How to relocate zeros to the end of an array using JavaScript without returning any value?

I'm currently working on a coding challenge from leetcode.com using JavaScript. I'm relatively new to algorithms and seem to be struggling with getting my initial submission accepted.

The task at hand is as follows:

Given an array nums, the goal is to write a function that shifts all zeros to the end of the array while maintaining the order of non-zero elements.

For instance, for nums = [0, 1, 0, 3, 12], the expected output after applying the function should be [1, 3, 12, 0, 0].

Note: The transformation needs to be done in-place without creating duplicates of the original array. Efficiency matters; minimize the total number of operations required.


Now, here's the code snippet I've come up with:

/**
 * @param {number[]} nums
 * @return {void} Do not return anything, modify nums in-place instead.
 */
var moveZeroes = function(nums) {
    var i, temp;

    for (i = 0; i < nums.length-1; i++) {
        if(nums[i] === 0) {
            temp = nums.splice(i, 1);
            nums.push(temp[0]);
        }
    }
    return null;
};

The instructions provided above this code segment led me to believe that no explicit return statement was needed. However, the platform's validation process doesn't seem to agree with that notion, so I resorted to returning null...

Upon inspecting the modified nums array through console logging post-execution, I can confirm that it aligns with the desired result [1, 3, 12, 0, 0]. Yet, my solution continues to face rejection. I'd greatly appreciate any insights into what potential mistakes I might be making here so that I can rectify them.

I acknowledge the possibility of redundancy in my query. While I did stumble upon similar discussions regarding C and Java solutions, I couldn't find one specifically addressing JS.

Answer №1

The issue doesn't lie in the return statement, but rather in the algorithm itself.

If you have the array [0,0,1,2,3], it will be transformed to [0,1,2,3,0]

What happens is that when looping in a positive direction and removing indexes, you end up skipping certain indexes because the next index shifts down to fill the position you've already covered.

To resolve this, try looping in the negative direction. Start from the last element and move towards the first.

for (i = nums.length-1; i>=0; i--) {

Answer №2

Presented here is a solution for the given problem with a time complexity of O(n):

const moveZeroes = (nums) => {
  let count = 0;

  for (let i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
    if (nums[i] !== 0) {
      nums[count++] = nums[i];
    }
  }

  for (let i = count; i < nums.length; i++) {
    nums[i] = 0;
  }

  return nums;
};

Answer №3

Like many others have pointed out, if the instructions specify not to return anything, then refrain from including a return statement in your code.

However, there seems to be an issue with the implementation you provided. Consider using the test case [0,0,1]. Starting at the first element will shift it to the back of the array, resulting in [0,1,0]. Consequently, the loop index now focuses on the second element (1) while overlooking the second occurrence of 0.

Answer №4

function rearrangeZeros(n) {
  // initialize an array to store zeros
  let zeros = [];
  
  // filter out zeros from the input array and add them to the zeros array
  n = n.filter(item => (item !== 0 ? true : zeros.push(item) && false));
  
  // concatenate the zeros array to the end of the filtered array
  return n.concat(zeros);
}

Answer №5

In situations where a return statement is required but no value can be returned, simply input

return;

Answer №6

Diving into the Depths of Javascript

Many believe that null represents nothing in Javascript. However, technically speaking, it is not truly nothing. If you were to type typeof null, the result would be "object", indicating that it is something rather than nothing. On the other hand, if you execute a function that does not return anything:

(function(){})();

You will observe undefined displayed in the console. Therefore, whether you use return undefined, simply return, or even omit the return statement altogether, all are considered acceptable.

A Fresh Perspective on Sorting

In considering alternative solutions for sorting, let's take a practical approach and introduce a different viewpoint. Leveraging Javascript allows us to utilize the sort function. Nevertheless, custom callback functions must be created for comparing elements:

array.sort(function(a, b) { ... comparison here ... });

For your specific scenario, let's establish our criteria: We assert that

a is deemed less than b only if a equals zero while b does not equal zero.

Therefore, our callback should look like this:

function(a, b) {
    if(a==0 && b!=0)
        return 1;
    else if(b==0 && a!=0)
        return -1;
    else 
        return 0;
}

Utilized in this manner:

var array = [2,6,0,666,-6,142,0,1,-10];
array.sort(function(a, b) {
        if(a==0 && b!=0)
            return 1;
        else if(b==0 && a!=0)
            return -1;
        else 
            return 0;
    });

This approach is typically employed when developing programs as it enhances comprehension (once accustomed to it) and often results in more concise code.

Answer №7

Implement this method using ES6 functionalities

const removeZeros = nums => {
    const filteredArray = nums.filter(element => element !== 0); // Filter out all zero elements
    const countOfZero = nums.length - filteredArray.length; // Calculate the number of zeros removed
    
    const zeroArray = Array(countOfZero).fill(0); // Create an array filled with zeros equal to count of zero elements
    const newArray = [...filteredArray, ...zeroArray]; // Merge filtered non-zero elements with zero elements array

    return nums.splice(0, nums.length, ...newArray); // Update original array by replacing with new array using spread operator
}

Answer №8

Another method that can be applied involves utilizing two pointers

function rearrange(arr) {
  let leftPointer = 0;
  let rightPointer = arr.length - 1;

  while (rightPointer > leftPointer) {
    if (arr[leftPointer] === 0) {
      // swapping the elements --->
      let lastElement = arr[rightPointer];
      arr[rightPointer] = arr[leftPointer];
      arr[leftPointer] = lastElement;
      rightPointer--;
    } else {
      leftPointer++;
    }
  }

  return;
}

let arrayToModify = [1, 2, 0, 7, 9, 0, 3, 0]
rearrange(arrayToModify)
console.log(arrayToModify);

Answer №9

To populate each slot, you can loop through and assign a value from another index that advances faster by skipping zeroes. When the second index goes out of range, you can make use of the `??` operator:

function moveZeroes(nums) {
    for (let i = 0, j = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
        while (nums[j] === 0) j++; // skip zeroes
        nums[i] = nums[j++] ?? 0;
    }
}

Answer №10


  const filterZeros = (arr) => {
    const nonZeroArray = [];
    const zeroArray = [];
    for(let i=0; i < arr.length; i++){
        if(arr[i] !== 0){
            nonZeroArray.push(arr[i]);
        }else{
            zeroArray.push(arr[i]);
        }
    }
    return nonZeroArray.concat(zeroArray);
}

const result = filterZeros([2, 6, 0, 9, 1, 0]);
console.log(result);

Answer №11

Check out this nifty function:

const reorderZeros = arr => {
    let tempArr = [...arr];
    let zeroCount = 0;
    for(let i=0;i<arr.length;i++){
        if(arr[i] === 0 ){
            arr.push(arr.splice(i, 1)[0]);
            i--;
            zeroCount++;
        }
        if(i + zeroCount + 1 === arr.length) break;
    }
    return arr;
}

reorderZeros([1,0,2,3,0,0,0,4]) // [1,2,3,4,0,0,0,0]

Whenever a zero is found in the array, it gets moved to the end, causing all other elements to shift left and necessitating a `i--`. The loop exits when either all zeros are moved to the right side or we reach the end of non-zero elements. This clever method ensures the correct reordering of zeros in the array.

Answer №12

The provided technique is not effective when dealing with consecutive zeros, as illustrated below:

nums = [0,0,1]

  • At index=0 output ==> [0,1,0]
  • At index=1 output ==> [0,1,0] This demonstrates how focusing on index 1, which is non-zero, can lead to missing the zero at index 0 and resulting in incorrect outcomes.

To address this issue, I propose the following revised approach:

   var adjustZeroes = function(nums) {
    let length = nums.length
    if(length<=1)return nums
   let zeroCounter=0;
   for(let j=0;j<length;j++){
       if(nums[j]===0)zeroCounter++
       else if(nums[j]!=0&&zeroCounter!=0){
           nums[j-zeroCounter]=nums[j]
           nums[j]= 0
       }
   } 
};

Answer №13

To organize the array in ascending order, then iterate through from the end to the beginning to locate zeros. Once a zero is found, the element at that index is removed and zero is added to the end of the array.

const moveZeroes = function(nums) {
  nums.sort((a,b) => {return a-b});
   for(let index = nums.length - 1; index >= 0 ; index--){
    if(nums[index] === 0){
      nums.splice(index, 1);
      nums.push(0);
    }
   }
};

Answer №14

// javascript // manipulating arrays:

var arr = [1, 2, 0, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0];
function moveZeros(array) {
    for (var i = array.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
        if (array[i] === 0) {
            array.splice(i, 1);
            array.push(0);
        }
    }
    return array;
}
console.log(moveZeros(arr));

// a different approach for manipulating arrays: // segregating zero and non-zero elements into separate arrays

var arr = [1, 2, 0, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0];
var nonZero = [];
var zeros = [];

function moveZeros(data) {

    for (var i = 0; i < data.length - 1; i++) {
        if (data[i] !== 0) {
            nonZero.push(data[i]);
        } else {
            zeros.push(0)
        }
    }
    if (zeros.length > 0) {
        nonZero = nonZero.concat(zeros);
    }
    return nonZero;
}
console.log(moveZeros(arr));

Answer №15

This alternate method achieves the same result:

const moveZeroes = (nums) => {
    let length = nums.length;
    let index = nums.indexOf(0);
    while(~index && index < --length){
        nums.splice(index, 1);
        nums.push(0);
        index = nums.indexOf(0);
    }
};

Answer №16

Here is a suggested solution

 function reorderArray(input){
  count = 0;
  for(var i=0;i<input.length;i++){
    if(input[i] !== 0){
      //non-zero element found
      input[count] = input[i]

      count++;


    }
  }

  while(count<input.length){

    input[count] = 0

    count++
  }

  return input
}
var inputArray = [1, 9, 8, 4, 0, 0, 2, 7, 0, 6, 0]
console.log(reorderArray(inputArray))

Answer №17

Here is a straightforward method

function rearrangeArray(arr){
      var start=0;
      var end=arr.length-1;
      while(end>start+1){
        if(arr[start]!==0){
          start++;
        }
        if(arr[end]===0){
          end--;
        }
        if(arr[start]===0){
          arr[start]=arr[end];
          arr[end]=0;
        }
      }
     return arr;
    }

Answer №18

The splice() method is utilized for removing the element (which is zero in this scenario) from the array. Subsequently, a zero is appended to the end of the array.

 const moveZeros = function (numbers) {
  let len = numbers.length;
  while (len-- > -1) {
    if (numbers[len] == 0) numbers.splice(len, 1).push(0);
  }
  return numbers;
};

Answer №19

function moveZerosToEnd(array) {

            var index = 0;

            for(let i=0; i<array.length; i++)
            {
                if(array[i] !==0)
                {
                    let temp = array[i];
                    array[i] = array[index];
                    array[index] = temp;
                    index++;
                }
            }
            return array;
    }
  console.log(moveZerosToEnd([0, 1, 2, 0, 3, 0, 5, 6]));

Answer №20

Here's an easy solution to move zeroes:

The time complexity of this solution is O(n)

function moveZeroes(nums) {
            let i = nums.length;
            while (i > -1) {
                let current = nums[i];
                if (nums[i] === 0) {
                    nums.splice(i, 1);
                    nums.push(current);
                }
                i--;
            }
            return nums;
        }

        let arr = [0, 1, 0, 3, 12];
        console.log(moveZeroes(arr));

Answer №21

Here is an alternative approach to solve the problem: First, remove all the 0's from the array and then add them back at the end. Time Complexity: O(n) Space Complexity: O(1)

var moveZeroes = function(nums) {
    let countZeros = 0;
    for (let i = 0; i < nums.length;) 
    {
        if(nums[i] === 0) //remove zeros and increment the counter
        {
            nums.splice(i, 1);
            countZeros++;
        } 
        else // to handle input that starts with 0
        {
          i++;
        }      
    }
    for (let j = 0; j < countZeros; j++) //add zeros at the end
    {
        nums.push(0); 
    }
    return nums;
};

Answer №22

let numbers = [1,0,0,0,1,0,1];
for(let i=numbers.length-1; i>=0; i--) {
    if(numbers[i] !== 0) {
        numbers.unshift(numbers.splice(i,1)[0]);
    }
}
console.log(numbers);

Answer №23

Give this a shot:

function pushZerosToEnd(arr) {
    for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
        if (arr[i] === 0) {
            arr.splice(i, 1);
            arr.push(0);
        }
    }
    return;
};

Answer №24

Reordering Array Elements in JAVA: Moving Zeros to the End

import java.util.Arrays;

public class RearrangeArrayWithJava {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
        int[] A = { 6, 8, 0, 2, 3, 0, 4, 1 };

        rearrange(A);
    }

    public static void rearrange(int[] a) {

        int countZero = 0;
        System.out.println(Arrays.toString(a));
        System.out.print("[");
        for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) {
            if (a[i] == 0) {
                countZero++;
            } else {
                if (i + 1 == a.length && countZero == 0) {
                    System.out.print(a[i] + "]");
                } else {
                    System.out.print(a[i] + ", ");
                }
            }
        }
        for (int i = 0; i < countZero; i++) {
            if (i + 1 == countZero) {
                System.out.print("0");
            } else
                System.out.print("0, ");
        }
        if (countZero > 0) {
            System.out.println("]");
        }
    }

}

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