Check if Linked List is Empty in Python (2 Examples)

Hi! In this tutorial, I will show you how to check if a linked list is empty in the Python programming language .

First, here is an overview of this tutorial:

Let’s dive right into it!

What is a Linked List?

A linked list in Python is a data structure that consists of a sequence of nodes, where each node contains a reference to the next node in the list. It is a dynamic data structure, which means that its size can change during the execution of a program.

Unlike an array, a linked list does not have a fixed size and can grow or shrink as needed. In Python, a linked list can be implemented using the built-in list data type or by creating a custom class to define the node and the list.

Example 1: Check if Linked List is Empty (True)

We will create a custom class to define a node and a list for the demonstration, and then check if the list is empty. If it is empty, it will return True ; but if it is not empty, it will return False .

class Node:
    def __init__(self, data):
        self.data = data
        self.next = None
class LinkedList:
    def __init__(self):
        self.head = None
    def is_empty(self):
        return self.head is None
ll = LinkedList()
print(ll.is_empty())
# True

The is_empty() method of the LinkedList class checks if the list is empty or not. It is done by checking if the head attribute of the list is None . If it is, it returns True , indicating that the list is empty. If it is not, it returns False , indicating that the list is not empty.

Example 2: Check if Linked List is Empty (False)

In this example, we will set the head attribute of the ll linked list to a new node object. When is_empty() method is called again, this time it will return False , indicating that the list is not empty.

ll.head = Node(1)
print(ll.is_empty())
# False

So, that’s how to check if a linked list is empty in Python. I hope you found this tutorial helpful.

Video, Further Resources & Summary

Do you need more explanations on how to check if a linked list is empty in Python? Then you should have a look at the following YouTube video of the Statistics Globe YouTube channel.

In the video, we explain in some more detail how to check if a linked list is empty in Python.

The YouTube video will be added soon.

Furthermore, I urge you to check out other interesting Python list tutorials on Statistics Globe, starting with these ones:

• Count Duplicates in List in Python (2 Examples)
• Access List Element by Index in Python (3 Examples)
• How to Check if a String Exists in a List in Python (3 Examples)
• How to Check if a String Exists in a List in Python (3 Examples)
• Sort List of datetime Objects in Python (Example)
• Learn Python Programming

This post has shown how to check if a linked list is empty in Python . In case you have further questions, you may leave a comment below.