Delete middle of linked list

Last Updated : 3 Apr, 2026

Given a singly linked list, the task is to delete the middle node of the list.

  • If the list contains an even number of nodes, there will be two middle nodes. In this case, delete the second middle node.
  • If the linked list consists of only one node, then return NULL.

Example:

Input: LinkedList: 1->2->3->4->5
Output: 1->2->4->5
Explanation:

Input: LinkedList: 2->4->6->7->5->1
Output: 2->4->6->5->1
Explaination:

Input: LinkedList: 7
Output: <empty linked list>

Try It Yourself
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Table of Content

[Naive Approach] Using Two-Pass Traversal - O(n) Time and O(1) space

The basic to first traverse the entire linked list to count the total number of nodes. Once we know the total number of nodes, we can calculate the position of the middle node, which is at index n/2 (where n is the total number of nodes). Then go through the linked list again, but this time we stop right before the middle node. Once there, we modify the next pointer of the node before the middle node so that it skips over the middle node and points directly to the node after it,

C++ 
// C++ program to delete middle of a linked list
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

struct Node {
    int data;
    Node* next;

    Node(int x){
        data = x;
        next = nullptr;
    }
};

// Function to delete middle node from linked list.
Node* deleteMid(Node* head) {
    // Edge case: return nullptr if there is only
    // one node.
    if (head->next == nullptr)
        return nullptr;

    int count = 0;
    Node *p1 = head, *p2 = head;

    // First pass, count the number of nodes
    // in the linked list using 'p1'.
    while (p1 != nullptr) {
        count++;
        p1 = p1->next;
    }

    // Get the index of the node to be deleted.
    int middleIndex = count / 2;

    // Second pass, let 'p2' move toward the predecessor
    // of the middle node.
    for (int i = 0; i < middleIndex - 1; ++i)
        p2 = p2->next;

    // Delete the middle node and return 'head'.
    Node* temp = p2->next;
    p2->next = temp->next;
    delete temp;
    return head;
}

void printList(Node* head) {
    Node* temp = head;
    while (temp != nullptr) {
        cout << temp->data << " -> ";
        temp = temp->next;
    }
    cout << "nullptr" << endl;
}

int main() {
    // Create a static hardcoded linked list:
    // 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5.
    Node* head = new Node(1);
    head->next = new Node(2);
    head->next->next = new Node(3);
    head->next->next->next = new Node(4);
    head->next->next->next->next = new Node(5);

    cout << "Original Linked List: ";
    printList(head);

    // Delete the middle node.
    head = deleteMid(head);

    cout << "Linked List after deleting the middle node: ";
    printList(head);

    return 0;
}
C 
// C program to delete middle of a linked list
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

struct Node {
    int data;
    struct Node* next;
};

// Function to delete middle node from linked list.
struct Node* deleteMid(struct Node* head) {
    // Edge case: return NULL if there is only
    // one node.
    if (head->next == NULL)
        return NULL;

    int count = 0;
    struct Node *p1 = head, *p2 = head;

    // First pass, count the number of nodes
    // in the linked list using 'p1'.
    while (p1 != NULL) {
        count++;
        p1 = p1->next;
    }

    // Get the index of the node to be deleted.
    int middleIndex = count / 2;

    // Second pass, let 'p2' move toward the predecessor
    // of the middle node.
    for (int i = 0; i < middleIndex - 1; ++i)
        p2 = p2->next;

    // Delete the middle node and return 'head'.
    struct Node* temp = p2->next; 
	p2->next = temp->next;
	free(temp);
	return head;
}

void printList(struct Node* head) {
    struct Node* temp = head;
    while (temp != NULL) {
        printf("%d -> ", temp->data);
        temp = temp->next;
    }
    printf("NULL\n");
}

struct Node* newNode(int x) {
    struct Node* temp = 
      (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
    temp->data = x;
    temp->next = NULL;
    return temp;
}

int main() {
    // Create a static hardcoded linked list:
    // 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5.
    struct Node* head = newNode(1);
    head->next = newNode(2);
    head->next->next = newNode(3);
    head->next->next->next = newNode(4);
    head->next->next->next->next = newNode(5);

    printf("Original Linked List: ");
    printList(head);

    // Delete the middle node.
    head = deleteMid(head);

    printf("Linked List after deleting the middle node: ");
    printList(head);

    return 0;
}
Java 
// Java program to delete middle of a linked list
class Node {
    int data;
    Node next;

    Node(int x) {
        data = x;
        next = null;
    }
}

public class GfG {

    // Function to delete middle node from linked list.
    public static Node deleteMid(Node head) {
        // Edge case: return null if there is only
        // one node.
        if (head.next == null)
            return null;

        int count = 0;
        Node p1 = head, p2 = head;

        // First pass, count the number of nodes
        // in the linked list using 'p1'.
        while (p1 != null) {
            count++;
            p1 = p1.next;
        }

        // Get the index of the node to be deleted.
        int middleIndex = count / 2;

        // Second pass, let 'p2' move toward predecessor
        // of the middle node.
        for (int i = 0; i < middleIndex - 1; ++i)
            p2 = p2.next;

        // Delete the middle node and return 'head'.
        p2.next = p2.next.next;
        return head;
    }

    public static void printList(Node head) {
        Node temp = head;
        while (temp != null) {
            System.out.print(temp.data + " -> ");
            temp = temp.next;
        }
        System.out.println("null");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Create a static hardcoded linked list:
        // 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5.
        Node head = new Node(1);
        head.next = new Node(2);
        head.next.next = new Node(3);
        head.next.next.next = new Node(4);
        head.next.next.next.next = new Node(5);

        System.out.print("Original Linked List: ");
        printList(head);

        // Delete the middle node.
        head = deleteMid(head);

        System.out.print
          ("Linked List after deleting the middle node: ");
        printList(head);
    }
}
Python 
# Python3 program to delete middle  of a linked list
class Node:
    def __init__(self, data):
        self.data = data
        self.next = None

# Function to delete middle node from linked list.
def deleteMid(head):
    # Edge case: return None if there is only
    # one node.
    if head.next is None:
        return None

    count = 0
    p1 = head
    p2 = head

    # First pass, count the number of nodes
    # in the linked list using 'p1'.
    while p1 is not None:
        count += 1
        p1 = p1.next

    # Get the index of the node to be deleted.
    middleIndex = count // 2

    # Second pass, let 'p2' move toward the predecessor
    # of the middle node.
    for i in range(middleIndex - 1):
        p2 = p2.next

    # Delete the middle node and return 'head'.
    p2.next = p2.next.next
    return head

def printList(head):
    temp = head
    while temp is not None:
        print(temp.data, end=" -> ")
        temp = temp.next
    print("None")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Create a static hardcoded linked list:
    # 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5.
    head = Node(1)
    head.next = Node(2)
    head.next.next = Node(3)
    head.next.next.next = Node(4)
    head.next.next.next.next = Node(5)

    print("Original Linked List:", end=" ")
    printList(head)

    # Delete the middle node.
    head = deleteMid(head)

    print("Linked List after deleting the middle node:", end=" ")
    printList(head)
C# 
// C# program to delete middle of a linked list
using System;

class Node {
    public int data;
    public Node next;

    public Node(int x) {
        data = x;
        next = null;
    }
}

class GfG {

    // Function to delete middle node from linked list.
    static Node deleteMid(Node head) {
        // Edge case: return null if there is only
        // one node.
        if (head.next == null)
            return null;

        int count = 0;
        Node p1 = head, p2 = head;

        // First pass, count the number of nodes
        // in the linked list using 'p1'.
        while (p1 != null) {
            count++;
            p1 = p1.next;
        }

        // Get the index of the node to be deleted.
        int middleIndex = count / 2;

        // Second pass, let 'p2' move toward the predecessor
        // of the middle node.
        for (int i = 0; i < middleIndex - 1; ++i)
            p2 = p2.next;

        // Delete the middle node and return 'head'.
        p2.next = p2.next.next;
        return head;
    }

    static void printList(Node head) {
        Node temp = head;
        while (temp != null) {
            Console.Write(temp.data + " -> ");
            temp = temp.next;
        }
        Console.WriteLine("null");
    }

    static void Main(string[] args) {
        // Create a static hardcoded linked list:
        // 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5.
        Node head = new Node(1);
        head.next = new Node(2);
        head.next.next = new Node(3);
        head.next.next.next = new Node(4);
        head.next.next.next.next = new Node(5);

        Console.Write("Original Linked List: ");
        printList(head);

        // Delete the middle node.
        head = deleteMid(head);

        Console.Write
          ("Linked List after deleting the middle node: ");
        printList(head);
    }
}
JavaScript 
class Node {
    constructor(data) {
        this.data = data;
        this.next = null;
    }
}

// Function to delete middle node from linked list.
function deleteMid(head) {
    // Edge case: return null if there is only
    // one node.
    if (head.next === null)
        return null;

    let count = 0;
    let p1 = head, p2 = head;

    // First pass, count the number of nodes
    // in the linked list using 'p1'.
    while (p1 !== null) {
        count++;
        p1 = p1.next;
    }

    // Get the index of the node to be deleted.
    let middleIndex = Math.floor(count / 2);

    // Second pass, let 'p2' move toward the predecessor
    // of the middle node.
    for (let i = 0; i < middleIndex - 1; ++i)
        p2 = p2.next;

    // Delete the middle node and return 'head'.
    p2.next = p2.next.next;
    return head;
}

function printList(head) {
    let temp = head;
    while (temp !== null) {
        console.log(temp.data + " -> ");
        temp = temp.next;
    }
    console.log("null");
}

// Create a static hardcoded linked list:
// 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5.
let head = new Node(1);
head.next = new Node(2);
head.next.next = new Node(3);
head.next.next.next = new Node(4);
head.next.next.next.next = new Node(5);

console.log("Original Linked List: ");
printList(head);

// Delete the middle node.
head = deleteMid(head);

console.log("Linked List after deleting the middle node: ");
printList(head);

Output
Original Linked List: 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> nullptr
Linked List after deleting the middle node: 1 -> 2 -> 4 -> 5 -> nullptr

Time Complexity: O(n). Two traversals of the linked list are needed
Auxiliary Space: O(1). No extra space is needed.

[Expected Approach] One-Pass Traversal with Slow and Fast Pointers - O(n) Time and O(1) Space

The above solution requires two traversals of the linked list. The middle node can be deleted using one traversal. The idea is to use two pointers, slow_ptr, and fast_ptr. The fast pointer moves two nodes at a time, while the slow pointer moves one node at a time. When the fast pointer reaches the end of the list, the slow pointer will be positioned at the middle node. Next, you need to connect the node that comes before the middle node (prev) to the node that comes after the middle node. This effectively skips over the middle node, removing it from the list.

C++ 
// C++ program to delete middle of a linked list
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

struct Node {
    int data;
    Node* next;

    Node(int x){
        data = x;
        next = nullptr;
    }
};

// Function to delete middle node from linked list
struct Node* deleteMid(struct Node* head) {
    // If the list is empty, return NULL
    if (head == NULL)
        return NULL;

    // If the list has only one node,
    // delete it and return NULL
    if (head->next == NULL) {
        delete head;
        return NULL;
    }

    struct Node* prev = NULL;
    struct Node* slow_ptr = head;
    struct Node* fast_ptr = head;

    // Move the fast pointer 2 nodes ahead
    // and the slow pointer 1 node ahead
    // until fast pointer reaches end of the list
    while (fast_ptr != NULL && fast_ptr->next != NULL) {
        fast_ptr = fast_ptr->next->next;  

        // Update prev to hold the previous 
        // slow pointer value
        prev = slow_ptr;  

        slow_ptr = slow_ptr->next;  
    }

    // At this point, slow_ptr points to middle node
    // Bypass the middle node
    prev->next = slow_ptr->next;

    // Delete the middle node
    delete slow_ptr; 

    // Return the head of the modified list
    return head;
}

void printList(struct Node* head) {
    struct Node* temp = head;
    while (temp != NULL) {
        cout << temp->data << " -> ";
        temp = temp->next;
    }
    cout << "NULL" << endl;
}

int main() {
    // Create a static hardcoded linked list:
    // 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5
    Node* head = new Node(1);
    head->next = new Node(2);
    head->next->next = new Node(3);
    head->next->next->next = new Node(4);
    head->next->next->next->next = new Node(5);

    cout << "Original Linked List: ";
    printList(head);

    // Delete the middle node
    head = deleteMid(head);

    cout << "Linked List after deleting the middle node: ";
    printList(head);

    return 0;
}
C 
// C program to delete middle of a linked list
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

struct Node {
    int data;
    struct Node* next;
};

// Function to delete middle node from linked list
struct Node* deleteMid(struct Node* head) {
    // If the list is empty, return NULL
    if (head == NULL)
        return NULL;

    // If the list has only one node,
    // delete it and return NULL
    if (head->next == NULL) {
        free(head);
        return NULL;
    }

    struct Node* prev = NULL;
    struct Node* slow_ptr = head;
    struct Node* fast_ptr = head;

    // Move the fast pointer 2 nodes ahead
    // and the slow pointer 1 node ahead
    // until fast pointer reaches end of the list
    while (fast_ptr != NULL && fast_ptr->next != NULL) {
        fast_ptr = fast_ptr->next->next;

        // Update prev to hold the previous 
        // slow pointer value
        prev = slow_ptr;

        slow_ptr = slow_ptr->next;
    }

    // At this point, slow_ptr points to middle node
    // Bypass the middle node
    prev->next = slow_ptr->next;

    // Delete the middle node
    free(slow_ptr);

    // Return the head of the modified list
    return head;
}

void printList(struct Node* head) {
    struct Node* temp = head;
    while (temp != NULL) {
        printf("%d -> ", temp->data);
        temp = temp->next;
    }
    printf("NULL\n");
}

struct Node* newNode(int x) {
    struct Node* temp = 
      (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
    temp->data = x;
    temp->next = NULL;
    return temp;
}

int main() {
    // Create a static hardcoded linked list:
    // 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5.
    struct Node* head = newNode(1);
    head->next = newNode(2);
    head->next->next = newNode(3);
    head->next->next->next = newNode(4);
    head->next->next->next->next = newNode(5);

    printf("Original Linked List: ");
    printList(head);

    // Delete the middle node.
    head = deleteMid(head);

    printf("Linked List after deleting the middle node: ");
    printList(head);

    return 0;
}
Java 
// Java program to delete the middle of a linked list
class Node {
    int data;
    Node next;

    Node(int x) {
        data = x;
        next = null;
    }
}

class GfG {

    // Function to delete middle node from linked list
    static Node deleteMid(Node head) {
        // If the list is empty, return null
        if (head == null)
            return null;

        // If the list has only one node,
        // delete it and return null
        if (head.next == null) {
            return null;
        }

        Node prev = null;
        Node slow_ptr = head;
        Node fast_ptr = head;

        // Move the fast pointer 2 nodes ahead
        // and the slow pointer 1 node ahead
        // until fast pointer reaches end of list
        while (fast_ptr != null 
               && fast_ptr.next != null) {
            fast_ptr = fast_ptr.next.next;

            // Update prev to hold the previous 
            // slow pointer value
            prev = slow_ptr;

            slow_ptr = slow_ptr.next;
        }

        // At this point,slow_ptr points to middle node
        // Bypass the middle node
        prev.next = slow_ptr.next;

        // Return the head of the modified list
        return head;
    }
  
    static void printList(Node head) {
        Node temp = head;
        while (temp != null) {
            System.out.print(temp.data + " -> ");
            temp = temp.next;
        }
        System.out.println("NULL");
    }
  
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Create a static hardcoded linked list:
        // 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5
        Node head = new Node(1);
        head.next = new Node(2);
        head.next.next = new Node(3);
        head.next.next.next = new Node(4);
        head.next.next.next.next = new Node(5);

        System.out.print("Original Linked List: ");
        printList(head);

        // Delete the middle node
        head = deleteMid(head);

        System.out.print
          ("Linked List after deleting the middle node: ");
        printList(head);
    }
}
Python 
# Python program to delete the middle of a linked list
class Node:
    def __init__(self, data):
        self.data = data
        self.next = None

# Function to delete middle node from linked list
def deleteMid(head):
    # If the list is empty, return None
    if head is None:
        return None

    # If the list has only one node,
    # delete it and return None
    if head.next is None:
        return None

    prev = None
    slow_ptr = head
    fast_ptr = head

    # Move the fast pointer 2 nodes ahead
    # and the slow pointer 1 node ahead
    # until fast pointer reaches end of the list
    while fast_ptr is not None and fast_ptr.next is not None:
        fast_ptr = fast_ptr.next.next

        # Update prev to hold the previous
        # slow pointer value
        prev = slow_ptr

        slow_ptr = slow_ptr.next

    # At this point, slow_ptr points to middle node
    # Bypass the middle node
    prev.next = slow_ptr.next

    # Return the head of the modified list
    return head

def printList(head):
    temp = head
    while temp:
        print(temp.data, end=" -> ")
        temp = temp.next
    print("NULL")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Create a static hardcoded linked list:
    # 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5
    head = Node(1)
    head.next = Node(2)
    head.next.next = Node(3)
    head.next.next.next = Node(4)
    head.next.next.next.next = Node(5)

    print("Original Linked List: ", end="")
    printList(head)

    # Delete the middle node
    head = deleteMid(head)

    print("Linked List after deleting the middle node: ", end="")
    printList(head)
C# 
// C# program to delete middle of a linked list
using System;

class Node {
    public int data;
    public Node next;
  
    public Node(int x) {
        data = x;
        next = null;
    }
}

class GfG {

    // Function to delete middle node from linked list
    public static Node deleteMid(Node head) {
        // If the list is empty, return null
        if (head == null)
            return null;

        // If the list has only one node,
        // delete it and return null
        if (head.next == null) {
            return null;
        }

        Node prev = null;
        Node slow_ptr = head;
        Node fast_ptr = head;

        // Move the fast pointer 2 nodes ahead
        // and the slow pointer 1 node ahead
        // until fast pointer reaches end of the list
        while (fast_ptr != null && fast_ptr.next != null) {
            fast_ptr = fast_ptr.next.next;

            // Update prev to hold the previous 
            // slow pointer value
            prev = slow_ptr;

            slow_ptr = slow_ptr.next;
        }

        // At this point, slow_ptr points to middle node
        // Bypass the middle node
        prev.next = slow_ptr.next;

        // Return the head of the modified list
        return head;
    }

    // Function to print the linked list
    public static void printList(Node head) {
        Node temp = head;
        while (temp != null) {
            Console.Write(temp.data + " -> ");
            temp = temp.next;
        }
        Console.WriteLine("NULL");
    }

    public static void Main(string[] args) {
        // Create a static hardcoded linked list:
        // 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5
        Node head = new Node(1);
        head.next = new Node(2);
        head.next.next = new Node(3);
        head.next.next.next = new Node(4);
        head.next.next.next.next = new Node(5);

        Console.Write("Original Linked List: ");
        printList(head);

        // Delete the middle node
        head = deleteMid(head);

        Console.Write
          ("Linked List after deleting the middle node: ");
        printList(head);
    }
}
JavaScript 
// javascript program to delete middle of a linked list
class Node {
    constructor(data)
    {
        this.data = data;
        this.next = null;
    }
}

// Function to delete the middle node from the linked list
function deleteMid(head)
{
    // If the list is empty, return null
    if (head === null) {
        return null;
    }

    // If the list has only one node, delete it and return
    // null
    if (head.next === null) {
        return null;
    }

    let prev = null;
    let slow_ptr = head;
    let fast_ptr = head;

    // Move the fast pointer 2 nodes ahead
    // and the slow pointer 1 node ahead
    // until the fast pointer reaches the end of the list
    while (fast_ptr !== null && fast_ptr.next !== null) {
        fast_ptr = fast_ptr.next.next;

        // Update prev to hold the previous slow pointer
        // value
        prev = slow_ptr;

        slow_ptr = slow_ptr.next;
    }

    // At this point, slow_ptr points to the middle node
    // Bypass the middle node
    prev.next = slow_ptr.next;

    // Return the head of the modified list
    return head;
}

function printList(head)
{
    let temp = head;
    while (temp !== null) {
        process.stdout.write(temp.data + " -> ");
        temp = temp.next;
    }
    console.log("null");
}

// Create a static hardcoded linked list:
// 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5
let head = new Node(1);
head.next = new Node(2);
head.next.next = new Node(3);
head.next.next.next = new Node(4);
head.next.next.next.next = new Node(5);

process.stdout.write("Original Linked List: ");
printList(head);

// Delete the middle node
head = deleteMid(head);

process.stdout.write(
    "Linked List after deleting the middle node: ");
printList(head);

Output
Original Linked List: 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> NULL
Linked List after deleting the middle node: 1 -> 2 -> 4 -> 5 -> NULL

Time Complexity: O(n). Only one traversal of the linked list is needed
Auxiliary Space: O(1). As no extra space is needed.

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Article Tags:
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