Linked Lists - Building Java Programs: A Back to Basics Approach - page 938

data
3

next data

5

next data

2

next
/

list

current

After execution of the statement current = current.next , the linked list would
look like this:

data
3

next data

5

next data

2

next
/

list

current

Either way of thinking about this scenario works. Because in this new situation the
variable current is not null , you once again enter the loop, print out current.data
(which is now 5 ), and move current along again:

data
3

next data

5

next data

2

next
/ list

current

Once again current is not null , so you enter the loop a third time, print the value
of current.data ( 2 ), and reset current . But this time current.next has the value
null , so when you reset current , the computer's memory will look like this:

data
3

next data

5

next data

2

next
/ list

current /

Because current has become null , when you break out of the loop the program
has produced the following output:

3
5
2