An array is a collection of elements stored in contiguous memory locations, allowing for fast access. A linked list consists of nodes that contain data and pointers to the next node, allowing for dynamic memory allocation.

An array and a linked list are two fundamental data structures used in programming, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. An array is a collection of elements stored in contiguous memory locations, which allows for fast access to elements using their index. Accessing an element by its index in an array takes O(1) time, making arrays very efficient for read operations. However, arrays have a fixed size, which means they cannot grow or shrink dynamically, leading to potential wastage of space or the need for complex resizing operations when the array is full. On the other hand, a linked list is a collection of nodes, where each node contains data and a pointer (or reference) to the next node in the sequence. This allows linked lists to grow and shrink dynamically, making them more flexible than arrays. Inserting or deleting nodes in a linked list is more efficient than in an array, particularly when the operation occurs at the beginning or middle of the list, as it only requires updating pointers rather than shifting elements. However, linked lists have a higher overhead due to the storage of pointers, and accessing an element by index requires traversing the list, which takes O(n) time in the worst case. Understanding the differences between arrays and linked lists is crucial for selecting the appropriate data structure based on the requirements of a specific application, as both structures serve different purposes and have unique characteristics.