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LetsGit.IT/Categories/Algorithms
Algorithmseasy

Floyd’s cycle detection (tortoise and hare): what does it detect and what are its time/space costs?

Tags
#cycle-detection#tortoise-hare#linked-list#two-pointers
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Answer

It detects cycles in a linked list or any iterative sequence by moving one pointer twice as fast as the other. If they meet, there’s a cycle. It runs in O(n) time and O(1) extra space.

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