Python Program to Detect the Cycle in a Linked List

When it is required to detect a cycle in a linked list, a method to add elements to the linked list, and a method to get the element in the linked list are defined. Another method is defined that checks if the head and rear values are same or not. Based on this result, cycles are detected.

Below is a demonstration for the same −

Example

class Node:
   def __init__(self, data):
      self.data = data
      self.next = None

class LinkedList_structure:
   def __init__(self):
      self.head = None
      self.last_node = None

   def add_vals(self, data):
      if self.last_node is None:
         self.head = Node(data)
         self.last_node = self.head
      else:
         self.last_node.next = Node(data)
         self.last_node = self.last_node.next

def get_node_val(self, index):
   curr = self.head
   for i in range(index):
      curr = curr.next
      if curr is None:
         return None
      return curr

def check_cycle(my_list):
   slow_val = my_list.head
   fast_val = my_list.head
   while (fast_val != None and fast_val.next != None):
      slow_val = slow_val.next
      fast_val = fast_val.next.next
      if slow_val == fast_val:
         return True
      return False

my_linked_list = LinkedList_structure()
my_list = input('Enter the elements in the linked list ').split()
   for elem in my_list:
my_linked_list.add_vals(int(elem))
my_len = len(my_list)
if my_len != 0:
   vals = '0-' + str(my_len - 1)
   last_ptr = input('Enter the index [' + vals + '] of the node' ' at which the last node has to point'' (Enter nothing to point to None): ').strip()
   if last_ptr == '':
      last_ptr = None
   else:
      last_ptr = my_linked_list.get_node_val(int(last_ptr))
      my_linked_list.last_node.next = last_ptr

if check_cycle(my_linked_list):
   print("The linked list has a cycle")
else:
   print("The linked list doesn't have a cycle")

Output

Enter the elements in the linked list 56 78 90 12 4
Enter the index [0-4] of the node at which the last node has to point (Enter nothing to point to
None):
The linked list doesn't have a cycle

Explanation

• The ‘Node’ class is created.

• Another ‘LinkedList_structure’ class with required attributes is created.

• It has an ‘init’ function that is used to initialize the first element, i.e the ‘head’ to ‘None’.

• A method named ‘add_vals’ is defined, that helps add a value to the stack.

• Another method named ‘get_node_val’ is defined, that helps get the value of the current node in the linked list.

• Another method named ‘check_cycle’ is defined, that helps find if the head and rear are same, which means this would be a cycle.

• It returns True or False depending on the presence or absence of cycle.

• An instance of the ‘LinkedList_structure’ is created.

• Elements are added to the linked list.

• The ‘check_cycle’ method is called on this linked list.

• The output is displayed on the console.