In-place conversion of Sorted DLL to Balanced BST

25 Feb, 2022
Given a Doubly Linked List which has data members sorted in ascending order. Construct a Balanced Binary Search Tree which has same data members as the given Doubly Linked List. The tree must be constructed in-place (No new node should be allocated for tree conversion) 
Examples: 
Input:  Doubly Linked List 1  2  3
Output: A Balanced BST 
     2   
   /  \  
  1    3 


Input: Doubly Linked List 1  2 3  4 5  6  7
Output: A Balanced BST
        4
      /   \
     2     6
   /  \   / \
  1   3  5   7  

Input: Doubly Linked List 1  2  3  4
Output: A Balanced BST
      3   
    /  \  
   2    4 
 / 
1

Input:  Doubly Linked List 1  2  3  4  5  6
Output: A Balanced BST
      4   
    /   \  
   2     6 
 /  \   / 
1   3  5   
The Doubly Linked List conversion is very much similar to this Singly Linked List problem and the method 1 is exactly same as the method 1 of previous post. Method 2 is also almost same. The only difference in method 2 is, instead of allocating new nodes for BST, we reuse same DLL nodes. We use prev pointer as left and next pointer as right.
Method 1 (Simple) Following is a simple algorithm where we first find the middle node of list and make it root of the tree to be constructed.  
1) Get the Middle of the linked list and make it root.
2) Recursively do same for left half and right half.
       a) Get the middle of left half and make it left child of the root
          created in step 1.
       b) Get the middle of right half and make it right child of the
          root created in step 1.
Time complexity: O(nLogn) where n is the number of nodes in Linked List.
Method 2 (Tricky) The method 1 constructs the tree from root to leaves. In this method, we construct from leaves to root. The idea is to insert nodes in BST in the same order as they appear in Doubly Linked List, so that the tree can be constructed in O(n) time complexity. We first count the number of nodes in the given Linked List. Let the count be n. After counting nodes, we take left n/2 nodes and recursively construct the left subtree. After left subtree is constructed, we assign middle node to root and link the left subtree with root. Finally, we recursively construct the right subtree and link it with root. While constructing the BST, we also keep moving the list head pointer to next so that we have the appropriate pointer in each recursive call. 
Following is the implementation of method 2. The main code which creates Balanced BST is highlighted.  
C++
C
Java
C#
Javascript
#include <bits/stdc++.h>using namespace std; /* A Doubly Linked List node thatwill also be used as a tree node */class Node{    public:    int data;     // For tree, next pointer can be    // used as right subtree pointer    Node* next;     // For tree, prev pointer can be    // used as left subtree pointer    Node* prev;}; // A utility function to count nodes in a Linked Listint countNodes(Node *head); Node* sortedListToBSTRecur(Node **head_ref, int n); /* This function counts the number ofnodes in Linked List and then callssortedListToBSTRecur() to construct BST */Node* sortedListToBST(Node *head){    /*Count the number of nodes in Linked List */    int n = countNodes(head);     /* Construct BST */    return sortedListToBSTRecur(&head, n);} /* The main function that constructsbalanced BST and returns root of it.head_ref --> Pointer to pointer tohead node of Doubly linked listn --> No. of nodes in the Doubly Linked List */Node* sortedListToBSTRecur(Node **head_ref, int n){    /* Base Case */    if (n <= 0)        return NULL;     /* Recursively construct the left subtree */    Node *left = sortedListToBSTRecur(head_ref, n/2);     /* head_ref now refers to middle node,    make middle node as root of BST*/    Node *root = *head_ref;     // Set pointer to left subtree    root->prev = left;     /* Change head pointer of Linked List    for parent recursive calls */    *head_ref = (*head_ref)->next;     /* Recursively construct the right    subtree and link it with root    The number of nodes in right subtree    is total nodes - nodes in    left subtree - 1 (for root) */    root->next = sortedListToBSTRecur(head_ref, n-n/2-1);     return root;} /* UTILITY FUNCTIONS *//* A utility function that returnscount of nodes in a given Linked List */int countNodes(Node *head){    int count = 0;    Node *temp = head;    while(temp)    {        temp = temp->next;        count++;    }    return count;} /* Function to insert a node atthe beginning of the Doubly Linked List */void push(Node** head_ref, int new_data){    /* allocate node */    Node* new_node = new Node();     /* put in the data */    new_node->data = new_data;     /* since we are adding at the beginning,    prev is always NULL */    new_node->prev = NULL;     /* link the old list off the new node */    new_node->next = (*head_ref);     /* change prev of head node to new node */    if((*head_ref) != NULL)    (*head_ref)->prev = new_node ;     /* move the head to point to the new node */    (*head_ref) = new_node;} /* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */void printList(Node *node){    while (node!=NULL)    {        cout<<node->data<<" ";        node = node->next;    }} /* A utility function to printpreorder traversal of BST */void preOrder(Node* node){    if (node == NULL)        return;    cout<<node->data<<" ";    preOrder(node->prev);    preOrder(node->next);} /* Driver code*/int main(){    /* Start with the empty list */    Node* head = NULL;     /* Let us create a sorted linked list to test the functions    Created linked list will be 7->6->5->4->3->2->1 */    push(&head, 7);    push(&head, 6);    push(&head, 5);    push(&head, 4);    push(&head, 3);    push(&head, 2);    push(&head, 1);     cout<<"Given Linked List\n";    printList(head);     /* Convert List to BST */    Node *root = sortedListToBST(head);    cout<<"\nPreOrder Traversal of constructed BST \n ";    preOrder(root);     return 0;} // This code is contributed by rathbhupendra
#include<stdio.h>#include<stdlib.h> /* A Doubly Linked List node that will also be used as a tree node */struct Node{    int data;     // For tree, next pointer can be used as right subtree pointer    struct Node* next;     // For tree, prev pointer can be used as left subtree pointer    struct Node* prev;}; // A utility function to count nodes in a Linked Listint countNodes(struct Node *head); struct Node* sortedListToBSTRecur(struct Node **head_ref, int n); /* This function counts the number of nodes in Linked List and then calls   sortedListToBSTRecur() to construct BST */struct Node* sortedListToBST(struct Node *head){    /*Count the number of nodes in Linked List */    int n = countNodes(head);     /* Construct BST */    return sortedListToBSTRecur(&head, n);} /* The main function that constructs balanced BST and returns root of it.       head_ref -->  Pointer to pointer to head node of Doubly linked list       n  --> No. of nodes in the Doubly Linked List */struct Node* sortedListToBSTRecur(struct Node **head_ref, int n){    /* Base Case */    if (n <= 0)        return NULL;     /* Recursively construct the left subtree */    struct Node *left = sortedListToBSTRecur(head_ref, n/2);     /* head_ref now refers to middle node, make middle node as root of BST*/    struct Node *root = *head_ref;     // Set pointer to left subtree    root->prev = left;     /* Change head pointer of Linked List for parent recursive calls */    *head_ref = (*head_ref)->next;     /* Recursively construct the right subtree and link it with root      The number of nodes in right subtree  is total nodes - nodes in      left subtree - 1 (for root) */    root->next = sortedListToBSTRecur(head_ref, n-n/2-1);     return root;} /* UTILITY FUNCTIONS *//* A utility function that returns count of nodes in a given Linked List */int countNodes(struct Node *head){    int count = 0;    struct Node *temp = head;    while(temp)    {        temp = temp->next;        count++;    }    return count;} /* Function to insert a node at the beginning of the Doubly Linked List */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;     /* since we are adding at the beginning,      prev is always NULL */    new_node->prev = NULL;     /* link the old list off the new node */    new_node->next = (*head_ref);     /* change prev of head node to new node */    if((*head_ref) !=  NULL)      (*head_ref)->prev = new_node ;     /* move the head to point to the new node */    (*head_ref)    = new_node;} /* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */void printList(struct Node *node){    while (node!=NULL)    {        printf("%d ", node->data);        node = node->next;    }} /* A utility function to print preorder traversal of BST */void preOrder(struct Node* node){    if (node == NULL)        return;    printf("%d ", node->data);    preOrder(node->prev);    preOrder(node->next);} /* Driver program to test above functions*/int main(){    /* Start with the empty list */    struct Node* head = NULL;     /* Let us create a sorted linked list to test the functions     Created linked list will be 7->6->5->4->3->2->1 */    push(&head, 7);    push(&head, 6);    push(&head, 5);    push(&head, 4);    push(&head, 3);    push(&head, 2);    push(&head, 1);     printf("Given Linked List\n");    printList(head);     /* Convert List to BST */    struct Node *root = sortedListToBST(head);    printf("\n PreOrder Traversal of constructed BST \n ");    preOrder(root);     return 0;}
class Node{    int data;    Node next, prev;     Node(int d)    {        data = d;        next = prev = null;    }} class LinkedList{    Node head;     /* This function counts the number of nodes in Linked List       and then calls sortedListToBSTRecur() to construct BST */    Node sortedListToBST()    {        /*Count the number of nodes in Linked List */        int n = countNodes(head);         /* Construct BST */        return sortedListToBSTRecur(n);    }     /* The main function that constructs balanced BST and       returns root of it.       n  --> No. of nodes in the Doubly Linked List */    Node sortedListToBSTRecur(int n)    {        /* Base Case */        if (n <= 0)            return null;         /* Recursively construct the left subtree */        Node left = sortedListToBSTRecur(n / 2);         /* head_ref now refers to middle node,           make middle node as root of BST*/        Node root = head;         // Set pointer to left subtree        root.prev = left;         /* Change head pointer of Linked List for parent           recursive calls */        head = head.next;         /* Recursively construct the right subtree and link it           with root. The number of nodes in right subtree  is           total nodes - nodes in left subtree - 1 (for root) */        root.next = sortedListToBSTRecur(n - n / 2 - 1);         return root;    }     /* UTILITY FUNCTIONS */    /* A utility function that returns count of nodes in a       given Linked List */    int countNodes(Node head)    {        int count = 0;        Node temp = head;        while (temp != null)        {            temp = temp.next;            count++;        }        return count;    }     /* Function to insert a node at the beginning of       the Doubly Linked List */    void push(int new_data)    {        /* allocate node */        Node new_node = new Node(new_data);         /* since we are adding at the beginning,           prev is always NULL */        new_node.prev = null;         /* link the old list off the new node */        new_node.next = head;         /* change prev of head node to new node */        if (head != null)            head.prev = new_node;         /* move the head to point to the new node */        head = new_node;    }     /* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */    void printList()    {        Node node = head;        while (node != null)        {            System.out.print(node.data + " ");            node = node.next;        }    }     /* A utility function to print preorder traversal of BST */    void preOrder(Node node)    {        if (node == null)            return;        System.out.print(node.data + " ");        preOrder(node.prev);        preOrder(node.next);    }     /* Driver program to test above functions */    public static void main(String[] args)    {        LinkedList llist = new LinkedList();         /* Let us create a sorted linked list to test the functions           Created linked list will be 7->6->5->4->3->2->1 */        llist.push(7);        llist.push(6);        llist.push(5);        llist.push(4);        llist.push(3);        llist.push(2);        llist.push(1);         System.out.println("Given Linked List ");        llist.printList();         /* Convert List to BST */        Node root = llist.sortedListToBST();        System.out.println("");        System.out.println("Pre-Order Traversal of constructed BST ");        llist.preOrder(root);    }}// This code has been contributed by Mayank Jaiswal(mayank_24)
using System;public class Node {  public int data;  public Node next, prev;   public Node(int d) {    data = d;    next = prev = null;  }} public class List {  Node head;   /*     * This function counts the number of nodes in Linked List and then calls     * sortedListToBSTRecur() to construct BST     */  Node sortedListToBST() {    /* Count the number of nodes in Linked List */    int n = countNodes(head);     /* Construct BST */    return sortedListToBSTRecur(n);  }   /*     * The main function that constructs balanced BST and returns root of it. n -->     * No. of nodes in the Doubly Linked List     */  Node sortedListToBSTRecur(int n) {    /* Base Case */    if (n <= 0)      return null;     /* Recursively construct the left subtree */    Node left = sortedListToBSTRecur(n / 2);     /*         * head_ref now refers to middle node, make middle node as root of BST         */    Node root = head;     // Set pointer to left subtree    root.prev = left;     /*         * Change head pointer of Linked List for parent recursive calls         */    head = head.next;     /*         * Recursively construct the right subtree and link it with root. The number of         * nodes in right subtree is total nodes - nodes in left subtree - 1 (for root)         */    root.next = sortedListToBSTRecur(n - n / 2 - 1);     return root;  }   /* UTILITY FUNCTIONS */  /*     * A utility function that returns count of nodes in a given Linked List     */  int countNodes(Node head) {    int count = 0;    Node temp = head;    while (temp != null) {      temp = temp.next;      count++;    }    return count;  }   /*     * Function to insert a node at the beginning of the Doubly Linked List     */  void Push(int new_data) {    /* allocate node */    Node new_node = new Node(new_data);     /*         * since we are adding at the beginning, prev is always NULL         */    new_node.prev = null;     /* link the old list off the new node */    new_node.next = head;     /* change prev of head node to new node */    if (head != null)      head.prev = new_node;     /* move the head to point to the new node */    head = new_node;  }   /* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */  void printList() {    Node node = head;    while (node != null) {      Console.Write(node.data + " ");      node = node.next;    }  }   /* A utility function to print preorder traversal of BST */  void preOrder(Node node) {    if (node == null)      return;    Console.Write(node.data + " ");    preOrder(node.prev);    preOrder(node.next);  }   /* Driver program to test above functions */  public static void Main(String[] args) {    List llist = new List();     /*         * Let us create a sorted linked list to test the functions Created linked list         * will be 7->6->5->4->3->2->1         */    llist.Push(7);    llist.Push(6);    llist.Push(5);    llist.Push(4);    llist.Push(3);    llist.Push(2);    llist.Push(1);     Console.WriteLine("Given Linked List ");    llist.printList();     /* Convert List to BST */    Node root = llist.sortedListToBST();    Console.WriteLine("");    Console.WriteLine("Pre-Order Traversal of constructed BST ");    llist.preOrder(root);  }} // This code is contributed by Rajput-Ji
<script> class Node{    constructor(d)    {        this.data=d;        this.next=this.prev=null;    }} let head; /* This function counts the number of nodes in Linked List       and then calls sortedListToBSTRecur() to construct BST */function sortedListToBST(){    /*Count the number of nodes in Linked List */        let n = countNodes(head);          /* Construct BST */        return sortedListToBSTRecur(n);} /* The main function that constructs balanced BST and       returns root of it.       n  --> No. of nodes in the Doubly Linked List */function sortedListToBSTRecur(n){    /* Base Case */        if (n <= 0)            return null;          /* Recursively construct the left subtree */        let left = sortedListToBSTRecur(Math.floor(n / 2));          /* head_ref now refers to middle node,           make middle node as root of BST*/        let root = head;          // Set pointer to left subtree        root.prev = left;          /* Change head pointer of Linked List for parent           recursive calls */        head = head.next;          /* Recursively construct the right subtree and link it           with root. The number of nodes in right subtree  is           total nodes - nodes in left subtree - 1 (for root) */        root.next = sortedListToBSTRecur(n - Math.floor(n / 2) - 1);          return root;} /* UTILITY FUNCTIONS */    /* A utility function that returns count of nodes in a       given Linked List */function countNodes(head){    let count = 0;        let temp = head;        while (temp != null)        {            temp = temp.next;            count++;        }        return count;} /* Function to insert a node at the beginning of       the Doubly Linked List */function push(new_data){    /* allocate node */        let new_node = new Node(new_data);          /* since we are adding at the beginning,           prev is always NULL */        new_node.prev = null;          /* link the old list off the new node */        new_node.next = head;          /* change prev of head node to new node */        if (head != null)            head.prev = new_node;          /* move the head to point to the new node */        head = new_node;} /* Function to print nodes in a given linked list */function printList(){    let node = head;        while (node != null)        {            document.write(node.data + " ");            node = node.next;        }} /* A utility function to print preorder traversal of BST */function preOrder(node){    if (node == null)            return;        document.write(node.data + " ");        preOrder(node.prev);        preOrder(node.next);} /* Driver program to test above functions *//* Let us create a sorted linked list to test the functions           Created linked list will be 7->6->5->4->3->2->1 */push(7);push(6);push(5);push(4);push(3);push(2);push(1); document.write("Given Linked List <br>");printList(); /* Convert List to BST */let root = sortedListToBST();document.write("<br>");document.write("Pre-Order Traversal of constructed BST <br>");preOrder(root);     // This code is contributed by avanitrachhadiya2155</script>
Output: 
Given Linked List 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Pre-Order Traversal of constructed BST 
4 2 1 3 6 5 7 
Time Complexity: O(n)
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rathbhupendra
Akanksha_Rai
gauravbaghel2k
simranarora5sos
avanitrachhadiya2155
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Rajput-Ji
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