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Java-based LeetCode algorithm problem solutions, regularly updated

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1370\. Increasing Decreasing String

Easy

You are given a string `s`. Reorder the string using the following algorithm:

1.  Pick the **smallest** character from `s` and **append** it to the result.
2.  Pick the **smallest** character from `s` which is greater than the last appended character to the result and **append** it.
3.  Repeat step 2 until you cannot pick more characters.
4.  Pick the **largest** character from `s` and **append** it to the result.
5.  Pick the **largest** character from `s` which is smaller than the last appended character to the result and **append** it.
6.  Repeat step 5 until you cannot pick more characters.
7.  Repeat the steps from 1 to 6 until you pick all characters from `s`.

In each step, If the smallest or the largest character appears more than once you can choose any occurrence and append it to the result.

Return _the result string after sorting_ `s` _with this algorithm_.

**Example 1:**

**Input:** s = "aaaabbbbcccc"

**Output:** "abccbaabccba"

**Explanation:** After steps 1, 2 and 3 of the first iteration, result = "abc" 

After steps 4, 5 and 6 of the first iteration, result = "abccba"

First iteration is done. Now s = "aabbcc" and we go back to step 1 

After steps 1, 2 and 3 of the second iteration, result = "abccbaabc"

After steps 4, 5 and 6 of the second iteration, result = "abccbaabccba"

**Example 2:**

**Input:** s = "rat"

**Output:** "art"

**Explanation:** The word "rat" becomes "art" after re-ordering it with the mentioned algorithm.

**Constraints:**

*   `1 <= s.length <= 500`
*   `s` consists of only lowercase English letters.