Sort a linked list of 0s, 1s and 2s

Difficulty Level : Easy
Last Updated : 29 Nov, 2021

Given a linked list of 0s, 1s and 2s, sort it.
Examples:

Input: 1 -> 1 -> 2 -> 0 -> 2 -> 0 -> 1 -> NULL
Output: 0 -> 0 -> 1 -> 1 -> 1 -> 2 -> 2 -> NULL
Input: 1 -> 1 -> 2 -> 1 -> 0 -> NULL
Output: 0 -> 1 -> 1 -> 1 -> 2 -> NULL

Become a success story instead of just reading about them. Prepare for coding interviews at Amazon and other top product-based companies with our Amazon Test Series. Includes topic-wise practice questions on all important DSA topics along with 10 practice contests of 2 hours each. Designed by industry experts that will surely help you practice and sharpen your programming skills. Wait no more, start your preparation today!

Source: Microsoft Interview | Set 1

Following steps can be used to sort the given linked list.

Traverse the list and count the number of 0s, 1s, and 2s. Let the counts be n1, n2, and n3 respectively.
Traverse the list again, fill the first n1 nodes with 0, then n2 nodes with 1, and finally n3 nodes with 2.

Below image is a dry run of the above approach:

Sort a linked list of 0s, 1s and 2s

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ Program to sort a linked list 0s, 1s or 2s 
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
  
/* Link list node */
class Node 
{ 
    public:
    int data; 
    Node* next; 
}; 
  
// Function to sort a linked list of 0s, 1s and 2s 
void sortList(Node *head) 
{ 
    int count[3] = {0, 0, 0}; // Initialize count of '0', '1' and '2' as 0 
    Node *ptr = head; 
  
    /* count total number of '0', '1' and '2' 
    * count[0] will store total number of '0's 
    * count[1] will store total number of '1's 
    * count[2] will store total number of '2's */
    while (ptr != NULL) 
    { 
        count[ptr->data] += 1; 
        ptr = ptr->next; 
    } 
  
    int i = 0; 
    ptr = head; 
  
    /* Let say count[0] = n1, count[1] = n2 and count[2] = n3 
    * now start traversing list from head node, 
    * 1) fill the list with 0, till n1 > 0 
    * 2) fill the list with 1, till n2 > 0 
    * 3) fill the list with 2, till n3 > 0 */
    while (ptr != NULL) 
    { 
        if (count[i] == 0) 
            ++i; 
        else
        { 
            ptr->data = i; 
            --count[i]; 
            ptr = ptr->next; 
        } 
    } 
} 
  
/* Function to push a node */
void push (Node** head_ref, int new_data) 
{ 
    /* allocate node */
    Node* new_node = new Node();
  
    /* put in the data */
    new_node->data = new_data; 
  
    /* link the old list off the new node */
    new_node->next = (*head_ref); 
  
    /* move the head to point to the new node */
    (*head_ref) = new_node; 
} 
  
/* Function to print linked list */
void printList(Node *node) 
{ 
    while (node != NULL) 
    { 
        cout << node->data << " "; 
        node = node->next; 
    } 
    cout << endl; 
} 
  
/* Driver code*/
int main(void) 
{ 
    Node *head = NULL; 
    push(&head, 0); 
    push(&head, 1); 
    push(&head, 0); 
    push(&head, 2); 
    push(&head, 1); 
    push(&head, 1); 
    push(&head, 2); 
    push(&head, 1); 
    push(&head, 2); 
  
    cout << "Linked List Before Sorting\n"; 
    printList(head); 
  
    sortList(head); 
  
    cout << "Linked List After Sorting\n"; 
    printList(head); 
  
    return 0; 
} 
  
// This code is contributed by rathbhupendra

C

// C Program to sort a linked list 0s, 1s or 2s
#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
  
/* Link list node */
struct Node
{
    int data;
    struct Node* next;
};
  
// Function to sort a linked list of 0s, 1s and 2s
void sortList(struct Node *head)
{
    int count[3] = {0, 0, 0};  // Initialize count of '0', '1' and '2' as 0
    struct Node *ptr = head;
  
    /* count total number of '0', '1' and '2'
     * count[0] will store total number of '0's
     * count[1] will store total number of '1's
     * count[2] will store total number of '2's  */
    while (ptr != NULL)
    {
        count[ptr->data] += 1;
        ptr = ptr->next;
    }
  
    int i = 0;
    ptr = head;
  
    /* Let say count[0] = n1, count[1] = n2 and count[2] = n3
     * now start traversing list from head node,
     * 1) fill the list with 0, till n1 > 0
     * 2) fill the list with 1, till n2 > 0
     * 3) fill the list with 2, till n3 > 0  */
    while (ptr != NULL)
    {
        if (count[i] == 0)
            ++i;
        else
        {
            ptr->data = i;
            --count[i];
            ptr = ptr->next;
        }
    }
}
  
/* Function to push a node */
void push (struct Node** head_ref, int new_data)
{
    /* allocate node */
    struct Node* new_node =
        (struct Node*) malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
  
    /* put in the data  */
    new_node->data  = new_data;
  
    /* link the old list off the new node */
    new_node->next = (*head_ref);
  
    /* move the head to point to the new node */
    (*head_ref)    = new_node;
}
  
/* Function to print linked list */
void printList(struct Node *node)
{
    while (node != NULL)
    {
        printf("%d  ", node->data);
        node = node->next;
    }
    printf("n");
}
  
/* Driver program to test above function*/
int main(void)
{
    struct Node *head = NULL;
    push(&head, 0);
    push(&head, 1);
    push(&head, 0);
    push(&head, 2);
    push(&head, 1);
    push(&head, 1);
    push(&head, 2);
    push(&head, 1);
    push(&head, 2);
  
    printf("Linked List Before Sorting\n");
    printList(head);
  
    sortList(head);
  
    printf("Linked List After Sorting\n");
    printList(head);
  
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to sort a linked list of 0, 1 and 2
class LinkedList
{
    Node head;  // head of list
   
    /* Linked list Node*/
    class Node
    {
        int data;
        Node next;
        Node(int d) {data = d; next = null; }
    }
  
    void sortList()
    {
       // initialise count of 0 1 and 2 as 0
       int count[] = {0, 0, 0}; 
         
       Node ptr = head;
         
       /* count total number of '0', '1' and '2'
        * count[0] will store total number of '0's
        * count[1] will store total number of '1's
        * count[2] will store total number of '2's  */
       while (ptr != null) 
       {
            count[ptr.data]++;
            ptr = ptr.next;
       }
  
       int i = 0;
       ptr = head;
  
       /* Let say count[0] = n1, count[1] = n2 and count[2] = n3
        * now start traversing list from head node,
        * 1) fill the list with 0, till n1 > 0
        * 2) fill the list with 1, till n2 > 0
        * 3) fill the list with 2, till n3 > 0  */
        while (ptr != null) 
        {
            if (count[i] == 0)
                i++;
            else 
            {
               ptr.data= i;
               --count[i];
               ptr = ptr.next;
            }
         }
    }                       
  
                     
    /* Utility functions */
  
    /* Inserts a new Node at front of the list. */
    public void push(int new_data)
    {
        /* 1 & 2: Allocate the Node &
                  Put in the data*/
        Node new_node = new Node(new_data);
   
        /* 3. Make next of new Node as head */
        new_node.next = head;
   
        /* 4. Move the head to point to new Node */
        head = new_node;
    }
  
    /* Function to print linked list */
    void printList()
    {
        Node temp = head;
        while (temp != null)
        {
           System.out.print(temp.data+" ");
           temp = temp.next;
        }  
        System.out.println();
    }
  
     /* Driver program to test above functions */
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        LinkedList llist = new LinkedList();
          
        /* Constructed Linked List is 1->2->3->4->5->6->7->
           8->8->9->null */
        llist.push(0);
        llist.push(1);
        llist.push(0);
        llist.push(2);
        llist.push(1);
        llist.push(1);
        llist.push(2);
        llist.push(1);
        llist.push(2);
          
        System.out.println("Linked List before sorting");
        llist.printList();
          
        llist.sortList();
  
        System.out.println("Linked List after sorting");
        llist.printList();
    }
} 
/* This code is contributed by Rajat Mishra */

Python

# Python program to sort a linked list of 0, 1 and 2
class LinkedList(object):
    def __init__(self):
  
         # head of list
         self.head = None
  
    # Linked list Node
    class Node(object):
        def __init__(self, d):
            self.data = d
            self.next = None
  
    def sortList(self):
  
        # initialise count of 0 1 and 2 as 0
        count = [0, 0, 0]
  
        ptr = self.head
  
        # count total number of '0', '1' and '2'
        # * count[0] will store total number of '0's
        # * count[1] will store total number of '1's
        # * count[2] will store total number of '2's  
        while ptr != None:
            count[ptr.data]+=1
            ptr = ptr.next
  
        i = 0
        ptr = self.head
  
        # Let say count[0] = n1, count[1] = n2 and count[2] = n3
        # * now start traversing list from head node,
        # * 1) fill the list with 0, till n1 > 0
        # * 2) fill the list with 1, till n2 > 0
        # * 3) fill the list with 2, till n3 > 0  
        while ptr != None:
            if count[i] == 0:
                i+=1
            else:
                ptr.data = i
                count[i]-=1
                ptr = ptr.next
  
  
    # Utility functions
    # Inserts a new Node at front of the list.
    def push(self, new_data):
  
        # 1 & 2: Allocate the Node &
        # Put in the data
        new_node = self.Node(new_data)
  
        # 3. Make next of new Node as head
        new_node.next = self.head
  
        # 4. Move the head to point to new Node
        self.head = new_node
  
    # Function to print linked list
    def printList(self):
        temp = self.head
        while temp != None:
            print str(temp.data),
            temp = temp.next
        print ''
  
# Driver program to test above functions
llist = LinkedList()
llist.push(0)
llist.push(1)
llist.push(0)
llist.push(2)
llist.push(1)
llist.push(1)
llist.push(2)
llist.push(1)
llist.push(2)
  
print "Linked List before sorting"
llist.printList()
  
llist.sortList()
  
print "Linked List after sorting"
llist.printList()
  
# This code is contributed by BHAVYA JAIN

C#

// C# program to sort a linked 
// list of 0, 1 and 2
using System;
  
public class LinkedList
{
    Node head; // head of list
  
    /* Linked list Node*/
    class Node
    {
        public int data;
        public Node next;
        public Node(int d) 
        {
            data = d; next = null;
        }
    }
  
    void sortList()
    {
          
        // initialise count of 0 1 and 2 as 0
        int []count = {0, 0, 0}; 
          
        Node ptr = head;
          
        /* count total number of '0', '1' and '2'
        * count[0] will store total number of '0's
        * count[1] will store total number of '1's
        * count[2] will store total number of '2's */
        while (ptr != null) 
        {
               count[ptr.data]++;
            ptr = ptr.next;
        }
  
        int i = 0;
        ptr = head;
  
        /* Let say count[0] = n1, count[1] = n2 and count[2] = n3
        * now start traversing list from head node,
        * 1) fill the list with 0, till n1 > 0
        * 2) fill the list with 1, till n2 > 0
        * 3) fill the list with 2, till n3 > 0 */
        while (ptr != null) 
        {
            if (count[i] == 0)
                i++;
            else
            {
                ptr.data= i;
                --count[i];
                ptr = ptr.next;
            }
        }
    }                     
  
                      
    /* Utility functions */
  
    /* Inserts a new Node at front of the list. */
    public void push(int new_data)
    {
        /* 1 & 2: Allocate the Node &
                Put in the data*/
        Node new_node = new Node(new_data);
  
        /* 3. Make next of new Node as head */
        new_node.next = head;
  
        /* 4. Move the head to point to new Node */
        head = new_node;
    }
  
    /* Function to print linked list */
    void printList()
    {
        Node temp = head;
        while (temp != null)
        {
            Console.Write(temp.data+" ");
            temp = temp.next;
        } 
        Console.WriteLine();
    }
  
    /* Driver code */
    public static void Main(String []args)
    {
        LinkedList llist = new LinkedList();
          
        /* Constructed Linked List is 1->2->3->4->
        5->6->7->8->8->9->null */
        llist.push(0);
        llist.push(1);
        llist.push(0);
        llist.push(2);
        llist.push(1);
        llist.push(1);
        llist.push(2);
        llist.push(1);
        llist.push(2);
          
        Console.WriteLine("Linked List before sorting");
        llist.printList();
          
        llist.sortList();
  
        Console.WriteLine("Linked List after sorting");
        llist.printList();
    }
} 
  
/* This code is contributed by 29AjayKumar */

Javascript

<script>
  
// Javascript program to sort a 
// linked list of 0, 1 and 2
var head; // head of list
  
    /* Linked list Node */
     class Node {
            constructor(val) {
                this.data = val;
                this.next = null;
            }
        }
       
  
    function sortList() {
        // initialise count of 0 1 and 2 as 0
        var count = [ 0, 0, 0 ];
  
var ptr = head;
  
        /*
         count total number of '0', '1' and '2'
          count[0] will store total number of
          '0's count[1] will store total number
          of '1's count[2] will store total
          number of '2's
         */
        while (ptr != null) {
            count[ptr.data]++;
            ptr = ptr.next;
        }
  
        var i = 0;
        ptr = head;
  
        /*
         Let say count[0] = n1, count[1] = n2 and 
         count[2] = n3 now start traversing
         list from head node, 1) fill the list
         with 0, till n1 > 0 2) fill the list
         with 1, till n2 > 0 3) 
         fill the list with 2, till n3 > 0
         */
        while (ptr != null) {
            if (count[i] == 0)
                i++;
            else {
                ptr.data = i;
                --count[i];
                ptr = ptr.next;
            }
        }
    }
  
    /* Utility functions */
  
    /* Inserts a new Node at front of the list. */
     function push(new_data) {
        /*
         * 1 & 2: Allocate the Node & Put in the data
         */
var new_node = new Node(new_data);
  
        /* 3. Make next of new Node as head */
        new_node.next = head;
  
        /* 4. Move the head to point to new Node */
        head = new_node;
    }
  
    /* Function to print linked list */
    function printList() {
    var temp = head;
        while (temp != null) {
            document.write(temp.data + " ");
            temp = temp.next;
        }
        document.write("<br/>");
    }
  
    /* Driver program to test above functions */
      
        /*
         Constructed Linked List is
         1->2->3->4->5->6->7-> 8->8->9->null
         */
        push(0);
        push(1);
        push(0);
        push(2);
        push(1);
        push(1);
        push(2);
        push(1);
        push(2);
  
        document.write("Linked List before sorting<br/>");
        printList();
  
        sortList();
  
        document.write("Linked List after sorting<br/>");
        printList();
  
// This code is contributed by todaysgaurav
  
</script>

Output:

Linked List Before Sorting
2  1  2  1  1  2  0  1  0
Linked List After Sorting
0  0  1  1  1  1  2  2  2

Time Complexity: O(n) where n is the number of nodes in the linked list.
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

https://youtu.be/4

-3TU2FRs70?list=PLqM7alHXFySH41ZxzrPNj2pAYPOI8ITe7
Sort a linked list of 0s, 1s and 2s by changing links
This article is compiled by Narendra Kangralkar. Please write comments if you find anything incorrect, or you want to share more information about the topic discussed above.

My Personal Notes

Related Articles

Table of Contents

Sort a linked list of 0s, 1s and 2s

C++

C

Java

Python

C#

Javascript