What is the time complexity of searching for an element in a singly linked list of size n?O(n!)O(2^n)O(1)O(n)O(nlog(n))O(n^2)O(log(n))

1. Break Down the Problem

To determine the time complexity of searching for an element in a singly linked list of size $n$, we need to evaluate how the search operation is performed in this data structure.

2. Relevant Concepts

In a singly linked list, elements are accessed sequentially. This means that to find a specific element, we may have to traverse the list from the head to the tail.

3. Analysis and Detail

• The search operation involves checking each node starting from the head of the list.
• In the worst-case scenario, the element may be located at the end of the list or may not be present at all. Therefore, we will have to traverse all $n$ nodes.
• Each node is visited once, leading to a linear search.

4. Verify and Summarize

The number of operations performed in the worst case is proportional to the number of elements in the list, which is $n$. Thus, the time complexity is:

$O(n)$

Final Answer

The time complexity of searching for an element in a singly linked list of size $n$ is $O(n)$.