Get Length of Linked List in DSA Typescript - Interactive Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to initialize the length counter to zero.

DSA Typescript

let length = [1];

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aundefined

B1

Cnull

D0

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Starting length from 1 instead of 0.

We start counting length from zero because the list might be empty.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to move to the next node in the linked list.

DSA Typescript

current = current[1];

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A.next

Bnext

C->next

D[next]

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '->' which is not valid in TypeScript.

Using brackets instead of dot notation.

In TypeScript, to access the next node, use dot notation: current.next

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the while loop condition to correctly check for the end of the list.

DSA Typescript

while (current[1] null) {
  length++;
  current = current.next;
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A==

B=

C!=

D===

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '=' which assigns instead of compares.

Using '==' or '===' instead of '!='.

The loop should continue while current is not null, so use '!='.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to complete the function that returns the length of the linked list.

DSA Typescript

function getLength(head: ListNode | null): number {
  let length = 0;
  let current = [1];
  while (current [2] null) {
    length++;
    current = current.next;
  }
  return length;
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Ahead

Bhead.next

C!=

D==

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Starting from head.next skips the first node.

Using '==' instead of '!=' in the loop condition.

Start from head and loop while current is not null.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a concise function that returns the length of the linked list using a for loop.

DSA Typescript

function getLength(head: ListNode | null): number {
  let length = 0;
  for (let current = [1]; current [2] null; current = current.[3]) {
    length++;
  }
  return length;
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Ahead

B!=

Cnext

Dhead.next

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Starting from head.next skips first node.

Using '==' instead of '!=' in loop condition.

Using 'current.next' instead of 'next' in loop update.

Initialize current with head, loop while current is not null, and move to current.next each iteration.

Practice

1. What does the function getLength(head: ListNode | null): number typically return when given the head of a linked list?

easy

A. The last node in the linked list

B. The number of nodes in the linked list

C. The value of the first node

D. The sum of all node values

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the function purpose

   The function named getLength is designed to count nodes, so it returns the number of nodes in the list.

2. Step 2: Confirm what is returned

   Since it counts nodes, it returns the total count, not values or nodes themselves.

3. Final Answer:

   The number of nodes in the linked list -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Function name and return type indicate count [OK]

Hint: Function named getLength returns count of nodes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing length with node value
• Thinking it returns the last node
• Assuming it sums node values

2. Which of the following TypeScript code snippets correctly initializes a variable count to start counting nodes in a linked list?

easy

A. let count = 0;

B. let count = null;

C. let count = head;

D. let count = undefined;

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct initial value for counting

   Counting nodes requires a number starting at zero, so count should be initialized to 0.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   Initializing to null, head, or undefined is incorrect for counting.

3. Final Answer:

   let count = 0; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Counting starts at zero [OK]

Hint: Start counting nodes from zero [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Initializing count to null or undefined
• Using head node as count
• Not initializing count at all

3. What will be the output of the following TypeScript code?

class ListNode {
  val: number;
  next: ListNode | null;
  constructor(val: number) {
    this.val = val;
    this.next = null;
  }
}

function getLength(head: ListNode | null): number {
  let count = 0;
  let current = head;
  while (current !== null) {
    count++;
    current = current.next;
  }
  return count;
}

const node1 = new ListNode(10);
const node2 = new ListNode(20);
const node3 = new ListNode(30);
node1.next = node2;
node2.next = node3;

console.log(getLength(node1));

medium

A. 3

B. 2

C. 0

D. Error

Solution

1. Step 1: Trace the linked list nodes

   There are three nodes linked: node1 -> node2 -> node3 -> null.

2. Step 2: Count nodes in the while loop

   The loop increments count for each node until current is null, so count becomes 3.

3. Final Answer:

   3 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   3 nodes counted [OK]

Hint: Count increments once per node until null [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Counting only 2 nodes by missing last
• Returning zero if loop not entered
• Syntax errors causing runtime error

4. Identify the error in this TypeScript function to get linked list length:

function getLength(head: ListNode | null): number {
  let count = 0;
  let current = head;
  while (current.next !== null) {
    count++;
    current = current.next;
  }
  return count;
}

medium

A. It counts nodes twice

B. It will cause an infinite loop

C. It throws a syntax error

D. It misses counting the last node

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the while loop condition

   The loop runs while current.next !== null, so it stops before the last node.

2. Step 2: Understand counting effect

   Because the last node's next is null, it is not counted, so length is one less than actual.

3. Final Answer:

   It misses counting the last node -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Loop condition excludes last node [OK]

Hint: Loop until current is null, not current.next [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using current.next in loop condition
• Not counting last node
• Assuming loop counts all nodes

5. Given a linked list where each node has a val and next, how would you modify the getLength function to return 0 if the list is empty and the correct length otherwise?

hard

A. Return length as 1 if head is null

B. Start count at 1 and loop while current is not null

C. Check if head is null before loop; return 0 if true, else count nodes

D. Use a for loop from 0 to head.val

Solution

1. Step 1: Handle empty list case

   Check if head is null before counting; if yes, return 0 immediately.

2. Step 2: Count nodes if list is not empty

   If head is not null, loop through nodes incrementing count until current is null.

3. Final Answer:

   Check if head is null before loop; return 0 if true, else count nodes -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Empty list returns 0, else counts nodes [OK]

Hint: Return 0 if head is null before counting [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Starting count at 1 incorrectly
• Returning 1 for empty list
• Using node value instead of node presence