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.
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class Solution {
public:
//12,#,#
string getNextToken(int start,string str){
int end = start;
while(end <= str.size() && str[end] != ',')++end;
return str.substr(start,end-start);
}
bool isValidSerialization(string preorder) {
stack<string>stk;
string token;
for(int i = 0;i < preorder.size();i += 1+token.size()){
token = getNextToken(i,preorder);
if(token=="")break;
if(token != ","){
if(token != "#")stk.push(token);
else{//#
while(stk.size() > 1 && stk.top()=="#"){
string c2 = stk.top();stk.pop();
string c1 = stk.top();stk.pop();
if(c1 == "#")return false;
}
stk.push("#");
}
}
}
return stk.size()==1 && stk.top()=="#";
}
};