Linked List Random Node LeetCode Solution

Last updated on February 12th, 2025 at 01:51 am

Here, we see a Linked List Random Node LeetCode Solution. This Leetcode problem is solved using different approaches in many programming languages, such as C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, etc.

List of all LeetCode Solution

Topics

Reservoir-Sampling

Companies

Google

Level of Question

Medium

Linked List Random Node LeetCode Solution

Linked List Random Node LeetCode Solution

1. Problem Statement

Given a singly linked list, return a random node’s value from the linked list. Each node must have the same probability of being chosen.

Implement the Solution class:

  • Solution(ListNode head) Initializes the object with the head of the singly-linked list head.
  • int getRandom() Chooses a node randomly from the list and returns its value. All the nodes of the list should be equally likely to be chosen.

Example 1:

getrand linked list

Input [“Solution”, “getRandom”, “getRandom”, “getRandom”, “getRandom”, “getRandom”] [[[1, 2, 3]], [], [], [], [], []]
Output [null, 1, 3, 2, 2, 3]

Explanation
Solution solution = new Solution([1, 2, 3]);
solution.getRandom(); // return 1
solution.getRandom(); // return 3
solution.getRandom(); // return 2
solution.getRandom(); // return 2
solution.getRandom(); // return 3 //
getRandom() should return either 1, 2, or 3 randomly. Each element should have equal probability of returning.

2. Coding Pattern Used in Solution

The coding pattern used in the provided code is “Reservoir Sampling”. This is a probabilistic algorithm used to randomly select a single element from a stream or linked list of unknown size, ensuring that each element has an equal probability of being chosen.

3. Code Implementation in Different Languages

3.1 Linked List Random Node C++

class Solution {
private:
    ListNode* head;
public:
    Solution(ListNode* head) {
        this->head = head;
        std::srand(std::time(0));
    }
    int getRandom() {
        int count = 0;
        int result = 0;
        ListNode* curr = head;
        while (curr) {
            count++;
            if (std::rand() % count == 0) {
                result = curr->val;
            }
            curr = curr->next;
        }
        return result;
    }
};

3.2 Linked List Random Node Java

class Solution {
    int N = 0;
    ListNode head = null;
    public Solution(ListNode head) {
        this.head = head;
    }
    public int getRandom() {
        ListNode p = this.head;
        int i = 1, ans = 0;
        while (p != null) {
            if (Math.random() * i < 1) ans = p.val;
            p = p.next;
            i ++;
        }
        return ans;
    }
}

3.3 Linked List Random Node JavaScript

var Solution = function(head) {
        this.res = []; 
        let curr = head;
        while(curr !== null) {
            this.res.push(curr)
            curr = curr.next;
        }
        this.length = this.res.length; 
};
Solution.prototype.getRandom = function() {
    return this.res[Math.floor(Math.random() * this.length)].val
};

3.4 Linked List Random Node Python

class Solution(object):
    def __init__(self, head):
        self.head = head
    def getRandom(self):
        count = 0
        result = None
        curr = self.head
        while curr:
            count += 1
            if random.randint(1, count) == 1:
                result = curr.val
            curr = curr.next
        return result

4. Time and Space Complexity

Time ComplexitySpace Complexity
C++O(n)O(1)
JavaO(n)O(1)
JavaScriptO(n)O(1)
PythonO(n)O(n)
  • The C++, Java, and Python implementations are more memory-efficient and suitable for large linked lists.
  • The JavaScript implementation is easier to understand but uses more memory due to the array storage.
  • All implementations ensure uniform random selection of a node’s value.
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