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The iterator pattern provides a standardized way to traverse a linked list without exposing its internal structure, reinforcing abstraction and encapsulation. Instead of giving external code direct access to node pointers, a linked list class in C++ can define a custom iterator (often as a nested class) that overloads operators like `*`, `++`, `==`, and `!=` to behave like a pointer. The iterator internally holds a pointer to the current node and advances by following the `next` pointer, but users only see a clean interface compatible with range-based for loops and STL-style algorithms. This design decouples traversal logic from the data structure itself, allows safe and controlled access to elements, and makes the linked list integrate naturally with generic programming patterns in C++.
https://github.com/djeada/Coding-Interviews/blob/master/src/4_Lists/list.h
