Leetcode #2716: Minimize String Length

In this guide, we solve Leetcode #2716 Minimize String Length 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

Given a string s, you have two types of operation: Choose an index i in the string, and let c be the character in position i. Delete the closest occurrence of c to the left of i (if exists).

Quick Facts

• Difficulty: Easy
• Premium: No
• Tags: Hash Table, String

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.

Python Solution

Complexity

The time complexity is $O(n)$, where $n$ is the length of the string $\textit{s}$. The space complexity is $O(|\Sigma|)$, where $\Sigma$ is the character set.

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.