multi-linked lists the doubly linked list is special instance of the more general multi-linked list multi-linked list is one in which each node contains multiple link fields which are used to create multiple chains within the same collection of nodes in the doubly linked listthere are two chains through the collection of nodeseach using the key field to form the chains the result is two singly linked lists in which one orders the nodes by key value in increasing order while the second orders the nodes in reverse order multiple chains in multi-linked listchains can be created using multiple keys or different data components to create the multiple links consider the example of student records introduced in suppose we want to create multi-linked list containing two chains in which the nodes are linked and sorted by id number in one chain and by name in the otheras illustrated in figure the first node in each chain is referenced by separate head pointer the listbyid reference indicates the first node in the chain sorted by id number while listbyname indicates the first node in the chain sorted by name for visual aidthe id chain is represented by solid lines and darker gray link fields while the name chain is represented by dashed lines and slightly lighter gray link fields listbyname smith smith john john east east main main st st somewhere somewhere va va roberts roberts susan susan quarry quarry rd rd nowhere nowhere tx tx listbyid smith smith jane jane rock rock rd rd valley valley view view md md brown brown steve steve nd nd st st ocean ocean city city ga ga figure multi-linked list storing student records with two complete chains the nodes in the multi-linked list can be traversed by either chainthe dashed links or the solid linksbased on the desired order it is up to the programmer to ensure he starts with the correct head node and follows the correct links to create multi-linked listthe nodes must contain multiple link fieldsone for each chain the studentmlistnode storage class in listing shows the definition used for the multi-linked list from figure