Read N Characters Given Read4 — LeetCode 157 Python Solution

"""
The read4 API is already defined for you.

    @param buf4, a list of characters
    @return an integer
    def read4(buf4):

# Below is an example of how the read4 API can be called.
file = File("abcdefghijk") # File is "abcdefghijk", initially file pointer (fp) points to 'a'
buf4 = [' '] * 4 # Create buffer with enough space to store characters
read4(buf4) # read4 returns 4. Now buf = ['a','b','c','d'], fp points to 'e'
read4(buf4) # read4 returns 4. Now buf = ['e','f','g','h'], fp points to 'i'
read4(buf4) # read4 returns 3. Now buf = ['i','j','k',...], fp points to end of file
"""


class Solution:
    def read(self, buf, n):
        """
        :type buf: Destination buffer (List[str])
        :type n: Number of characters to read (int)
        :rtype: The number of actual characters read (int)
        """
        i = 0
        buf4 = [0] * 4
        v = 5
        while v >= 4:
            v = read4(buf4)
            for j in range(v):
                buf[i] = buf4[j]
                i += 1
                if i >= n:
                    return n
        return i