public int getTotalBits ( ) { //this total calculates and removes the bits reserved for "offset" // between the different children. int total = 0 ; EncodedElement iter = this ; while ( iter != null ) { total += iter . usableBits - iter . offset ; iter = iter . next ; } return total ; }
Total number of usable bits stored by this entire list . This sums the difference of each list element s usableBits and offset .