Merge K sorted linked lists | Set 1

Given K sorted linked lists of size N each, the task is to merge them all maintaining their sorted order.

Examples:

Input: K = 3, N =  4
list1 = 1->3->5->7->NULL
list2 = 2->4->6->8->NULL
list3 = 0->9->10->11->NULL
Output: 0->1->2->3->4->5->6->7->8->9->10->11
Merged lists in a sorted order where every element is greater than the previous element.

Input: K = 3, N =  3
list1 = 1->3->7->NULL
list2 = 2->4->8->NULL
list3 = 9->10->11->NULL
Output: 1->2->3->4->7->8->9->10->11
Merged lists in a sorted order where every element is greater than the previous element.

Naive Approach:

A Simple Solution is to initialize the result as the first list. Now traverse all lists starting from the second list. Insert every node of the currently traversed list into the result in a sorted way.  

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program to merge k sorted
// arrays of size n each
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// A Linked List node
struct Node {
    int data;
    Node* next;
};

/* Function to print nodes in
   a given linked list */
void printList(Node* node)
{
    while (node != NULL) {
        printf("%d ", node->data);
        node = node->next;
    }
}

// The main function that
// takes an array of lists
// arr[0..last] and generates
// the sorted output
Node* mergeKLists(Node* arr[], int last)
{

    // Traverse form second list to last
    for (int i = 1; i <= last; i++) {
        while (true) {
            // head of both the lists,
            // 0 and ith list.
            Node *head_0 = arr[0], *head_i = arr[i];

            // Break if list ended
            if (head_i == NULL)
                break;

            // Smaller than first element
            if (head_0->data >= head_i->data) {
                arr[i] = head_i->next;
                head_i->next = head_0;
                arr[0] = head_i;
            }
            else
                // Traverse the first list
                while (head_0->next != NULL) {
                    // Smaller than next element
                    if (head_0->next->data
                        >= head_i->data) {
                        arr[i] = head_i->next;
                        head_i->next = head_0->next;
                        head_0->next = head_i;
                        break;
                    }
                    // go to next node
                    head_0 = head_0->next;

                    // if last node
                    if (head_0->next == NULL) {
                        arr[i] = head_i->next;
                        head_i->next = NULL;
                        head_0->next = head_i;
                        head_0->next->next = NULL;
                        break;
                    }
                }
        }
    }

    return arr[0];
}

// Utility function to create a new node.
Node* newNode(int data)
{
    struct Node* temp = new Node;
    temp->data = data;
    temp->next = NULL;
    return temp;
}

// Driver program to test
// above functions
int main()
{
    // Number of linked lists
    int k = 3;

    // Number of elements in each list
    int n = 4;

    // an array of pointers storing the
    // head nodes of the linked lists
    Node* arr[k];

    arr[0] = newNode(1);
    arr[0]->next = newNode(3);
    arr[0]->next->next = newNode(5);
    arr[0]->next->next->next = newNode(7);

    arr[1] = newNode(2);
    arr[1]->next = newNode(4);
    arr[1]->next->next = newNode(6);
    arr[1]->next->next->next = newNode(8);

    arr[2] = newNode(0);
    arr[2]->next = newNode(9);
    arr[2]->next->next = newNode(10);
    arr[2]->next->next->next = newNode(11);

    // Merge all lists
    Node* head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1);

    printList(head);

    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to merge k sorted
// arrays of size n each
import java.io.*;

// A Linked List node
class Node {
    int data;
    Node next;

    // Utility function to create a new node.
    Node(int key)
    {
        data = key;
        next = null;
    }
}
class GFG {

    static Node head;
    static Node temp;

    /* Function to print nodes in
     a given linked list */
    static void printList(Node node)
    {
        while (node != null) {
            System.out.print(node.data + " ");

            node = node.next;
        }
        System.out.println();
    }

    // The main function that
    // takes an array of lists
    // arr[0..last] and generates
    // the sorted output
    static Node mergeKLists(Node arr[], int last)
    {

        // Traverse form second list to last
        for (int i = 1; i <= last; i++) {
            while (true) {

                // head of both the lists,
                // 0 and ith list.
                Node head_0 = arr[0];
                Node head_i = arr[i];

                // Break if list ended
                if (head_i == null)
                    break;

                // Smaller than first element
                if (head_0.data >= head_i.data) {
                    arr[i] = head_i.next;
                    head_i.next = head_0;
                    arr[0] = head_i;
                }
                else {

                    // Traverse the first list
                    while (head_0.next != null) {

                        // Smaller than next element
                        if (head_0.next.data
                            >= head_i.data) {
                            arr[i] = head_i.next;
                            head_i.next = head_0.next;
                            head_0.next = head_i;
                            break;
                        }

                        // go to next node
                        head_0 = head_0.next;

                        // if last node
                        if (head_0.next == null) {
                            arr[i] = head_i.next;
                            head_i.next = null;
                            head_0.next = head_i;
                            head_0.next.next = null;
                            break;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        return arr[0];
    }

    // Driver program to test
    // above functions
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        // Number of linked lists
        int k = 3;

        // Number of elements in each list
        int n = 4;

        // an array of pointers storing the
        // head nodes of the linked lists

        Node[] arr = new Node[k];

        arr[0] = new Node(1);
        arr[0].next = new Node(3);
        arr[0].next.next = new Node(5);
        arr[0].next.next.next = new Node(7);

        arr[1] = new Node(2);
        arr[1].next = new Node(4);
        arr[1].next.next = new Node(6);
        arr[1].next.next.next = new Node(8);

        arr[2] = new Node(0);
        arr[2].next = new Node(9);
        arr[2].next.next = new Node(10);
        arr[2].next.next.next = new Node(11);

        // Merge all lists
        head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1);
        printList(head);
    }
}

// This code is contributed by avanitrachhadiya2155

Python3

# Python3 program to merge k
# sorted arrays of size n each

# A Linked List node


class Node:

    def __init__(self, x):

        self.data = x
        self.next = None

# Function to print nodes in
# a given linked list


def printList(node):

    while (node != None):
        print(node.data,
              end=" ")
        node = node.next

# The main function that
# takes an array of lists
# arr[0..last] and generates
# the sorted output


def mergeKLists(arr, last):

    # Traverse form second
    # list to last
    for i in range(1, last + 1):
        while (True):
            # head of both the lists,
            # 0 and ith list.
            head_0 = arr[0]
            head_i = arr[i]

            # Break if list ended
            if (head_i == None):
                break

            # Smaller than first
            # element
            if (head_0.data >=
                    head_i.data):
                arr[i] = head_i.next
                head_i.next = head_0
                arr[0] = head_i
            else:
                # Traverse the first list
                while (head_0.next != None):
                    # Smaller than next
                    # element
                    if (head_0.next.data >=
                            head_i.data):
                        arr[i] = head_i.next
                        head_i.next = head_0.next
                        head_0.next = head_i
                        break
                    # go to next node
                    head_0 = head_0.next
                    # if last node
                    if (head_0.next == None):
                        arr[i] = head_i.next
                        head_i.next = None
                        head_0.next = head_i
                        head_0.next.next = None
                        break
    return arr[0]


# Driver code
if __name__ == '__main__':

    # Number of linked
    # lists
    k = 3

    # Number of elements
    # in each list
    n = 4

    # an array of pointers
    # storing the head nodes
    # of the linked lists
    arr = [None for i in range(k)]

    arr[0] = Node(1)
    arr[0].next = Node(3)
    arr[0].next.next = Node(5)
    arr[0].next.next.next = Node(7)

    arr[1] = Node(2)
    arr[1].next = Node(4)
    arr[1].next.next = Node(6)
    arr[1].next.next.next = Node(8)

    arr[2] = Node(0)
    arr[2].next = Node(9)
    arr[2].next.next = Node(10)
    arr[2].next.next.next = Node(11)

    # Merge all lists
    head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1)

    printList(head)

# This code is contributed by Mohit Kumar 29

C#

// C# program to merge k sorted
// arrays of size n each
using System;

// A Linked List node
public class Node {
    public int data;
    public Node next;

    // Utility function to create a new node.
    public Node(int key)
    {
        data = key;
        next = null;
    }
}

public class GFG {
    static Node head;

    /* Function to print nodes in
     a given linked list */
    static void printList(Node node)
    {
        while (node != null) {
            Console.Write(node.data + " ");
            node = node.next;
        }
        Console.WriteLine();
    }

    // The main function that
    // takes an array of lists
    // arr[0..last] and generates
    // the sorted output
    static Node mergeKLists(Node[] arr, int last)
    {

        // Traverse form second list to last
        for (int i = 1; i <= last; i++) {
            while (true) {

                // head of both the lists,
                // 0 and ith list.
                Node head_0 = arr[0];
                Node head_i = arr[i];

                // Break if list ended
                if (head_i == null)
                    break;

                // Smaller than first element
                if (head_0.data >= head_i.data) {
                    arr[i] = head_i.next;
                    head_i.next = head_0;
                    arr[0] = head_i;
                }
                else {

                    // Traverse the first list
                    while (head_0.next != null) {

                        // Smaller than next element
                        if (head_0.next.data
                            >= head_i.data) {
                            arr[i] = head_i.next;
                            head_i.next = head_0.next;
                            head_0.next = head_i;
                            break;
                        }

                        // go to next node
                        head_0 = head_0.next;

                        // if last node
                        if (head_0.next == null) {
                            arr[i] = head_i.next;
                            head_i.next = null;
                            head_0.next = head_i;
                            head_0.next.next = null;
                            break;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        return arr[0];
    }
    static public void Main()
    {

        // Number of linked lists
        int k = 3;

        // an array of pointers storing the
        // head nodes of the linked lists
        Node[] arr = new Node[k];

        arr[0] = new Node(1);
        arr[0].next = new Node(3);
        arr[0].next.next = new Node(5);
        arr[0].next.next.next = new Node(7);

        arr[1] = new Node(2);
        arr[1].next = new Node(4);
        arr[1].next.next = new Node(6);
        arr[1].next.next.next = new Node(8);

        arr[2] = new Node(0);
        arr[2].next = new Node(9);
        arr[2].next.next = new Node(10);
        arr[2].next.next.next = new Node(11);

        // Merge all lists
        head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1);
        printList(head);
    }
}

// This code is contributed by rag2127

Javascript

<script>
// Javascript program to merge k sorted
// arrays of size n each

    // A Linked List node
    class Node
    {
        // Utility function to create a new node.
        constructor(key)
        {
            this.data=key;
            this.next=null;
        }
    }

    let head;
    let temp;

/* Function to print nodes in
a given linked list */
function printList(node)
{
    while(node != null)
    {
      document.write(node.data + " ");

      node = node.next;
    }
    document.write("<br>");

}

// The main function that
// takes an array of lists
// arr[0..last] and generates
// the sorted output
function mergeKLists(arr,last)
{
    // Traverse form second list to last
    for (let i = 1; i <= last; i++)
    {
      while(true)
      {

        // head of both the lists,
        // 0 and ith list.
        let head_0 = arr[0];
        let head_i = arr[i];

        // Break if list ended
        if (head_i == null)
          break;

        // Smaller than first element
        if(head_0.data >= head_i.data)
        {
          arr[i] = head_i.next;
          head_i.next = head_0;
          arr[0] = head_i;
        }
        else
        {

          // Traverse the first list
          while (head_0.next != null)
          {

            // Smaller than next element
            if (head_0.next.data >= head_i.data)
            {
              arr[i] = head_i.next;
              head_i.next = head_0.next;
              head_0.next = head_i;
              break;
            }

            // go to next node
            head_0 = head_0.next;

            // if last node
            if (head_0.next == null)
            {
              arr[i] = head_i.next;
              head_i.next = null;
              head_0.next = head_i;
              head_0.next.next = null;
              break;
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    return arr[0];
}

// Driver program to test
// above functions
// Number of linked lists
let k = 3;
// Number of elements in each list
let n = 4;
// an array of pointers storing the
// head nodes of the linked lists
let  arr = new Array(k);
arr[0] = new Node(1);
arr[0].next = new Node(3);
arr[0].next.next = new Node(5);
arr[0].next.next.next = new Node(7);

arr[1] = new Node(2);
arr[1].next = new Node(4);
arr[1].next.next = new Node(6);
arr[1].next.next.next = new Node(8);

arr[2] = new Node(0);
arr[2].next = new Node(9);
arr[2].next.next = new Node(10);
arr[2].next.next.next = new Node(11);

// Merge all lists
head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1);
printList(head);



// This code is contributed by unknown2108

</script>

Output

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

Time complexity: O(N^K-1), Traversing N times on each of the K lists.
Auxiliary Space: O(1).

Merge K sorted linked lists using Min Heap:

This solution is based on the Min Heap approach. The process must start with creating a MinHeap and inserting the first element of all the K Linked Lists. Remove the root element of Minheap and put it in the output Linked List and insert the next element from the Linked List of the removed element. To get the result the step must continue until there is no element left in the MinHeap.

For a more detailed solution and code checkout, this article Merge k sorted linked lists | Set 2 (Using Min Heap).

Time Complexity: O(N*K*LogK)
Auxiliary Space: O(K) 

Merge K sorted linked lists using Divide and Conquer:

The idea is to pair up a sorted list after which K/2 list will be left to be merged and repeat this till all the lists gets merged.

Follow the steps below to solve the problem:

• Pair up K lists and merge each pair in linear time using O(N) space.
• After the first cycle, K/2 lists are left each of size 2*N. After the second cycle, K/4 lists are left each of size 4*N and so on.
• Repeat the procedure until we have only one list left.

Below is the implementation of the above idea. 

C++

// C++ program to merge k sorted
// arrays of size n each
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// A Linked List node
struct Node {
    int data;
    Node* next;
};

/* Function to print nodes in
   a given linked list */
void printList(Node* node)
{
    while (node != NULL) {
        printf("%d ", node->data);
        node = node->next;
    }
}

/* Takes two lists sorted in increasing order, and merge
   their nodes together to make one big sorted list. Below
   function takes O(n) extra space for recursive calls,
    */
Node* SortedMerge(Node* a, Node* b)
{
    Node* result = NULL;

    /* Base cases */
    if (a == NULL)
        return (b);
    else if (b == NULL)
        return (a);

    /* Pick either a or b, and recur */
    if (a->data <= b->data) {
        result = a;
        result->next = SortedMerge(a->next, b);
    }
    else {
        result = b;
        result->next = SortedMerge(a, b->next);
    }

    return result;
}

// The main function that takes an array of lists
// arr[0..last] and generates the sorted output
Node* mergeKLists(Node* arr[], int last)
{
    // repeat until only one list is left
    while (last != 0) {
        int i = 0, j = last;

        // (i, j) forms a pair
        while (i < j) {
            // merge List i with List j and store
            // merged list in List i
            arr[i] = SortedMerge(arr[i], arr[j]);

            // consider next pair
            i++, j--;

            // If all pairs are merged, update last
            if (i >= j)
                last = j;
        }
    }

    return arr[0];
}

// Utility function to create a new node.
Node* newNode(int data)
{
    struct Node* temp = new Node;
    temp->data = data;
    temp->next = NULL;
    return temp;
}

// Driver program to test above functions
int main()
{
    int k = 3; // Number of linked lists
    int n = 4; // Number of elements in each list

    // an array of pointers storing the head nodes
    // of the linked lists
    Node* arr[k];

    arr[0] = newNode(1);
    arr[0]->next = newNode(3);
    arr[0]->next->next = newNode(5);
    arr[0]->next->next->next = newNode(7);

    arr[1] = newNode(2);
    arr[1]->next = newNode(4);
    arr[1]->next->next = newNode(6);
    arr[1]->next->next->next = newNode(8);

    arr[2] = newNode(0);
    arr[2]->next = newNode(9);
    arr[2]->next->next = newNode(10);
    arr[2]->next->next->next = newNode(11);

    // Merge all lists
    Node* head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1);

    printList(head);

    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to merge k sorted arrays of size n each
public class MergeKSortedLists {

    /* Takes two lists sorted in increasing order, and merge
    their nodes together to make one big sorted list. Below
    function takes O(Log n) extra space for recursive calls,
    but it can be easily modified to work with same time and
    O(1) extra space  */
    public static Node SortedMerge(Node a, Node b)
    {
        Node result = null;
        /* Base cases */
        if (a == null)
            return b;
        else if (b == null)
            return a;

        /* Pick either a or b, and recur */
        if (a.data <= b.data) {
            result = a;
            result.next = SortedMerge(a.next, b);
        }
        else {
            result = b;
            result.next = SortedMerge(a, b.next);
        }

        return result;
    }

    // The main function that takes an array of lists
    // arr[0..last] and generates the sorted output
    public static Node mergeKLists(Node arr[], int last)
    {
        // repeat until only one list is left
        while (last != 0) {
            int i = 0, j = last;

            // (i, j) forms a pair
            while (i < j) {
                // merge List i with List j and store
                // merged list in List i
                arr[i] = SortedMerge(arr[i], arr[j]);

                // consider next pair
                i++;
                j--;

                // If all pairs are merged, update last
                if (i >= j)
                    last = j;
            }
        }

        return arr[0];
    }

    /* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */
    public static void printList(Node node)
    {
        while (node != null) {
            System.out.print(node.data + " ");
            node = node.next;
        }
    }

    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        int k = 3; // Number of linked lists
        int n = 4; // Number of elements in each list

        // an array of pointers storing the head nodes
        // of the linked lists
        Node arr[] = new Node[k];

        arr[0] = new Node(1);
        arr[0].next = new Node(3);
        arr[0].next.next = new Node(5);
        arr[0].next.next.next = new Node(7);

        arr[1] = new Node(2);
        arr[1].next = new Node(4);
        arr[1].next.next = new Node(6);
        arr[1].next.next.next = new Node(8);

        arr[2] = new Node(0);
        arr[2].next = new Node(9);
        arr[2].next.next = new Node(10);
        arr[2].next.next.next = new Node(11);

        // Merge all lists
        Node head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1);
        printList(head);
    }
}

class Node {
    int data;
    Node next;
    Node(int data) { this.data = data; }
}
// This code is contributed by Gaurav Tiwari

Python3

# Python3 program to merge k sorted
# arrays of size n each

# A Linked List node
class Node:

    def __init__(self):

        self.data = 0
        self.next = None

# Function to print nodes in a
# given linked list
def printList(node):

    while (node != None):
        print(node.data, end=' ')
        node = node.next

# Takes two lists sorted in increasing order,
# and merge their nodes together to make one
# big sorted list. Below function takes
# O(Log n) extra space for recursive calls,
# but it can be easily modified to work with
# same time and O(1) extra space
def SortedMerge(a, b):

    result = None

    # Base cases
    if (a == None):
        return(b)
    elif (b == None):
        return(a)

    # Pick either a or b, and recur
    if (a.data <= b.data):
        result = a
        result.next = SortedMerge(a.next, b)
    else:
        result = b
        result.next = SortedMerge(a, b.next)

    return result

# The main function that takes an array of lists
# arr[0..last] and generates the sorted output
def mergeKLists(arr, last):

    # Repeat until only one list is left
    while (last != 0):
        i = 0
        j = last

        # (i, j) forms a pair
        while (i < j):

            # Merge List i with List j and store
            # merged list in List i
            arr[i] = SortedMerge(arr[i], arr[j])

            # Consider next pair
            i += 1
            j -= 1

            # If all pairs are merged, update last
            if (i >= j):
                last = j

    return arr[0]

# Utility function to create a new node.
def newNode(data):

    temp = Node()
    temp.data = data
    temp.next = None
    return temp


# Driver code
if __name__ == '__main__':

    # Number of linked lists
    k = 3

    # Number of elements in each list
    n = 4

    # An array of pointers storing the
    # head nodes of the linked lists
    arr = [0 for i in range(k)]

    arr[0] = newNode(1)
    arr[0].next = newNode(3)
    arr[0].next.next = newNode(5)
    arr[0].next.next.next = newNode(7)

    arr[1] = newNode(2)
    arr[1].next = newNode(4)
    arr[1].next.next = newNode(6)
    arr[1].next.next.next = newNode(8)

    arr[2] = newNode(0)
    arr[2].next = newNode(9)
    arr[2].next.next = newNode(10)
    arr[2].next.next.next = newNode(11)

    # Merge all lists
    head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1)

    printList(head)

# This code is contributed by rutvik_56

C#

// C# program to merge k sorted arrays of size n each
using System;

public class MergeKSortedLists {

    /* Takes two lists sorted in
    increasing order, and merge
    their nodes together to make
    one big sorted list. Below
    function takes O(Log n) extra
    space for recursive calls,
    but it can be easily modified
    to work with same time and
    O(1) extra space */
    public static Node SortedMerge(Node a, Node b)
    {
        Node result = null;

        /* Base cases */
        if (a == null)
            return b;
        else if (b == null)
            return a;

        /* Pick either a or b, and recur */
        if (a.data <= b.data) {
            result = a;
            result.next = SortedMerge(a.next, b);
        }
        else {
            result = b;
            result.next = SortedMerge(a, b.next);
        }

        return result;
    }

    // The main function that takes
    // an array of lists arr[0..last]
    // and generates the sorted output
    public static Node mergeKLists(Node[] arr, int last)
    {
        // repeat until only one list is left
        while (last != 0) {
            int i = 0, j = last;

            // (i, j) forms a pair
            while (i < j) {
                // merge List i with List j and store
                // merged list in List i
                arr[i] = SortedMerge(arr[i], arr[j]);

                // consider next pair
                i++;
                j--;

                // If all pairs are merged, update last
                if (i >= j)
                    last = j;
            }
        }

        return arr[0];
    }

    /* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */
    public static void printList(Node node)
    {
        while (node != null) {
            Console.Write(node.data + " ");
            node = node.next;
        }
    }

    public static void Main()
    {
        int k = 3; // Number of linked lists
        // int n = 4; // Number of elements in each list

        // An array of pointers storing the head nodes
        // of the linked lists
        Node[] arr = new Node[k];

        arr[0] = new Node(1);
        arr[0].next = new Node(3);
        arr[0].next.next = new Node(5);
        arr[0].next.next.next = new Node(7);

        arr[1] = new Node(2);
        arr[1].next = new Node(4);
        arr[1].next.next = new Node(6);
        arr[1].next.next.next = new Node(8);

        arr[2] = new Node(0);
        arr[2].next = new Node(9);
        arr[2].next.next = new Node(10);
        arr[2].next.next.next = new Node(11);

        // Merge all lists
        Node head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1);
        printList(head);
    }
}

public class Node {
    public int data;
    public Node next;
    public Node(int data) { this.data = data; }
}

/* This code contributed by PrinciRaj1992 */

Javascript

<script>

// JavaScript program to merge k sorted
// arrays of size n each
class Node {
    constructor(val) {
        this.data = val;
        this.next = null;
    }
}

    /*
      Takes two lists sorted in increasing order,
     and merge their nodes together to
     make one big sorted list.
     Below function takes O(Log n) extra space for
     * recursive calls, but it can be easily modified
     to work with same time and
     * O(1) extra space
     */
    function SortedMerge(a,  b) {
var result = null;
        /* Base cases */
        if (a == null)
            return b;
        else if (b == null)
            return a;

        /* Pick either a or b, and recur */
        if (a.data <= b.data) {
            result = a;
            result.next = SortedMerge(a.next, b);
        } else {
            result = b;
            result.next = SortedMerge(a, b.next);
        }

        return result;
    }

    // The main function that takes an array of lists
    // arr[0..last] and generates the sorted output
    function mergeKLists(arr , last) {
        // repeat until only one list is left
        while (last != 0) {
            var i = 0, j = last;

            // (i, j) forms a pair
            while (i < j) {
                // merge List i with List j and store
                // merged list in List i
                arr[i] = SortedMerge(arr[i], arr[j]);

                // consider next pair
                i++;
                j--;

                // If all pairs are merged, update last
                if (i >= j)
                    last = j;
            }
        }

        return arr[0];
    }

    /* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */
    function printList(node) {
        while (node != null) {
            document.write(node.data + " ");
            node = node.next;
        }
    }


        var k = 3; // Number of linked lists
        var n = 4; // Number of elements in each list

        // an array of pointers storing the head nodes
        // of the linked lists
var arr = Array(k);

        arr[0] = new Node(1);
        arr[0].next = new Node(3);
        arr[0].next.next = new Node(5);
        arr[0].next.next.next = new Node(7);

        arr[1] = new Node(2);
        arr[1].next = new Node(4);
        arr[1].next.next = new Node(6);
        arr[1].next.next.next = new Node(8);

        arr[2] = new Node(0);
        arr[2].next = new Node(9);
        arr[2].next.next = new Node(10);
        arr[2].next.next.next = new Node(11);

        // Merge all lists
var head = mergeKLists(arr, k - 1);
        printList(head);

// This code contributed by gauravrajput1

</script>

Output

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

Time Complexity: O(N * K * log K), As outer while loop in function mergeKLists() runs log K times and every time it processes N*K elements.
Auxiliary Space: O(N * K), Because recursion is used in SortedMerge() and to merge the final 2 linked lists of size N/2, N recursive calls will be made.

Merge K sorted linked lists by Selecting min of top element:

The idea is to select the minimum of top elements iteratively store that in a new node and increment the pointer of the minimum element.

Follow the steps below to solve the problem:

• Find the node with the smallest value in all the K lists and 
• Increment the current pointer to the next node of the list where the smallest node is found.
• Now make a new node and append the node to the head node of the resultant list and point the head list with this new node
• Repeat these steps till all nodes have been used.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program to merge k sorted arrays of size n each
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// A Linked List node
struct Node {
    int data;
    Node* next;
    Node(int x)
    {
        data = x;
        next = NULL;
    }
};

/* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */
void printList(Node* node)
{
    while (node != NULL) {
        printf("%d ", node->data);
        node = node->next;
    }
    cout << endl;
}

/*Linked list Node structure

struct Node
{
int data;
Node* next;
Node(int x){
    data = x;
    next = NULL;
}
};
*/

    // Function to merge K sorted linked list.
    Node* mergeKLists(Node* arr[], int K)
    {
        Node* head = NULL;
        while (1) {
            int a = 0;
            int z;
            Node* curr;
            int min = INT_MAX;
            for (int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
                if (arr[i] != NULL) {
                    a++;
                    if (arr[i]->data < min) {
                        min = arr[i]->data;
                        z = i;
                    }
                }
            }
            if (a != 0) {
                arr[z] = arr[z]->next;
                Node* temp = new Node(min);
                if (head == NULL) {
                    head = temp;
                    curr = temp;
                }
                else {
                    curr->next = temp;
                    curr = temp;
                }
            }
            else {
                return head;
            }
        }
    }

// { Driver Code Starts.

// Driver program to test above functions
int main()
{
    int k = 3; // Number of linked lists
    int n = 4; // Number of elements in each list

    // an array of pointers storing the head nodes
    // of the linked lists
    Node* arr[k];

    arr[0] = new Node(1);
    arr[0]->next = new Node(3);
    arr[0]->next->next = new Node(5);
    arr[0]->next->next->next = new Node(7);

    arr[1] = new Node(2);
    arr[1]->next = new Node(4);
    arr[1]->next->next = new Node(6);
    arr[1]->next->next->next = new Node(8);

    arr[2] = new Node(0);
    arr[2]->next = new Node(9);
    arr[2]->next->next = new Node(10);
    arr[2]->next->next->next = new Node(11);

    Node* head = mergeKLists(arr, k);

    printList(head);
    return 0;
}

// } Driver Code Ends

Java

// Java program to merge k sorted arrays of size n each
import java.util.*;

// A Linked List node
class Node {
    int data;
    Node next;
    Node(int x) {
        data = x;
        next = null;
    }
}

public class MergeKSortedLists {

    /* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */
    static void printList(Node node) {
        while (node != null) {
            System.out.print(node.data + " ");
            node = node.next;
        }
        System.out.println();
    }

    // Function to merge K sorted linked lists.
    static Node mergeKLists(Node[] arr, int K) {
        Node head = null;
        Node curr = null; // Initialize curr

        while (true) {
            int a = 0;
            int z = 0;
            int min = Integer.MAX_VALUE;

            for (int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
                if (arr[i] != null) {
                    a++;
                    if (arr[i].data < min) {
                        min = arr[i].data;
                        z = i;
                    }
                }
            }
            if (a != 0) {
                arr[z] = arr[z].next;
                Node temp = new Node(min);
                if (head == null) {
                    head = temp;
                    curr = temp;
                } else {
                    curr.next = temp;
                    curr = temp;
                }
            } else {
                return head;
            }
        }
    }

    // Driver program to test above functions
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int k = 3; // Number of linked lists
        int n = 4; // Number of elements in each list

        // an array of pointers storing the head nodes
        // of the linked lists
        Node[] arr = new Node[k];

        arr[0] = new Node(1);
        arr[0].next = new Node(3);
        arr[0].next.next = new Node(5);
        arr[0].next.next.next = new Node(7);

        arr[1] = new Node(2);
        arr[1].next = new Node(4);
        arr[1].next.next = new Node(6);
        arr[1].next.next.next = new Node(8);

        arr[2] = new Node(0);
        arr[2].next = new Node(9);
        arr[2].next.next = new Node(10);
        arr[2].next.next.next = new Node(11);

        Node head = mergeKLists(arr, k);

        printList(head);
    }
}

// This code is contributed by shivamgupta310570

Python3

# Python program to merge k sorted arrays of size n each

# A Linked List node
class Node:
    def __init__(self, x):
        self.data = x
        self.next = None

# Function to merge K sorted linked lists
def mergeKLists(arr, K):
    from queue import PriorityQueue

    # Create a priority queue
    pq = PriorityQueue()

    # Push the first elements of all linked lists into the priority queue
    for i in range(K):
        if arr[i] is not None:
            pq.put((arr[i].data, i))

    head = Node(None)
    curr = head

    # Merge the linked lists
    while not pq.empty():
        val, i = pq.get()
        curr.next = Node(val)
        curr = curr.next
        if arr[i].next is not None:
            pq.put((arr[i].next.data, i))
            arr[i] = arr[i].next

    return head.next

# Function to print nodes in a given linked list
def printList(node):
    while node is not None:
        print(node.data, end=' ')
        node = node.next
    print()

# Driver program to test the functions
if __name__ == '__main__':
    k = 3  # Number of linked lists
    n = 4  # Number of elements in each list

    # An array of pointers storing the head nodes
    # of the linked lists
    arr = [None] * k

    arr[0] = Node(1)
    arr[0].next = Node(3)
    arr[0].next.next = Node(5)
    arr[0].next.next.next = Node(7)

    arr[1] = Node(2)
    arr[1].next = Node(4)
    arr[1].next.next = Node(6)
    arr[1].next.next.next = Node(8)

    arr[2] = Node(0)
    arr[2].next = Node(9)
    arr[2].next.next = Node(10)
    arr[2].next.next.next = Node(11)

    head = mergeKLists(arr, k)

    print("Merged Linked List:")
    printList(head)

# This code is contributed by shivamgupta310570

C#

using System;

// A Linked List node
public class Node {
    public int data;
    public Node next;
    public Node(int x)
    {
        data = x;
        next = null;
    }
}

class GFG {
    // Function to print nodes in a given linked list
    static void PrintList(Node node)
    {
        while (node != null) {
            Console.Write(node.data + " ");
            node = node.next;
        }
        Console.WriteLine();
    }

    // Function to merge K sorted linked lists
    static Node MergeKLists(Node[] arr, int K)
    {
        Node head = null;
        Node curr = null; // Initialize curr
        while (true) {
            int a = 0;
            int z = 0; // Initialize z
            int min = int.MaxValue;
            for (int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
                if (arr[i] != null) {
                    a++;
                    if (arr[i].data < min) {
                        min = arr[i].data;
                        z = i;
                    }
                }
            }
            if (a != 0) {
                arr[z] = arr[z].next;
                Node temp = new Node(min);
                if (head == null) {
                    head = temp;
                    curr = temp;
                }
                else {
                    curr.next = temp;
                    curr = temp;
                }
            }
            else {
                return head;
            }
        }
    }

    // Driver program to test above functions
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int k = 3; // Number of linked lists

        // an array of pointers storing the head nodes
        // of the linked lists
        Node[] arr = new Node[k];

        arr[0] = new Node(1);
        arr[0].next = new Node(3);
        arr[0].next.next = new Node(5);
        arr[0].next.next.next = new Node(7);

        arr[1] = new Node(2);
        arr[1].next = new Node(4);
        arr[1].next.next = new Node(6);
        arr[1].next.next.next = new Node(8);

        arr[2] = new Node(0);
        arr[2].next = new Node(9);
        arr[2].next.next = new Node(10);
        arr[2].next.next.next = new Node(11);

        Node head = MergeKLists(arr, k);

        PrintList(head);
    }
}

Javascript

// Definition for singly-linked list.
class ListNode {
    constructor(val) {
        this.val = val;
        this.next = null;
    }
}

/**
 * Function to merge K sorted linked lists.
 * @param {ListNode[]} lists - An array of linked list nodes.
 * @return {ListNode} - The merged linked list.
 */
const mergeKLists = (lists) => {
    const mergeTwoLists = (l1, l2) => {
        if (!l1) return l2;
        if (!l2) return l1;

        if (l1.val < l2.val) {
            l1.next = mergeTwoLists(l1.next, l2);
            return l1;
        } else {
            l2.next = mergeTwoLists(l1, l2.next);
            return l2;
        }
    };

    const mergeKListsRecursively = (lists, start, end) => {
        if (start === end) {
            return lists[start];
        }
        const mid = Math.floor((start + end) / 2);
        const left = mergeKListsRecursively(lists, start, mid);
        const right = mergeKListsRecursively(lists, mid + 1, end);
        return mergeTwoLists(left, right);
    };

    if (lists.length === 0) return null;
    return mergeKListsRecursively(lists, 0, lists.length - 1);
};

// Driver program to test above functions
const k = 3; // Number of linked lists

// An array of linked list nodes storing the head nodes of the linked lists
const arr = [];

arr[0] = new ListNode(1);
arr[0].next = new ListNode(3);
arr[0].next.next = new ListNode(5);
arr[0].next.next.next = new ListNode(7);

arr[1] = new ListNode(2);
arr[1].next = new ListNode(4);
arr[1].next.next = new ListNode(6);
arr[1].next.next.next = new ListNode(8);

arr[2] = new ListNode(0);
arr[2].next = new ListNode(9);
arr[2].next.next = new ListNode(10);
arr[2].next.next.next = new ListNode(11);

const head = mergeKLists(arr);

// Function to print nodes in a given linked list
const printList = (node) => {
    while (node !== null) {
        process.stdout.write(`${node.val} `);
        node = node.next;
    }
    console.log();
};

printList(head);

Output

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

Time complexity: O(N*K²), There are N*K nodes in total and to find the smallest node it takes K times so for the N*K nodes it will take N*K*K time.
Auxiliary Space: O(N)