, enabling advanced skills to develop modern applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a linked list in C#?

A linked list in C# is a linear data structure composed of nodes, where each node contains data and a reference to the next node in the sequence. Unlike arrays, linked lists allow elements to be stored in non-contiguous memory locations.

What are the types of linked lists?

There are three main types of linked lists: singly linked lists, doubly linked lists, and circular linked lists. Singly linked lists have nodes with a single reference to the next node, doubly linked lists have nodes with references to both the next and previous nodes, and circular linked lists have the last node pointing back to the first node.

What are the basic operations on linked lists?

The basic operations on linked lists include insertion (adding a new node), deletion (removing a node), traversal (iterating through the list), and search (finding a node based on its data).

How do you implement a linked list in C#?

In C#, a linked list can be implemented using the LinkedList class from the System.Collections.Generic namespace. This class provides methods for adding, removing, and manipulating nodes within the list.

What is a PDF generation library useful for?

A PDF generation library like IronPDF is useful for creating, editing, and extracting content from PDF documents within .NET projects. It supports HTML to PDF conversion and offers a rich API for generating professional-quality PDFs.

What platforms does a PDF generation library support?

A PDF generation library like IronPDF supports various .NET environments, including .NET Core, .NET Standard, and .NET Framework. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.

How can linked lists be utilized in generating PDFs?

Linked lists can be used to dynamically generate content that is saved as a PDF document. By iterating through a linked list, content can be appended and then converted to a PDF using the rendering capabilities of a library like IronPDF.

What are the benefits of using linked lists?

Linked lists offer efficient insertions and deletions, dynamic resizing, and are useful for implementing dynamic data structures like stacks and queues. They are advantageous when frequent modifications are required, although they do not support random access like arrays.

What is the difference between a singly and a doubly linked list?

The main difference is that a singly linked list has nodes with a single reference pointing to the next node, allowing traversal in one direction. A doubly linked list has nodes with references to both the next and previous nodes, enabling traversal in both directions.

How can I obtain a license for a PDF generation library?

A license for a PDF generation library like IronPDF can be obtained from the product licensing page of the provider. Once obtained, the license key can be added to the appSettings.json file of your application.

Chipego Kalinda

Chat with engineering team now

Software Engineer

Chipego has a natural skill for listening that helps him to comprehend customer issues, and offer intelligent solutions. He joined the Iron Software team in 2023, after studying a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. IronPDF and IronOCR are the two products Chipego has been focusing on, but his knowledge of all products is growing daily, as he finds new ways to support customers. He enjoys how collaborative life is at Iron Software, with team members from across the company bringing their varied experience to contribute to effective, innovative solutions. When Chipego is away from his desk, he can often be found enjoying a good book or playing football.

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Customer Highlight:

Developer Spotlight:

Webinars:

C# Linked List (How It Works For Developers)

Types of Linked Lists

1. Singly Linked List

2. Doubly Linked List

3. Circular Linked List

Basic Operations on Linked Lists

Linked List in C#

Code Explanation

Output

Introducing IronPDF

Key Points about IronPDF

HTML to PDF Conversion

Rich API

Cross-Platform Support

Versatility

Content Sources

Additional Features

Compatibility

Generate PDF Document Using `LinkedList`

Code Explanation

Output

IronPDF License

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a linked list in C#?

What are the types of linked lists?

What are the basic operations on linked lists?

How do you implement a linked list in C#?

What is a PDF generation library useful for?

What platforms does a PDF generation library support?

How can linked lists be utilized in generating PDFs?

What are the benefits of using linked lists?

What is the difference between a singly and a doubly linked list?

How can I obtain a license for a PDF generation library?

Ready to Get Started?

Start Free 30 Day Trial

C# Linked List (How It Works For Developers)

Types of Linked Lists

1. Singly Linked List

2. Doubly Linked List

3. Circular Linked List

Basic Operations on Linked Lists

Linked List in C#

Code Explanation

Output

Introducing IronPDF

Key Points about IronPDF

HTML to PDF Conversion

Rich API

Cross-Platform Support

Versatility

Content Sources

Additional Features

Compatibility

Generate PDF Document Using LinkedList

Code Explanation

Output

IronPDF License

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a linked list in C#?

What are the types of linked lists?

What are the basic operations on linked lists?

How do you implement a linked list in C#?

What is a PDF generation library useful for?

What platforms does a PDF generation library support?

How can linked lists be utilized in generating PDFs?

What are the benefits of using linked lists?

What is the difference between a singly and a doubly linked list?

How can I obtain a license for a PDF generation library?

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Generate PDF Document Using `LinkedList`