https://leetcode.com/problems/spiral-matrix
It’s possible to solve in O(1) space but this is more readable.
Algorithm
class Solution:
# Time: O(n)
# Space: O(n) for the seen set
def spiralOrder(self, matrix: List[List[int]]) -> List[int]:
result = []
# A set of visited cells
seen = set([])
# Possible directions (with an index)
deltas = [(1, 0), (0, 1), (-1, 0), (0, -1)]
di = 0
# Cursor
x = 0
y = 0
total_len = len(matrix)*len(matrix[0])
while len(result) < total_len:
# While out of bounds or in seen cells
while (x, y) in seen or x < 0 or y < 0 or y >= len(matrix) or x >= len(matrix[0]):
# Backtrack
x -= dx
y -= dy
# Change direction
di = (di + 1) % 4
# Advance
dx, dy = deltas[di]
x += dx
y += dy
# Otherwise advance in the current direction
seen.add((x, y))
result.append(matrix[y][x])
dx, dy = deltas[di]
x += dx
y += dy
return result