In operating systems, the ready queue is a queue that holds processes that are ready to be executed. This queue is typically implemented using a data structure that allows for easy insertion and removal of elements, and a linked list is a common choice for this purpose.
A linked list is a dynamic data structure that consists of nodes, where each node contains a data element and a reference (or link) to the next node in the sequence. This structure makes it efficient to add or remove elements from the beginning or end of the list, which aligns well with the requirements of a ready queue.
So, in summary, the ready queue in an operating system is often maintained by using a linked list to manage the processes that are ready for execution.