Javatpoint Logo
Javatpoint Logo

Pair of strings having longest common prefix of maximum length in given array

In mathematics and computer programming, a combination of exactly two strings is referred to as a pair of strings. Each string in the pair can have any combination of letters, words, or other characters.

In order to express or compare two related text passages, operate on two strings at once, or store relationships between two sets of data, pairs of strings are frequently utilized. A typical data structure in programming that lets you operate with two elements as a single unit is called a pair.

A pair of strings, for instance, might be utilized to represent:

  1. Associations: Keeping track of key-value pairs in which a string serves as the key and another as the value. This is frequently seen in hash tables and dictionaries.
  2. String Comparisons: You may use a pair of strings to represent the two strings you're comparing in order to compare them or identify similar substrings.
  3. Coordinates: A pair of strings may be used to represent coordinates, such as latitude and longitude, in geometric or geographic data.
  4. Operations: When you need to apply a function, such as concatenation or difference finding, to two related strings.

Some programming languages provide classes or data structures specifically made for working with pairs, like Python's tuple, or you may make your own bespoke pair-like structures. In many different algorithms and data processing tasks, pairs are a key idea in computer science.

i) A common prefix algorithm that effectively checks all the strings may be used to get the largest common prefix of maximum length in a given array of strings. Here is a detailed breakdown on how to accomplish this:

ii) Assume to begin that the array's first string is the first "longest common prefix."

iii) Go over the remaining strings in the array one by one.

iv) Character by character, compare each text in the array with the current "longest common prefix."

v) As you iterate, note how long the common prefix is.

vi) In case a character is discovered that differs from the current string and the "longest common prefix," the comparison should be stopped and the updated "longest common prefix" should contain the segment of the string that was compared before.

vii) Repeat these steps for each of the array's strings.

viii) The common prefix with the largest length in the supplied array will be contained in the "longest common prefix" at the conclusion of the iteration.

ix) Give back the "longest common prefix" as the outcome.

In a string array, what is the longest common prefix?

Assume that we are carrying 'N' strings. The longest common prefix among those n strings must be found.

The largest substring that is shared by every string and that is also a prefix is known as the longest common prefix. A little perplexed? Do not fret. Let's deconstruct the terms and determine what each one represents.

A prefix is a group that exists right away. In light of this, let's use the string s = "Longest" as an example.

Currently, {"L", "Lo", "Lon", "Long", "Longe", "Longes", "Longest"} might be its prefix. As can be seen, a prefix is any size substring from the beginning.

In essence, you are searching for the two strings that share the most similar characters at the start of their sequences in order to identify a pair of strings with the longest common prefix of maximum length in a given array.

Let's examine this assignment in more detail:

Enter:

An array of strings serves as your first input. The array's elements are all strings.

An input array such as this one might exist, for instance: ["flower", "flour", "fly", "flame", "flask"].

Typical Prefix:

The portion of a string that is shared by several strings before they start to diverge is called the common prefix. At the start of two identical strings, this is the longest string of characters.

Objective:

Finding a pair of strings in the array with the longest common prefix is the aim.

In comparison to all other pairs of strings in the array, you want to find the pair of strings where this common prefix is as lengthy as feasible.

Methods of Algorithm:

-Take into account every pair of strings first. Every string must be compared to every other string.

- Start by comparing each pair of strings character by character until you discover a difference or get to the end of either string.

- As you compare characters, note the length of the common prefix.

- Update the length of the longest common prefix and the matching pair of strings if

one discover a common prefix that is longer than the longest one previously found.

Result:

One can return the pair of strings that make up this longest common prefix once you've completed iterating over all pairs and discovered the longest common prefix of maximum length.

Pair of strings having longest common prefix of maximum length in given array Algorithm

In a given array of strings, you may use the following procedures to identify a pair of strings that have the longest common prefix of maximum length:

  1. Set up variables to record the pair of strings that have the longest common prefix and the longest common prefix.
  2. Find the common prefix between each pair of strings by iterating over the array of strings and comparing them.
  3. When you come across a longer common prefix, adjust the maximum common prefix length that you have noted.
  4. Additionally, anytime you come across a lengthier common prefix, keep the pair of strings.
  5. Once you have compared every pair of strings in the array, keep going through this procedure.

Java code

Output:

Pair of strings having longest common prefix of maximum length in given array

The findLongestCommonPrefixPair function in this Java application compares each pair of strings to determine their common prefix as iteratively goes through the array of strings. After that, the software returns the pair of strings that have the longest common prefix, and the main procedure publishes the outcome. It will provide the following in the case given: "Longest common prefix pair: (flower, flour)".

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can use a simple method that compares all pairs of strings in the array to identify a pair of strings that have the longest common prefix of maximum length in a given array of strings. You can determine which pair has the longest common prefix by going through the strings one by one and looking up their common prefixes. This procedure is demonstrated by the Python code that was sent in the earlier answer. Remember that this method may not be effective for really big arrays because of its O(n^2) time complexity, where n is the number of strings in the array.

As 'n' is the number of strings in the array, this algorithm's time complexity is O(n^2) despite being effective. As a result, for really big arrays, it might not be efficient. More sophisticated data structures or algorithms, such a divide-and-conquer strategy or a trie, would be something to think about if you need to locate the pair with the longest common prefix more quickly.







Youtube For Videos Join Our Youtube Channel: Join Now

Feedback


Help Others, Please Share

facebook twitter pinterest

Learn Latest Tutorials


Preparation


Trending Technologies


B.Tech / MCA