linked list search function

Question

I am developing a C program and I want to use this function to check if an element of type Client with a given number is already inserted. It moves along the list and returns 1 as soon as the number is found, only when I try to compile, it tells me the "prev" variable is not used.

int list_search_number(LinkedListNode head, Client value){                      
    LinkedListNode prev, curr;

    prev = NULL;
    curr = head;

    while (curr != NULL) { 
          if(curr->value.number!=value.number){ 
            prev = curr;
            curr = curr->next;}                   
          else if(curr->value.number==value.number)
            return 1;                                
    }      
return 0;                           
}

The linked list and Client structures are defined correctly.

how is LinkedListNode defined? I would have expected a "pointer to LinkedListNode" for the head argument to your function. — S.C. Madsen, Nov 29 '13 at 14:17

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 29 '13 at 14:17

You do not need to store prev pointer since there is no need for it. Remove prev variable and go on.

Change the algorithm to return 1 if the number is found and return 0 if it is not found. prev pointer is useless.

Here is the code.

int list_search_number(LinkedListNode head, Client value){                      
    LinkedListNode curr;


    curr = head;

    while (curr != NULL) { 
          if(curr->value.number==value.number){ 
            return 1;
            }                   
          else {
                curr = curr->next;      
            }                      
    }      
return 0;                           
}

linked list search function

1 Answers1