Loop in single linked list

How to find a loop in a single linked list? The loop can be to any node in the list i.e., last node of the list can loop back to any existing node in the list.

Thanks.

 

Take two pointer one pointing to head and increment it by one by one. and second pointer also point to head and increment it by two and check these two pointer for eqaulity. If equal then loop is there .

 

Thanks for the reply.

I haven't got the concept. Suppose if I have a linked list of 10 nodes and last node is pointing back to second node, how this procedure will find a loop.

Thanks.

 

Code:

Node *Isloop(Node *List)
{
  Node *ptr1=List, *ptr2=List,*ptr=NULL;
  while( (ptr1!=NULL) && (ptr2!=NULL))
  {
    if (ptr && (ptr1 == ptr2))
    {
      return ptr;
    }
    ptr = ptr1;
    ptr1=ptr1->next;
    ptr2=ptr2->next;
    if (ptr2)
    {
      ptr2=ptr2->next;
    }
  }
}

 

Thanks for the code.

Can please explain behavior of this for the above scenario I mentioned like, 10 nodes in the list and last node pointing back to 2nd node. In this case how the code will find the loop.

 

ptr1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
ptr2 1 3 5 7 9 2 4 6 8 10

So loop is there bcoz ptr1==ptr2.
Here 1 2 3 etc represent node1 node2 node3 etc

Now I think you can understand. If Any doubt ask me?

 

Great logic, now I understood. Thanks a lot.