Heap sort for Linked List
Last Updated :
23 Jul, 2025
Given a linked list, the task is to sort the linked list using HeapSort.
Examples:
Input: list = 7 -> 698147078 -> 1123629290 -> 1849873707 -> 1608878378 -> 140264035 -> -1206302000
Output: -1206302000 -> 7 -> 140264035 -> 1123629290 -> 1608878378 -> 1698147078 ->1849873707
Input: list = 7 -> -1075222361 -> -1602192039 -> -1374886644 -> -1007110694 -> -95856765 -> -1739971780
Output: -1739971780 -> -1602192039 -> -1374886644 -> -1075222361 -> -1007110694 -> -95856765 -> 7
Approach: The idea to solve the problem using HeapSort is as follows:
Create an array of Node type from LinkedList and use the heapsort method as applied for normal arrays. The only difference is the usage of custom comparator for comparing the Nodes.
Follow the steps to solve the problem:
- Copy the Node data of the linked list to an array of Node type.
- Now use this array as source and sort the data using heapsort as applied in case of array.
- Use custom comparator to compare the Nodes.
- Since Node based array is being used, the data change effect will actually be on LinkedList but not on the array.
- Finally, print the data of the linked list.
Below is the implementation of the above approach:
C++
// C++ program for the above approach:
#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib>
using namespace std;
#define SIZE 7
using namespace std;
// Node class to describe basic node structure
class LinkedListNode {
public:
int data;
LinkedListNode *next;
LinkedListNode(int data, LinkedListNode *node) {
this->data = data;
this->next = node;
}
};
// sortByValueComparator implements
// Comparator interface to sort the data.
// Comparator sort the data on the basis
// of returned value as mentioned below.
// if return value < 0 that means
// node1.data < node2.data
// if return value > 0 that means
// node1.data > node2.data
// if return value = 0 that means
// node1.data == node2.data
class SortByValueComparator {
public:
int compare(LinkedListNode *node1, LinkedListNode *node2) {
// If we interchange return value
// -1 and 1 then LinkedList will be
// sorted in reverse/descending order.
if (node1->data < node2->data) {
return -1;
} else if (node1->data > node2->data) {
return 1;
}
return 0;
}
};
SortByValueComparator sortByValueComparator;
// Function to heapify
void heapify(LinkedListNode **arr, int n, int i) {
int largest = i;
int right = 2 * i + 2;
int left = 2 * i + 1;
// Check if left child is larger
// than root
if (left < n && sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[left], arr[largest]) > 0) {
largest = left;
}
// Check if right child is larger
// than the largest till now
if (right < n && sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[right], arr[largest]) > 0) {
largest = right;
}
// swap if largest is not root
if (largest != i) {
int swap = arr[i]->data;
arr[i]->data = arr[largest]->data;
arr[largest]->data = swap;
// Recursively heapify the subTree
heapify(arr, n, largest);
}
}
// Function to sort the array
void sortArray(LinkedListNode **arr, int n) {
// Build heap
for (int i = n / 2 - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
heapify(arr, n, i);
}
// Moving current root to end
for (int i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
int temp = arr[0]->data;
arr[0]->data = arr[i]->data;
arr[i]->data = temp;
heapify(arr, i, 0);
}
}
// Function to utilise the heapsort
void heapsort(LinkedListNode *node) {
LinkedListNode *head = node;
int i = 0;
// Array to copy the linked list data
LinkedListNode **arr = new LinkedListNode *[SIZE];
while (head != nullptr) {
arr[i] = head;
i++;
head = head->next;
}
sortArray(arr, SIZE);
cout << "\nLinkedList after sorting: ";
for (int i = 0; i < SIZE; i++) {
cout << arr[i]->data << " ";
}
delete[] arr;
}
// Method that will return a random
// LinkedList of size = 6.
LinkedListNode *createLinkedList() {
srand(time(nullptr));
LinkedListNode *head = new LinkedListNode(SIZE, nullptr);
LinkedListNode *node = head;
for (int i = SIZE - 1; i > 0; i--) {
node->next = new LinkedListNode(rand() % 101, nullptr);
node = node->next;
}
cout << "LinkedList before sorting: ";
node = head;
while (node != nullptr) {
cout << node->data << " ";
node = node->next;
}
return head;
}
// Driver code
int main() {
// Driver code
LinkedListNode *node = createLinkedList();
// Function call
heapsort(node);
return 0;
}
// this code is contributed by bhardwajji
Java
// JAVA program for the above approach:
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.Random;
// Node class to describe
// basic node structure
class LinkedListNode {
int data;
LinkedListNode next;
LinkedListNode(int data, LinkedListNode node)
{
this.data = data;
next = node;
}
}
public class GFG2 {
private static final int SIZE = 7;
private static final SortByValueComparator
sortByValueComparator
= new SortByValueComparator();
// Function to utilise the heapsort
public static void heapsort(LinkedListNode node)
{
LinkedListNode head = node;
int i = 0;
// Array to copy the linked list data
LinkedListNode[] arr = new LinkedListNode[SIZE];
while (head != null) {
arr[i++] = head;
head = head.next;
}
sortArray(arr);
System.out.println("\nLinkedList after sorting: ");
while (node != null) {
System.out.print(node.data + " ");
node = node.next;
}
}
// Function to sort the array
public static void sortArray(LinkedListNode[] arr)
{
int n = arr.length;
// Build heap
for (int i = n / 2 - 1; i >= 0; i--)
heapify(arr, n, i);
for (int i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
// Moving current root to end
int temp = arr[0].data;
arr[0].data = arr[i].data;
arr[i].data = temp;
heapify(arr, i, 0);
}
}
// Method that will return a random
// LinkedList of size = 6.
public static LinkedListNode createLinkedList()
{
Random random = new Random();
LinkedListNode head
= new LinkedListNode(SIZE, null);
LinkedListNode node = head;
for (int i = SIZE - 1; i > 0; i--) {
node.next = new LinkedListNode(random.nextInt(),
null);
node = node.next;
}
System.out.println("LinkedList before sorting: ");
node = head;
while (node != null) {
System.out.print(node.data + " ");
node = node.next;
}
return head;
}
// Function to heapify
private static void heapify(LinkedListNode[] arr, int n,
int i)
{
int largest = i;
int right = 2 * i + 2;
int left = 2 * i + 1;
// Check if left child is larger
// than root
if (left < n
&& sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[left],
arr[largest])
> 0)
largest = left;
// Check if right child is larger
// than the largest till now
if (right < n
&& sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[right],
arr[largest])
> 0)
largest = right;
// Swap if largest is not root
if (largest != i) {
int swap = arr[i].data;
arr[i].data = arr[largest].data;
arr[largest].data = swap;
// Recursively heapify the subTree
heapify(arr, n, largest);
}
}
// Driver code
public static void main(String[] args)
{
LinkedListNode node = createLinkedList();
// Function call
heapsort(node);
}
}
// sortByValueComparator implements
// Comparator interface to sort the data.
// Comparator sort the data on the basis
// of returned value as mentioned below.
// if return value < 0 that means
// node1.data < node2.data
// if return value > 0 that means
// node1.data > node2.data
// if return value = 0 that means
// node1.data == node2.data
class SortByValueComparator
implements Comparator<LinkedListNode> {
public int compare(LinkedListNode node1,
LinkedListNode node2)
{
// If we interchange return value
// -1 and 1 then LinkedList will be
// sorted in reverse/descending order.
if (node1.data < node2.data) {
return -1;
}
else if (node1.data > node2.data) {
return 1;
}
return 0;
}
}
Python3
import random
# Node class to describe basic node structure
class LinkedListNode:
def __init__(self, data, node):
self.data = data
self.next = node
# SortByValueComparator implements Comparator interface to sort the data.
# Comparator sort the data on the basis of returned value as mentioned below.
# if return value < 0 that means node1.data < node2.data
# if return value > 0 that means node1.data > node2.data
# if return value = 0 that means node1.data == node2.data
class SortByValueComparator:
def compare(self, node1, node2):
# If we interchange return value -1 and 1 then LinkedList will be
# sorted in reverse/descending order.
if node1.data < node2.data:
return -1
elif node1.data > node2.data:
return 1
return 0
# Function to sort the array
def sortArray(arr):
n = len(arr)
# Build heap
for i in range(n//2-1, -1, -1):
heapify(arr, n, i)
for i in range(n-1, 0, -1):
# Moving current root to end
temp = arr[0].data
arr[0].data = arr[i].data
arr[i].data = temp
heapify(arr, i, 0)
# Function to heapify
def heapify(arr, n, i):
largest = i
right = 2 * i + 2
left = 2 * i + 1
# Check if left child is larger than root
if left < n and sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[left], arr[largest]) > 0:
largest = left
# Check if right child is larger than the largest till now
if right < n and sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[right], arr[largest]) > 0:
largest = right
# Swap if largest is not root
if largest != i:
swap = arr[i].data
arr[i].data = arr[largest].data
arr[largest].data = swap
# Recursively heapify the subTree
heapify(arr, n, largest)
# Function to utilise the heapsort
def heapsort(node):
head = node
i = 0
# Array to copy the linked list data
arr = [None] * SIZE
while head != None:
arr[i] = head
i += 1
head = head.next
sortArray(arr)
print("\nLinkedList after sorting: ")
while node != None:
print(node.data, end=" ")
node = node.next
# Method that will return a random LinkedList of size = 6.
def createLinkedList():
random.seed()
head = LinkedListNode(SIZE, None)
node = head
for i in range(SIZE-1, 0, -1):
node.next = LinkedListNode(random.randint(0, 100), None)
node = node.next
print("LinkedList before sorting: ")
node = head
while node != None:
print(node.data, end=" ")
node = node.next
return head
SIZE = 7
sortByValueComparator = SortByValueComparator()
# Driver code
node = createLinkedList()
# Function call
heapsort(node)
JavaScript
// Node class to describe basic node structure
class LinkedListNode {
constructor(data, node) {
this.data = data;
this.next = node;
}
}
// SortByValueComparator implements Comparator interface to sort the data.
// Comparator sort the data on the basis of returned value as mentioned below.
// if return value < 0 that means node1.data < node2.data
// if return value > 0 that means node1.data > node2.data
// if return value = 0 that means node1.data == node2.data
class SortByValueComparator {
compare(node1, node2) {
// If we interchange return value -1 and 1 then LinkedList will be
// sorted in reverse/descending order.
if (node1.data < node2.data) {
return -1;
} else if (node1.data > node2.data) {
return 1;
}
return 0;
}
}
// Function to sort the array
function sortArray(arr) {
const n = arr.length;
// Build heap
for (let i = Math.floor(n / 2) - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
heapify(arr, n, i);
}
for (let i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
// Moving current root to end
const temp = arr[0].data;
arr[0].data = arr[i].data;
arr[i].data = temp;
heapify(arr, i, 0);
}
}
// Function to heapify
function heapify(arr, n, i) {
let largest = i;
const right = 2 * i + 2;
const left = 2 * i + 1;
// Check if left child is larger than root
if (left < n && sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[left], arr[largest]) > 0) {
largest = left;
}
// Check if right child is larger than the largest till now
if (right < n && sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[right], arr[largest]) > 0) {
largest = right;
}
// Swap if largest is not root
if (largest !== i) {
const swap = arr[i].data;
arr[i].data = arr[largest].data;
arr[largest].data = swap;
// Recursively heapify the subTree
heapify(arr, n, largest);
}
}
// Function to utilise the heapsort
function heapsort(node) {
let head = node;
let i = 0;
// Array to copy the linked list data
const arr = new Array(SIZE);
while (head !== null) {
arr[i] = head;
i++;
head = head.next;
}
sortArray(arr);
console.log("\nLinkedList after sorting: ");
let current = node;
let ans="";
while (current !== null) {
ans=ans+current.data+" ";
current = current.next;
}
console.log(ans);
}
// Method that will return a random LinkedList of size = 6.
function createLinkedList() {
const head = new LinkedListNode(SIZE, null);
let node = head;
for (let i = SIZE - 1; i > 0; i--) {
node.next = new LinkedListNode(Math.floor(Math.random() * 101), null);
node = node.next;
}
console.log("LinkedList before sorting: ");
node = head;
let anss="";
while (node !== null) {
anss = anss+ node.data+" ";
node = node.next;
}
console.log(anss);
return head; }
let SIZE = 7;
let sortByValueComparator = new SortByValueComparator()
// Driver code
node = createLinkedList()
// Function call
heapsort(node)
C#
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Collections;
using System.Linq;
// C# program for the above approach:
// Node class to describe
// basic node structure
class LinkedListNode {
public int data;
public LinkedListNode next;
public LinkedListNode(int d, LinkedListNode node)
{
data = d;
next = node;
}
}
// sortByValueComparator implements
// Comparator interface to sort the data.
// Comparator sort the data on the basis
// of returned value as mentioned below.
// if return value < 0 that means
// node1.data < node2.data
// if return value > 0 that means
// node1.data > node2.data
// if return value = 0 that means
// node1.data == node2.data
class SortByValueComparator {
public int compare(LinkedListNode node1,
LinkedListNode node2)
{
// If we interchange return value
// -1 and 1 then LinkedList will be
// sorted in reverse/descending order.
if (node1.data < node2.data) {
return -1;
}
else if (node1.data > node2.data) {
return 1;
}
return 0;
}
}
class HelloWorld {
public static int SIZE = 7;
private static SortByValueComparator
sortByValueComparator
= new SortByValueComparator();
// Function to utilise the heapsort
public static void heapsort(LinkedListNode node)
{
LinkedListNode head = node;
int i = 0;
// Array to copy the linked list data
LinkedListNode[] arr = new LinkedListNode[SIZE];
while (head != null) {
arr[i++] = head;
head = head.next;
}
sortArray(arr);
Console.WriteLine("\nLinkedList after sorting: ");
while (node != null) {
Console.Write(node.data + " ");
node = node.next;
}
}
// Function to sort the array
public static void sortArray(LinkedListNode[] arr)
{
int n = arr.Length;
// Build heap
for (int i = n / 2 - 1; i >= 0; i--)
heapify(arr, n, i);
for (int i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
// Moving current root to end
int temp = arr[0].data;
arr[0].data = arr[i].data;
arr[i].data = temp;
heapify(arr, i, 0);
}
}
// Method that will return a random
// LinkedList of size = 6.
public static LinkedListNode createLinkedList()
{
Random random = new Random();
LinkedListNode head
= new LinkedListNode(SIZE, null);
LinkedListNode node = head;
for (int i = SIZE - 1; i > 0; i--) {
node.next
= new LinkedListNode(random.Next(), null);
node = node.next;
}
Console.WriteLine("LinkedList before sorting: ");
node = head;
while (node != null) {
Console.Write(node.data + " ");
node = node.next;
}
return head;
}
// Function to heapify
private static void heapify(LinkedListNode[] arr, int n,
int i)
{
int largest = i;
int right = 2 * i + 2;
int left = 2 * i + 1;
// Check if left child is larger
// than root
if (left < n
&& sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[left],
arr[largest])
> 0)
largest = left;
// Check if right child is larger
// than the largest till now
if (right < n
&& sortByValueComparator.compare(arr[right],
arr[largest])
> 0)
largest = right;
// Swap if largest is not root
if (largest != i) {
int swap = arr[i].data;
arr[i].data = arr[largest].data;
arr[largest].data = swap;
// Recursively heapify the subTree
heapify(arr, n, largest);
}
}
static void Main()
{
LinkedListNode node = createLinkedList();
// Function call
heapsort(node);
}
}
// The code is contributed by Nidhi goel.
OutputLinkedList before sorting:
7 -126832807 1771004780 1641683278 -179100326 -311811843 1468066971
LinkedList after sorting:
-311811843 -179100326 -126832807 7 1468066971 1641683278 1771004780
Time Complexity: O(N * logN), where N is the number of nodes in the given LinkedList.
Auxiliary Space: O(N), for creating an additional array to store the given nodes.