Search strings with the help of given pattern in an Array of strings

Last Updated : 01 Mar, 2023

Prerequisite: Trie | (Insert and Search)

Given an array of strings words[] and a partial string str, the task is to find the strings of the given form str from the given array of string.

A partial string is a string with some missing characters. For Example: "..ta", is a string of length 4 ending with "ta" and having two missing character at index 0 and 1.

Examples:

Input: words[] = ["moon", "soon", "month", "date", "data"], str = "..on" Output: ["moon", "soon"] Explanation: "moon" and "soon" matches the given partial string "..on" Input: words[] = ["date", "data", "month"], str = "d.t." Output: ["date", "data"] Explanation: "date" and "data" matches the given partial string "d.t."

Approach:

Structure of a Trie Node: The idea is to use Trie to solve the given problem Below are the steps and structures of the trie:

struct TrieNode 
{
     struct TrieNode* children[26];
     bool endOfWord;
};

The following picture explains the construction of trie using keys given in the example above

           root
      /     |      \
     d      m       s
     |      |       |
     a      o       o
     |      |  \    |
     t      o   n   o
  /  |      |   |   |
 e   a      n   t   n
                |
                h

Every node is a TrieNode with pointer links to subsequent children according to the word added. Value at other pointer positions where characters are not present are marked by NULL. endOfWord are represented by blue color or leaf nodes.

Steps:

Insert all the available words into the trie structure using the addWord() method.
Every character of the word to be added is inserted as an individual TrieNode. The children array is an array of 26 TrieNode pointers.
Each index representing a character from the English alphabet. If a new word is added, then for each character, it must be checked if the TrieNode pointer for that alphabet exists, then proceed further with next character, if not, a new TrieNode is created and the pointer is made to point this new node and the process repeats for next character at this new node. endOfWord is made true for the TrieNode pointed by the last character's TrieNode pointer.
For searching the key check for the presence of TrieNode at the index marked by the character. If present, we move down the branch and repeat the process for the next character. Similarly searching for the partial string if a '.' is found, we look for all available TrieNode pointer in the children array and proceed further with each character, identified by an index, occupying the position of '.' once.
If the pointer location is empty at any point, we return not found. Else check for endOfWord at the last TrieNode, if false, we return not found, else word is found.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program for the above approach
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Dictionary Class
class Dictionary {
public:
    // Initialize your data structure
    Dictionary* children[26];
    bool endOfWord;

    // Constructor
    Dictionary()
    {
        this->endOfWord = false;
        for (int i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
            this->children[i] = NULL;
        }
    }

    // Adds a word into a data structure
    void addWord(string word)
    {
        // Crawl pointer points the object
        // in reference
        Dictionary* pCrawl = this;

        // Traverse the given array of words
        for (int i = 0; i < word.length(); i++) {
            int index = word[i] - 'a';
            if (!pCrawl->children[index])
                pCrawl->children[index]
                    = new Dictionary();

            pCrawl = pCrawl->children[index];
        }
        pCrawl->endOfWord = true;
    }

    // Function that returns if the word
    // is in the data structure or not

    // A word can contain a dot character '.'
    // to represent any one letter
    void search(string word, bool& found,
                string curr_found = "",
                int pos = 0)
    {
        Dictionary* pCrawl = this;

        if (pos == word.length()) {
            if (pCrawl->endOfWord) {
                cout << "Found: "
                     << curr_found << "\n";
                found = true;
            }
            return;
        }

        if (word[pos] == '.') {

            // Iterate over every letter and
            // proceed further by replacing
            // the character in place of '.'
            for (int i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
                if (pCrawl->children[i]) {
                    pCrawl
                        ->children[i]
                        ->search(word,
                                 found,
                                 curr_found + char('a' + i),
                                 pos + 1);
                }
            }
        }
        else {

            // Check if pointer at character
            // position is available,
            // then proceed
            if (pCrawl->children[word[pos] - 'a']) {
                pCrawl
                    ->children[word[pos] - 'a']
                    ->search(word,
                             found,
                             curr_found + word[pos],
                             pos + 1);
            }
        }
        return;
    }

    // Utility function for search operation
    void searchUtil(string word)
    {
        Dictionary* pCrawl = this;

        cout << "\nSearching for \""
             << word << "\"\n";
        bool found = false;
        pCrawl->search(word, found);
        if (!found)
            cout << "No Word Found...!!\n";
    }
};

// Function that search the given pattern
void searchPattern(string arr[], int N,
                   string str)
{
    // Object of the class Dictionary
    Dictionary* obj = new Dictionary();

    for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) {
        obj->addWord(arr[i]);
    }

    // Search pattern
    obj->searchUtil(str);
}

// Driver Code
int main()
{
    // Given an array of words
    string arr[] = { "data", "date", "month" };

    int N = 3;

    // Given pattern
    string str = "d.t.";

    // Function Call
    searchPattern(arr, N, str);
}

Java

// Java program for the above approach
import java.util.Vector;

// Dictionary Class
public class Dictionary
{

  // Initialize your data structure
  private Dictionary[] children;
  private boolean endOfWord;

  // Constructor
  public Dictionary() {
    this.endOfWord = false;
    this.children = new Dictionary[26];
    for (int i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
      this.children[i] = null;
    }
  }

  // Adds a word into a data structure
  public void addWord(String word) {
    // Crawl pointer points the object
    // in reference
    Dictionary pCrawl = this;
    // Traverse the given array of words
    for (int i = 0; i < word.length(); i++) {
      int index = word.charAt(i) - 'a';
      if (pCrawl.children[index] == null) {
        pCrawl.children[index] = new Dictionary();
      }
      pCrawl = pCrawl.children[index];
    }
    pCrawl.endOfWord = true;
  }

  // Function that returns if the word
  // is in the data structure or not

  // A word can contain a dot character '.'
  // to represent any one letter
  public void search(String word, boolean[] found, String curr_found, int pos) {
    Dictionary pCrawl = this;
    if (pos == word.length()) {
      if (pCrawl.endOfWord) {
        System.out.println("Found: " + curr_found);
        found[0] = true;
      }
      return;
    }
    if (word.charAt(pos) == '.') {
      // Iterate over every letter and
      // proceed further by replacing
      // the character in place of '.'
      for (int i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
        if (pCrawl.children[i] != null) {
          pCrawl.children[i].search(word, found, curr_found + (char)('a' + i), pos + 1);
        }
      }
    } else {
      // Check if pointer at character
      // position is available,
      // then proceed
      if (pCrawl.children[word.charAt(pos) - 'a'] != null) {
        pCrawl.children[word.charAt(pos) - 'a'].search(word, found, curr_found + word.charAt(pos), pos + 1);
      }
    }
  }

  // Utility function for search operation
  public void searchUtil(String word) {
    boolean[] found = {false};
    System.out.println("Searching for \"" + word + "\"");
    this.search(word, found, "", 0);
    if (!found[0]) {
      System.out.println("No Word Found...!!");
    }
  }

  // Function that search the given pattern
  public static void searchPattern(Vector<String> words, String str) {
    // Object of the class Dictionary
    Dictionary obj = new Dictionary();
    for (String word : words) {
      obj.addWord(word);
    }
    // Search pattern
    obj.searchUtil(str);
  }

  // Driver Code
  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    
    // Given an array of words
    Vector<String> words = new Vector<String>();
    words.add("data");
    words.add("date");
    words.add("month");

    // Given pattern
    String str = "d.t.";

    // Function Call
    searchPattern(words, str);
  }
}

// This code is contributed by Aman Kumar.

Python3

#Python code for the above approach
# Dictionary Class
class Dictionary:
    # Initialize your data structure
    def __init__(self):
        self.children = [None] * 26
        self.endOfWord = False

    # Adds a word into a data structure
    def addWord(self, word):
        # Crawl pointer points the object
        # in reference
        pCrawl = self

        # Traverse the given array of words
        for i in range(len(word)):
            index = ord(word[i]) - ord('a')
            if not pCrawl.children[index]:
                pCrawl.children[index] = Dictionary()

            pCrawl = pCrawl.children[index]
        pCrawl.endOfWord = True

    # Function that returns if the word
    # is in the data structure or not

    # A word can contain a dot character '.'
    # to represent any one letter
    def search(self, word, found, curr_found="", pos=0):
        pCrawl = self

        if pos == len(word):
            if pCrawl.endOfWord:
                print("Found: " + curr_found)
                found[0] = True
            return

        if word[pos] == '.':
            # Iterate over every letter and
            # proceed further by replacing
            # the character in place of '.'
            for i in range(26):
                if pCrawl.children[i]:
                    pCrawl.children[i].search(
                        word, found,
                        curr_found + chr(ord('a') + i),
                        pos + 1)
        else:
            # Check if pointer at character
            # position is available,
            # then proceed
            if pCrawl.children[ord(word[pos]) - ord('a')]:
                pCrawl.children[ord(word[pos]) - ord('a')].search(
                    word, found,                    curr_found + word[pos],
                    pos + 1)
        return

    # Utility function for search operation
    def searchUtil(self, word):
        pCrawl = self

        print("\nSearching for \"" + word + "\"")
        found = [False]
        pCrawl.search(word, found)
        if not found[0]:
            print("No Word Found...!!")

# Function that search the given pattern
def searchPattern(arr, N, str):
    # Object of the class Dictionary
    obj = Dictionary()

    for i in range(N):
        obj.addWord(arr[i])

    # Search pattern
    obj.searchUtil(str)

# Given an array of words
arr = ["data", "date", "month"]

N = 3

# Given pattern
str = "d.t."

# Function Call
searchPattern(arr, N, str)
#This code is contributed by Potta Lokesh

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
// Dictionary Class
class Dictionary
{
   // Initialize your data structure
    public Dictionary[] children;
    public bool endOfWord;
// Constructor
    public Dictionary()
    {
        this.endOfWord = false;
        children = new Dictionary[26];
        for (int i = 0; i < 26; i++)
        {
            children[i] = null;
        }
    }
  // Adds a word into a data structure

    public void AddWord(string word)
    { // Crawl pointer points the object
    // in reference
        Dictionary pCrawl = this;
 // Traverse the given array of words
        for (int i = 0; i < word.Length; i++)
        {
            int index = word[i] - 'a';
            if (pCrawl.children[index] == null)
                pCrawl.children[index] = new Dictionary();

            pCrawl = pCrawl.children[index];
        }
        pCrawl.endOfWord = true;
    }
// Function that returns if the word
  // is in the data structure or not

  // A word can contain a dot character '.'
  // to represent any one letter
    public void Search(string word, ref bool found, string currFound = "", int pos = 0)
    {
        Dictionary pCrawl = this;

        if (pos == word.Length)
        {
            if (pCrawl.endOfWord)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Found: " + currFound);
                found = true;
            }
            return;
        }
       // Iterate over every letter and
      // proceed further by replacing
      // the character in place of '.'

        if (word[pos] == '.')
        {
            for (int i = 0; i < 26; i++)
            {
                if (pCrawl.children[i] != null)
                {
                    pCrawl.children[i].Search(word, ref found, currFound + (char)('a' + i), pos + 1);
                }
            }
        }
        else
        {
            if (pCrawl.children[word[pos] - 'a'] != null)
            {
                pCrawl.children[word[pos] - 'a'].Search(word, ref found, currFound + word[pos], pos + 1);
            }
        }
    }

    public void SearchUtil(string word)
    {
        Dictionary pCrawl = this;

        Console.WriteLine("\nSearching for \"" + word + "\"");
        bool found = false;
        pCrawl.Search(word, ref found);
        if (!found)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("No Word Found...!!");
        }
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string[] arr = { "data", "date", "month" };
        int N = 3;
        string str = "d.t.";
        SearchPattern(arr, N, str);
    }

    static void SearchPattern(string[] arr, int N, string str)
    {
        Dictionary obj = new Dictionary();

        for (int i = 0; i < N; i++)
        {
            obj.AddWord(arr[i]);
        }
 // Function Call
        obj.SearchUtil(str);
    }
}

JavaScript

// Dictionary Class
class Dictionary {
// Initialize your data structure
constructor() {
this.children = new Array(26).fill(null);
this.endOfWord = false;
}

// Adds a word into a data structure
addWord(word) {
// Crawl pointer points the object
// in reference
let pCrawl = this;


// Traverse the given array of words
for (let i = 0; i < word.length; i++) {
  const index = word[i].charCodeAt(0) - "a".charCodeAt(0);
  if (!pCrawl.children[index]) {
    pCrawl.children[index] = new Dictionary();
  }

  pCrawl = pCrawl.children[index];
}
pCrawl.endOfWord = true;
}

// Function that returns if the word
// is in the data structure or not

// A word can contain a dot character '.'
// to represent any one letter
search(word, found, curr_found="", pos=0) {
let pCrawl = this;


if (pos === word.length) {
  if (pCrawl.endOfWord) {
    console.log("Found: " + curr_found + "<br>");
    found[0] = true;
  }
  return;
}

if (word[pos] === '.') {
  // Iterate over every letter and
  // proceed further by replacing
  // the character in place of '.'
  for (let i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
    if (pCrawl.children[i]) {
      pCrawl.children[i].search(
        word,
        found,
        curr_found + String.fromCharCode("a".charCodeAt(0) + i),
        pos + 1
      );
    }
  }
} else {
  // Check if pointer at character
  // position is available,
  // then proceed
  if (pCrawl.children[word[pos].charCodeAt(0) - "a".charCodeAt(0)]) {
    pCrawl.children[word[pos].charCodeAt(0) - "a".charCodeAt(0)].search(
      word,
      found,
      curr_found + word[pos],
      pos + 1
    );
  }
}
return;
}

// Utility function for search operation
searchUtil(word) {
let pCrawl = this;


console.log(`\nSearching for "${word}" <br>`);
let found = [false];
pCrawl.search(word, found);
if (!found[0]) {
  console.log("No Word Found...!!");
}
}
}

// Function that search the given pattern
function searchPattern(arr, N, str) {
// Object of the class Dictionary
let obj = new Dictionary();

for (let i = 0; i < N; i++) {
obj.addWord(arr[i]);
}

// Search pattern
obj.searchUtil(str);
}

// Given an array of words
let arr = ["data", "date", "month"];

let N = 3;

// Given pattern
let str = "d.t.";

// Function Call
searchPattern(arr, N, str);

Output:

Searching for "d.t."
Found: data
Found: date

Time Complexity: O(M*log(N)), where N is the number of strings and M is length of the given pattern
Auxiliary Space: O(26*M)

Search in an array of strings where non-empty strings are sorted

chitrankmishra

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Search strings with the help of given pattern in an Array of strings

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