Leetcode #146: LRU Cache
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #146 LRU Cache in Python and focus on the core idea that makes the solution efficient.
You will see the intuition, the step-by-step method, and a clean Python implementation you can use in interviews.
Problem Statement
Design a data structure that follows the constraints of a Least Recently Used (LRU) cache. Implement the LRUCache class: LRUCache(int capacity) Initialize the LRU cache with positive size capacity.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Medium
- Premium: No
- Tags: Design, Hash Table, Linked List, Doubly-Linked List
Intuition
Fast membership checks and value lookups are the heart of this problem, which makes a hash map the natural choice.
By storing what we have already seen (or counts/indexes), we can answer the question in one pass without backtracking.
Approach
Scan the input once, using the map to detect when the condition is satisfied and to update state as you go.
This keeps the solution linear while remaining easy to explain in an interview setting.
Steps:
- Initialize a hash map for seen items or counts.
- Iterate through the input, querying/updating the map.
- Return the first valid result or the final computed value.
Example
Input
["LRUCache", "put", "put", "get", "put", "get", "put", "get", "get", "get"]
[[2], [1, 1], [2, 2], [1], [3, 3], [2], [4, 4], [1], [3], [4]]
Output
[null, null, null, 1, null, -1, null, -1, 3, 4]
Explanation
LRUCache lRUCache = new LRUCache(2);
lRUCache.put(1, 1); // cache is {1=1}
lRUCache.put(2, 2); // cache is {1=1, 2=2}
lRUCache.get(1); // return 1
lRUCache.put(3, 3); // LRU key was 2, evicts key 2, cache is {1=1, 3=3}
lRUCache.get(2); // returns -1 (not found)
lRUCache.put(4, 4); // LRU key was 1, evicts key 1, cache is {4=4, 3=3}
lRUCache.get(1); // return -1 (not found)
lRUCache.get(3); // return 3
lRUCache.get(4); // return 4
Python Solution
class Node:
def __init__(self, key: int = 0, val: int = 0):
self.key = key
self.val = val
self.prev = None
self.next = None
class LRUCache:
def __init__(self, capacity: int):
self.size = 0
self.capacity = capacity
self.cache = {}
self.head = Node()
self.tail = Node()
self.head.next = self.tail
self.tail.prev = self.head
def get(self, key: int) -> int:
if key not in self.cache:
return -1
node = self.cache[key]
self.remove_node(node)
self.add_to_head(node)
return node.val
def put(self, key: int, value: int) -> None:
if key in self.cache:
node = self.cache[key]
self.remove_node(node)
node.val = value
self.add_to_head(node)
else:
node = Node(key, value)
self.cache[key] = node
self.add_to_head(node)
self.size += 1
if self.size > self.capacity:
node = self.tail.prev
self.cache.pop(node.key)
self.remove_node(node)
self.size -= 1
def remove_node(self, node):
node.prev.next = node.next
node.next.prev = node.prev
def add_to_head(self, node):
node.next = self.head.next
node.prev = self.head
self.head.next = node
node.next.prev = node
# Your LRUCache object will be instantiated and called as such:
# obj = LRUCache(capacity)
# param_1 = obj.get(key)
# obj.put(key,value)
Complexity
The time complexity is , and the space complexity is . The space complexity is .
Edge Cases and Pitfalls
Watch for boundary values, empty inputs, and duplicate values where applicable. If the problem involves ordering or constraints, confirm the invariant is preserved at every step.
Summary
This Python solution focuses on the essential structure of the problem and keeps the implementation interview-friendly while meeting the constraints.