Search 2D Matrix II: Top-Right Start

Day 56/100 | #100DaysOfDSA 🧠⚡ Today’s problem: String Compression A clean in-place array manipulation problem. Core idea: Compress consecutive repeating characters and store the result in the same array. Approach: • Traverse the array using a pointer • Count consecutive occurrences of each character • Write the character to the array • If count > 1 → write its digits one by one • Move forward and repeat Key insight: We don’t need extra space — just carefully manage read & write pointers. Time Complexity: O(n) Space Complexity: O(1) Big takeaway: In-place algorithms require precise pointer control but give optimal space efficiency. Mastering these improves real-world memory optimization skills. 🔥 Day 56 done. #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #Strings #TwoPointers #InPlace #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

Day 58/100 | #100DaysOfDSA 🔄🔍 Today’s problem: Search in Rotated Sorted Array A twist on Binary Search with a rotated array. Key idea: Even though the array is rotated, one half is always sorted. Approach: • Use binary search • Find mid element • Check which half is sorted (left or right) • Decide if target lies in the sorted half • Narrow the search accordingly Why it works: At every step, we eliminate half of the search space just like standard binary search. Time Complexity: O(log n) Space Complexity: O(1) Big takeaway: Understanding the structure of the problem helps adapt classic algorithms like binary search. Rotation doesn’t break order — it just shifts it. 🔥 Day 58 done. #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #BinarySearch #Arrays #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

Day 57/100 | #100DaysOfDSA ⛰️🔍 Today’s problem: Peak Index in a Mountain Array A perfect use-case of Binary Search on a pattern. Key observation: The array increases → reaches a peak → then decreases. Approach: • Use binary search on the index • Compare mid with mid + 1 • If arr[mid] > arr[mid + 1] → we are on the decreasing side → move left • Else → we are on the increasing side → move right This guarantees we always move toward the peak. Time Complexity: O(log n) Space Complexity: O(1) Big takeaway: Binary search isn’t just for sorted arrays — it works on patterns too. Recognizing these patterns is a game changer. 🔥 Day 57 done. #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #BinarySearch #Arrays #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

Day 33/75 — Sort an Array (Merge Sort) Today’s problem required sorting an array in O(n log n) time without using built-in sort. Approach: • Divide array into two halves • Recursively sort both halves • Merge sorted halves Key idea: return merge(left, right); Merge step ensures elements are placed in sorted order. Time Complexity: O(n log n) Space Complexity: O(n) This problem reinforced the concept of Divide & Conquer. 33/75 🚀 #Day33 #DSA #MergeSort #Java #Algorithms #LeetCode

Day 51/100 | #100DaysOfDSA 🚀⚡ Today’s problem: Product of Array Except Self Given an array, return a new array where each element is the product of all elements except itself — without using division. Brute force? Too slow. Division? Not allowed. Optimized Approach: • Build prefix product array (left to right) • Then multiply with suffix product (right to left) • No extra space needed (excluding output) Time Complexity: O(n) Space Complexity: O(1) Big takeaway: Breaking a problem into prefix + suffix patterns can unlock optimal solutions. Clean logic. Efficient approach. 💯 Day 51 done. 🔥 #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #Arrays #PrefixSum #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

Day 59/100 | #100DaysOfDSA 🔍⚡ Today’s problem: Single Element in a Sorted Array A clever Binary Search problem with a twist. Key observation: In a sorted array where every element appears twice except one, pairs follow a pattern. Before the single element: • First occurrence → even index • Second occurrence → odd index After the single element: • Pattern breaks Approach: • Use binary search • Check mid with its pair using index trick (mid ^ 1) • If nums[mid] == nums[mid ^ 1] → move right • Else → move left This helps pinpoint where the pattern breaks. Time Complexity: O(log n) Space Complexity: O(1) Big takeaway: Bit manipulation + pattern observation can simplify binary search problems significantly. Small tricks → big optimizations. 🔥 Day 59 done. #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #BinarySearch #BitManipulation #Arrays #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

Day 50/100 | #100DaysOfDSA 🚀🔥 Today’s problem: Word Search Given a grid of characters and a word, we need to check if the word exists by moving horizontally or vertically. At first it feels like simple traversal… But the catch? You can’t reuse the same cell twice. Approach: • Try starting from every cell • Use DFS + Backtracking • Match characters step by step • Mark visited cells and backtrack if path fails Time Complexity: O(m × n × 4^L) Space Complexity: O(L) (recursion stack) Big takeaway: When choices branch in multiple directions, Backtracking is the key. Half century done. Staying consistent. 💯 Day 50 complete. 🚀 #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #Backtracking #DFS #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

Day 61/100 | #100DaysOfDSA 🧩🚀 Today’s problem: Median of Two Sorted Arrays A classic hard problem with a clever binary search approach. Problem idea: Find the median of two sorted arrays without fully merging them. Key idea: Use binary search on the smaller array to partition both arrays. Why? • We want left half and right half to be balanced • All elements in left ≤ all elements in right How it works: • Pick a cut in array1 • Derive cut in array2 • Check partition validity using boundary elements If valid → we found the median If not → adjust the partition Time Complexity: O(log(min(m, n))) Space Complexity: O(1) Big takeaway: Binary search isn’t just for searching — it can be used to optimize partitions and positions. This one really builds intuition. 🔥 Day 61 done. #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #BinarySearch #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

Day 52/100 | #100DaysOfDSA 🧩🚀 Today’s problem: Group Anagrams Classic hashing + string pattern. String properties: • Anagrams contain the same characters • Only the order of characters differs • Need to group similar character patterns together Key idea: Use character frequency as a unique key. Why? • Anagrams will always have identical character counts • This gives a consistent way to group strings • More efficient than sorting every string Approach: • Traverse each string in the array • Count frequency of each character (a–z) • Convert frequency array into a string key • Store strings in a HashMap based on this key • Return all grouped values Time Complexity: O(n * k) Space Complexity: O(n * k) Big takeaway: Hashing + frequency counting can replace sorting for better efficiency. Hashing patterns getting stronger day by day. 🔥 Day 52 done. #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #HashMap #Strings #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

#100DaysOfCode – Day 2 Today I worked on a DSA problem based on arrays: Check if an array is sorted and rotated 🔍 Approach: Instead of finding the exact rotation point, I focused on identifying a pattern: In a sorted and rotated array, the order should break at most once. So, I checked how many times an element is greater than the next element while traversing the array in a circular manner. ✔️ If the count of such breaks is 0 or 1 → valid ❌ If it’s more than 1 → not a sorted rotated array 🧠 Key Takeaway: This problem taught me how pattern observation can simplify logic and avoid unnecessary complexity. Sometimes the best solution is not the most obvious one! 📈 Staying consistent and improving step by step 💪 #100DaysOfCode #DSA #DataStructures #Algorithms #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #LeetCode #Consistency