Leetcode #82: Remove Duplicates from Sorted List II
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #82 Remove Duplicates from Sorted List II 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 the head of a sorted linked list, delete all nodes that have duplicate numbers, leaving only distinct numbers from the original list. Return the linked list sorted as well.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Medium
- Premium: No
- Tags: Linked List, Two Pointers
Intuition
The constraints hint that we can reason about two ends of the data at once, which is perfect for a two-pointer scan.
Moving one pointer at a time keeps the invariant intact and avoids nested loops.
Approach
Place pointers at the left and right ends and move them based on the comparison or target condition.
This yields a clean linear pass after any required sorting.
Steps:
- Set left and right pointers.
- Move a pointer based on the condition.
- Update the best answer while scanning.
Example
Input: head = [1,2,3,3,4,4,5]
Output: [1,2,5]
Python Solution
# Definition for singly-linked list.
# class ListNode:
# def __init__(self, val=0, next=None):
# self.val = val
# self.next = next
class Solution:
def deleteDuplicates(self, head: Optional[ListNode]) -> Optional[ListNode]:
dummy = pre = ListNode(next=head)
cur = head
while cur:
while cur.next and cur.next.val == cur.val:
cur = cur.next
if pre.next == cur:
pre = cur
else:
pre.next = cur.next
cur = cur.next
return dummy.next
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.