LeetCode – Delete Node in a Linked List (Java)

Category: Algorithms >> Interview July 16, 2014

Write a function to delete a node (except the tail) in a singly linked list, given only access to that node.

Supposed the linked list is 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 and you are given the third node with value 3, the linked list should become 1 -> 2 -> 4 after calling your function.

Java Solution

public void deleteNode(ListNode node) {
    node.val = node.next.val;
    node.next = node.next.next;
}

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Walt Williams

If you pass in a reference to a node and copy the next nodes value. Then set the next reference to go around the node you just copied the value from. You still have the node you just copied the value from pointing the same place where it was pointing to, except it is now inaccessible — dangling. How do you disconnect it so the java garbage collection can collect it ?
Sanaz Khosravi

The question mentions “except tail”.
jp19online

The solution is technically incorrect if the node has other meta data. In reality – it may be important to delete that exact node’s memory and not the next one’s
chintan thakker

Your code is correct for somewhat different Question i.e remove elements if access to head is given but somewhat duplicated. There is no need to have seperate condition for last node, Change while(curr.next != null) to while(curr!=null). It works perfectly. Also check if Head is null(i.e if the list is empty otherwise curr = head.next; will throw a null pointer exception)

1st Method:-

public void deleteNode(ListNode n) { if(head ==null){ System.out.println("List is Empty"); } if(head.val == n){ //Check if the first node is the one to be deleted head=head.next; } if(head == null){ // Check if there was only one element on Original list return; } ListNode prev = head; ListNode curr = head.next; while (curr != null){ if(curr.val == n.val){ prev.next = curr.next; }else{ prev = prev.next; curr = curr.next // no null pointer exception will be shown even if curr.next is null } } }

2nd method:-

public void deleteNode(ListNode n) {
if(head ==null){ System.out.println("List is Empty"); } if(head.val == n){ head=head.next; } if(head == null){ // Check if there was only one element in Original list return; } ListNode curr = head; while (curr.next != null) { if (curr.next.val == n) { curr.next= curr.next.next; } else { curr = curr.next; } } }
Aditya Vutukuri

You need to take care if this is a head and tail.

public void deleteNode(ListNode n) {

node.next = node.next.next;
}
CRH

This is easy, BUT needs edge cases handling in code/talking to your interviewer. Did you wonder how this will work if the node is the last in the list? 🙂

LeetCode – Delete Node in a Linked List (Java)

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