0023-merge-k-sorted-lists.java

//  Solution using Min Heap
//  Time Complexity:         O(n*log(k))
//  Extra Space Complexity:  O(k)

class Solution1 {

    public ListNode mergeKLists(ListNode[] lists) {
        Queue<Integer> minHeap = new PriorityQueue<>();

        for (ListNode nodes : lists) {
            ListNode current = nodes;
            while (current != null) {
                minHeap.add(current.val);
                current = current.next;
            }
        }

        ListNode dummy = new ListNode(0);
        ListNode current = dummy;

        while (!minHeap.isEmpty()) {
            current.next = new ListNode(minHeap.poll());
            current = current.next;
        }

        return dummy.next;
    }
}

//  Solution using Iterative Merge Sort
//  Time Complexity:         O(n*log(k))
//  Extra Space Complexity:  O(1)

class Solution2 {

    public ListNode mergeKLists(ListNode[] lists) {
        int size = lists.length;
        int interval = 1;

        while (interval < size) {
            for (int i = 0; i < size - interval; i += 2 * interval) {
                lists[i] = merge(lists[i], lists[i + interval]);
            }

            interval *= 2;
        }

        return size > 0 ? lists[0] : null;
    }

    private ListNode merge(ListNode l1, ListNode l2) {
        ListNode dummy = new ListNode(0);
        ListNode curr = dummy;

        while (l1 != null && l2 != null) {
            if (l1.val <= l2.val) {
                curr.next = l1;
                l1 = l1.next;
            } else {
                curr.next = l2;
                l2 = l2.next;
            }

            curr = curr.next;
        }

        if (l1 != null) {
            curr.next = l1;
        } else {
            curr.next = l2;
        }

        return dummy.next;
    }
}