Data Structures Using C, 2nd Edition by Pearson

366 Data Structures Using C

Now the problem is how to represent the data given in Figure 8.1. Arrays are linear by nature and

every element in an array must have a unique successor and predecessor except the first and last elements.

The arrangement shown in Figure 8.1 is not linear and, therefore, cannot be represented by an array.

Though a tree is a non-linear data structure but it has a specific property that a node cannot have more

than one parent. The arrangement of Figure 8.1 is not following any hierarchy and, therefore, there is no

parent–child relationship.

A close look at the arrangement suggests that it is neither linear nor