One way to serialize a binary tree is to use pre-order traversal. When we encounter a non-null node, we record the node's value. If it is a null node, we record using a sentinel value such as #
.
_9_ / \ 3 2 / \ / \ 4 1 # 6 / \ / \ / \ # # # # # #
For example, the above binary tree can be serialized to the string "9,3,4,#,#,1,#,#,2,#,6,#,#"
, where #
represents a null node.
Given a string of comma separated values, verify whether it is a correct preorder traversal serialization of a binary tree. Find an algorithm without reconstructing the tree.
Each comma separated value in the string must be either an integer or a character '#'
representing null
pointer.
You may assume that the input format is always valid, for example it could never contain two consecutive commas such as "1,,3"
.
Example 1:
"9,3,4,#,#,1,#,#,2,#,6,#,#"
Return true
Example 2:
"1,#"
Return false
Example 3:
"9,#,#,1"
Return false
Credits:
Special thanks to @dietpepsi for adding this problem and creating all test cases.
public class Solution {
public boolean isValidSerialization(String preorder) {
String[] a = preorder.split(",");
Stack<String> data = new Stack<>();
for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) {
String temp = a[i];
if (data.size() == 1 && data.peek().equals("#"))
return false;
if (temp.equals("#")) {
while (!data.isEmpty() && data.peek().equals("#")) {
data.pop();
if (!data.peek().equals("#"))
data.pop();
else
return false;
}
}
data.push(temp);
}
return data.size() == 1 && data.pop().equals("#");
}
}