What steps are taken to add a new element to a linked list?

Adding a new element to a linked list typically involves the following steps:

1. Creating a new node with the desired value.
2. Determining the insertion point (at the beginning, end, or middle of the list).
3. Updating links:
   • If inserting at the beginning: the new node points to the current first element, then the head of the list is updated to the new node.
   • If inserting at the end: traverse the list to the last node, change its link to the new node.
   • If inserting in the middle: find the node before the insertion point, update links so that the new node is between them.

Example of inserting at the beginning of a linked list in Java:

class Node {
    int data;
    Node next;
    Node(int data) { this.data = data; }
}

class LinkedList {
    Node head;

    void addFirst(int value) {
        Node newNode = new Node(value);
        newNode.next = head;
        head = newNode;
    }
}