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LeetCode 876: Middle of the Linked List Solution

Master LeetCode problem 876 (Middle of the Linked List), a easy challenge, with our optimized solutions in Java, C++, and Python. Explore detailed explanations, test your code in our interactive editor, and prepare for coding interviews.

876. Middle of the Linked List

Easy
Linked ListTwo Pointers

Problem Explanation

Explanation

To find the middle node of a linked list, we can use the two-pointer approach. We will use two pointers, a slow pointer and a fast pointer. The slow pointer moves one step at a time while the fast pointer moves two steps at a time. When the fast pointer reaches the end of the list, the slow pointer will be at the middle node.

Algorithm:

  1. Initialize two pointers, slow and fast, pointing to the head of the linked list.
  2. Move slow pointer one step and fast pointer two steps at a time until the fast pointer reaches the end of the list.
  3. Return the node pointed by the slow pointer, which will be the middle node.

Time Complexity: O(N) where N is the number of nodes in the linked list. Space Complexity: O(1)

Solution Code

public ListNode middleNode(ListNode head) {
    ListNode slow = head;
    ListNode fast = head;
    
    while (fast != null && fast.next != null) {
        slow = slow.next;
        fast = fast.next.next;
    }
    
    return slow;
}

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