g0401_0500.s0443_string_compression.readme.md Maven / Gradle / Ivy
Go to download
Show more of this group Show more artifacts with this name
Show all versions of leetcode-in-java Show documentation
Show all versions of leetcode-in-java Show documentation
Java-based LeetCode algorithm problem solutions, regularly updated
443\. String Compression
Medium
Given an array of characters `chars`, compress it using the following algorithm:
Begin with an empty string `s`. For each group of **consecutive repeating characters** in `chars`:
* If the group's length is `1`, append the character to `s`.
* Otherwise, append the character followed by the group's length.
The compressed string `s` **should not be returned separately**, but instead, be stored **in the input character array `chars`**. Note that group lengths that are `10` or longer will be split into multiple characters in `chars`.
After you are done **modifying the input array**, return _the new length of the array_.
You must write an algorithm that uses only constant extra space.
**Example 1:**
**Input:** chars = ["a","a","b","b","c","c","c"]
**Output:** Return 6, and the first 6 characters of the input array should be: ["a","2","b","2","c","3"]
**Explanation:** The groups are "aa", "bb", and "ccc". This compresses to "a2b2c3".
**Example 2:**
**Input:** chars = ["a"]
**Output:** Return 1, and the first character of the input array should be: ["a"]
**Explanation:** The only group is "a", which remains uncompressed since it's a single character.
**Example 3:**
**Input:** chars = ["a","b","b","b","b","b","b","b","b","b","b","b","b"]
**Output:** Return 4, and the first 4 characters of the input array should be: ["a","b","1","2"].
**Explanation:** The groups are "a" and "bbbbbbbbbbbb". This compresses to "ab12".
**Example 4:**
**Input:** chars = ["a","a","a","b","b","a","a"]
**Output:** Return 6, and the first 6 characters of the input array should be: ["a","3","b","2","a","2"].
**Explanation:** The groups are "aaa", "bb", and "aa". This compresses to "a3b2a2". Note that each group is independent even if two groups have the same character.
**Constraints:**
* `1 <= chars.length <= 2000`
* `chars[i]` is a lowercase English letter, uppercase English letter, digit, or symbol.