Leetcode #2243: Calculate Digit Sum of a String
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #2243 Calculate Digit Sum of a String 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
You are given a string s consisting of digits and an integer k. A round can be completed if the length of s is greater than k.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Easy
- Premium: No
- Tags: String, Simulation
Intuition
We need to scan characters while tracking positions or counts.
A simple state machine keeps the logic precise.
Approach
Iterate through the string once and update the state for each character.
Use a map or array if you need fast lookups.
Steps:
- Iterate through characters.
- Maintain necessary state.
- Build or validate the output.
Example
Input: s = "11111222223", k = 3
Output: "135"
Explanation:
- For the first round, we divide s into groups of size 3: "111", "112", "222", and "23".
Then we calculate the digit sum of each group: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3, 1 + 1 + 2 = 4, 2 + 2 + 2 = 6, and 2 + 3 = 5.
So, s becomes "3" + "4" + "6" + "5" = "3465" after the first round.
- For the second round, we divide s into "346" and "5".
Then we calculate the digit sum of each group: 3 + 4 + 6 = 13, 5 = 5.
So, s becomes "13" + "5" = "135" after second round.
Now, s.length <= k, so we return "135" as the answer.
Python Solution
class Solution:
def digitSum(self, s: str, k: int) -> str:
while len(s) > k:
t = []
n = len(s)
for i in range(0, n, k):
x = 0
for j in range(i, min(i + k, n)):
x += int(s[j])
t.append(str(x))
s = "".join(t)
return s
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.