How is a linked list structure implemented in memory, and how are elements stored there?

A linked list in memory is implemented as a set of nodes (elements), each of which contains data and a reference (pointer) to the next node in the list. In the case of a singly linked list, each element stores data and the address of the next element. In a doubly linked list, there is additionally a reference to the previous element.

Example of a node structure in Java:

class Node<T> {
    T data;       // node data
    Node<T> next; // reference to the next node

    Node(T data) {
        this.data = data;
        this.next = null;
    }
}

Thus, elements are not stored consecutively in memory but are linked through references, which allows efficient insertion and deletion of elements without shifting the others.