Move Zeros to the End
Problem
Read an array. Move all zeros to the end. Keep the order of the other elements. Print the new array.
Constraints
- 1 <= n <= 10^5
Examples
Input
5 0 1 0 3 12
Output
1 3 12 0 0
Solutions
The read pointer scans the array. The write pointer marks where the next non-zero value belongs. This works in place with O(1) extra memory.
/*
* Problem : Process an array.
* Input : n, then n integers.
* Output : The array with zeros at the end.
* Approach: Two pointers: read and write.
* Time : O(n)
* Space : O(1)
* Java : 8 or newer.
*/
import java.util.Scanner;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.stream.Collectors;
public class Main {
// This method solves the task. It receives the input and returns the answer.
static int[] solve(int[] a) {
// Step 1: write is the place where the next non-zero value goes.
int write = 0;
// Step 2: Move every non-zero value to the front, in the same order.
for (int read = 0; read < a.length; read++) {
if (a[read] != 0) {
a[write] = a[read];
write++;
}
}
// Step 3: Fill the rest of the array with zeros.
while (write < a.length) {
a[write] = 0;
write++;
}
return a;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
int size = scanner.nextInt();
int[] a = new int[size];
for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
a[i] = scanner.nextInt();
}
System.out.println(Arrays.stream(solve(a)).mapToObj(String::valueOf).collect(Collectors.joining(" ")));
}
}
Hints (1)
- Which pointer moves on every step?