Sort the Bitonic Doubly Linked List Using Constant Space Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report Given a biotonic doubly linked list. The task is to sort the given linked list. A biotonic doubly linked list is a doubly linked list that is first increasing and then decreasing. A strictly increasing or a strictly decreasing list is also a biotonic doubly linked list.Examples:Input: Output: 3 <-> 8 <-> 14 <-> 17 <-> 20Input: Output: 1 <-> 2 <-> 4 <-> 5 <-> 6 <-> 7 <-> 10 <-> 12Approach:Find the first node in the list which is smaller than its previous node. Let it be current. If no such node is present then list is already sorted. Else split the list into two lists, first starting from head node till the current’s previous node and second starting from current node till the end of the list. Reverse the second doubly linked list. Refer Reverse a Doubly Linked List post. Now merge the first and second sorted doubly linked list. Refer merge procedure Merge Sort for Doubly Linked List post. The final merged list is the required sorted doubly linked list. C++ // C++ implementation to sort the // biotonic doubly linked list #include <bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std; class Node { public: int data; Node* next; Node* prev; Node(int x) { data = x; next = nullptr; prev = nullptr; } }; // Function to reverse a Doubly Linked List Node* reverse(Node* headRef) { Node* temp = nullptr; Node* currNode = headRef; // Swap next and prev for all nodes // of doubly linked list while (currNode != nullptr) { temp = currNode->prev; currNode->prev = currNode->next; currNode->next = temp; currNode = currNode->prev; } // Before changing head, check for the cases // like empty list and list with only one node if (temp != nullptr) headRef = temp->prev; return headRef; } // Function to merge two sorted doubly linked lists Node* merge(Node* first, Node* second) { // If first linked list is empty if (!first) return second; // If second linked list is empty if (!second) return first; // Create a dummy node to act as the head // of the merged list Node* dummy = new Node(0); Node* tail = dummy; while (first && second) { // Pick the smaller value if (first->data < second->data) { tail->next = first; first->prev = tail; first = first->next; } else { tail->next = second; second->prev = tail; second = second->next; } tail = tail->next; } // Append the remaining nodes of the // non-empty list if (first) { tail->next = first; first->prev = tail; } else { tail->next = second; second->prev = tail; } // Adjust the head of the merged list Node* mergedHead = dummy->next; mergedHead->prev = nullptr; return mergedHead; } // Function to sort a bitonic doubly linked list Node* sort(Node* head) { // If list is empty or if it contains a single // node only if (head == nullptr || head->next == nullptr) return head; Node* current = head->next; while (current != nullptr) { // If true, then 'current' is the first node // which is smaller than its previous node if (current->data < current->prev->data) break; // Move to the next node current = current->next; } // If true, then list is already sorted if (current == nullptr) return head; // Split into two lists, one starting with 'head' // and the other starting with 'current' current->prev->next = nullptr; current->prev = nullptr; // Reverse the list starting with 'current' current = reverse(current); // Merge the two lists and return the // final merged doubly linked list return merge(head, current); } // Function to print nodes in a given doubly // linked list void printList(Node* head) { while (head != nullptr) { cout << head->data << " "; head = head->next; } } int main() { // Create the doubly linked list: // 2<->12<->11<->1 Node* head = new Node(2); head->next = new Node(12); head->next->prev = head; head->next->next = new Node(11); head->next->next->prev = head->next; head->next->next->next = new Node(1); head->next->next->next->prev = head->next->next; head = sort(head); printList(head); return 0; } C // C implementation to sort the // biotonic doubly linked list #include <stdlib.h> struct Node { int data; struct Node* next; struct Node* prev; }; struct Node* createNode(int newdata); // Function to reverse a Doubly Linked List struct Node* reverse(struct Node* headRef) { struct Node* temp = NULL; struct Node* currNode = headRef; // Swap next and prev for all nodes // of doubly linked list while (currNode != NULL) { temp = currNode->prev; currNode->prev = currNode->next; currNode->next = temp; currNode = currNode->prev; } // Before changing head, check for the cases // like empty list and list with only one node if (temp != NULL) headRef = temp->prev; return headRef; } // Function to merge two sorted doubly linked lists struct Node* merge(struct Node* first, struct Node* second) { // If first linked list is empty if (!first) return second; // If second linked list is empty if (!second) return first; // Create a dummy node to act as the // head of the merged list struct Node* dummy = createNode(0); struct Node* tail = dummy; while (first && second) { // Pick the smaller value if (first->data < second->data) { tail->next = first; first->prev = tail; first = first->next; } else { tail->next = second; second->prev = tail; second = second->next; } tail = tail->next; } // Append the remaining nodes of the non-empty list if (first) { tail->next = first; first->prev = tail; } else { tail->next = second; second->prev = tail; } // Adjust the head of the merged list struct Node* mergedHead = dummy->next; mergedHead->prev = NULL; return mergedHead; } // Function to sort a bitonic doubly linked list struct Node* sort(struct Node* head) { // If list is empty or if it contains a single // node only if (head == NULL || head->next == NULL) return head; struct Node* currNode = head->next; while (currNode != NULL) { // If true, then 'currNode' is the first node // which is smaller than its previous node if (currNode->data < currNode->prev->data) break; // Move to the next node currNode = currNode->next; } // If true, then list is already sorted if (currNode == NULL) return head; // Split into two lists, one starting with 'head' // and the other starting with 'currNode' currNode->prev->next = NULL; currNode->prev = NULL; // Reverse the list starting with 'currNode' currNode = reverse(currNode); // Merge the two lists and return the // final merged doubly linked list return merge(head, currNode); } // Function to print nodes in a given doubly // linked list void printList(struct Node* head) { while (head != NULL) { printf("%d ", head->data); head = head->next; } } struct Node* createNode(int newdata) { struct Node* newNode = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node)); newNode->data = newdata; newNode->next = NULL; newNode->prev = NULL; return newNode; } int main() { // Create the doubly linked list: // 2<->12<->11<->1 struct Node* head = createNode(2); head->next = createNode(12); head->next->prev = head; head->next->next = createNode(11); head->next->next->prev = head->next; head->next->next->next = createNode(1); head->next->next->next->prev = head->next->next; head = sort(head); printList(head); return 0; } Java // Java implementation to sort the // biotonic doubly linked list class Node { int data; Node next; Node prev; Node(int x) { data = x; next = null; prev = null; } } class GfG { // Function to reverse a Doubly Linked List static Node reverse(Node headRef) { Node temp = null; Node currNode = headRef; // Swap next and prev for all nodes of doubly linked list while (currNode != null) { temp = currNode.prev; currNode.prev = currNode.next; currNode.next = temp; currNode = currNode.prev; } // Before changing head, check for the cases like // empty list and list with only one node if (temp != null) headRef = temp.prev; return headRef; } // Function to merge two sorted doubly linked lists static Node merge(Node first, Node second) { // If first linked list is empty if (first == null) return second; // If second linked list is empty if (second == null) return first; // Create a dummy node to act as the head // of the merged list Node dummy = new Node(0); Node tail = dummy; while (first != null && second != null) { // Pick the smaller value if (first.data < second.data) { tail.next = first; first.prev = tail; first = first.next; } else { tail.next = second; second.prev = tail; second = second.next; } tail = tail.next; } // Append the remaining nodes of the non-empty list if (first != null) { tail.next = first; first.prev = tail; } else { tail.next = second; second.prev = tail; } // Adjust the head of the merged list Node mergedHead = dummy.next; mergedHead.prev = null; return mergedHead; } // Function to sort a bitonic doubly linked list static Node sort(Node head) { // If list is empty or if it contains a single node only if (head == null || head.next == null) return head; Node currNode = head.next; while (currNode != null) { // If true, then 'currNode' is the first node which // is smaller than its previous node if (currNode.data < currNode.prev.data) break; // Move to the next node currNode = currNode.next; } // If true, then list is already sorted if (currNode == null) return head; // Split into two lists, one starting with 'head' // and the other starting with 'currNode' currNode.prev.next = null; currNode.prev = null; // Reverse the list starting with 'currNode' currNode = reverse(currNode); // Merge the two lists and return the final merged // doubly linked list return merge(head, currNode); } static void printList(Node head) { while (head != null) { System.out.print(head.data + " "); head = head.next; } System.out.println(); } public static void main(String[] args) { // Create the doubly linked list: // 2<->12<->11<->1 Node head = new Node(2); head.next = new Node(12); head.next.prev = head; head.next.next = new Node(11); head.next.next.prev = head.next; head.next.next.next = new Node(1); head.next.next.next.prev = head.next.next; head = sort(head); printList(head); } } Python # Python implementation to sort the # biotonic doubly linked list class Node: def __init__(self, data): self.data = data self.next = None self.prev = None # Function to reverse a Doubly Linked List def reverse(head_ref): temp = None currNode = head_ref # Swap next and prev for all nodes # of doubly linked list while currNode is not None: temp = currNode.prev currNode.prev = currNode.next currNode.next = temp currNode = currNode.prev # Before changing head, check for the cases # like empty list and list with only one node if temp is not None: head_ref = temp.prev return head_ref # Function to merge two sorted doubly linked lists def merge(first, second): # If first linked list is empty if not first: return second # If second linked list is empty if not second: return first # Create a dummy node to act as the # head of the merged list dummy = Node(0) tail = dummy while first and second: # Pick the smaller value if first.data < second.data: tail.next = first first.prev = tail first = first.next else: tail.next = second second.prev = tail second = second.next tail = tail.next # Append the remaining nodes of the non-empty list if first: tail.next = first first.prev = tail else: tail.next = second if second: second.prev = tail # Adjust the head of the merged list merged_head = dummy.next merged_head.prev = None return merged_head # Function to sort a bitonic doubly linked list def sort(head): # If list is empty or if it contains a single # node only if head is None or head.next is None: return head currNode = head.next while currNode is not None: # If true, then 'currNode' is the first node # which is smaller than its previous node if currNode.data < currNode.prev.data: break # Move to the next node currNode = currNode.next # If true, then list is already sorted if currNode is None: return head # Split into two lists, one starting with 'head' # and the other starting with 'currNode' currNode.prev.next = None currNode.prev = None # Reverse the list starting with 'currNode' currNode = reverse(currNode) # Merge the two lists and return the # final merged doubly linked list return merge(head, currNode) def printList(head): while head is not None: print(head.data, end=" ") head = head.next if __name__ == "__main__": # Create the doubly linked list: # 2<->12<->11<->1 head = Node(2) head.next = Node(12) head.next.prev = head head.next.next = Node(11) head.next.next.prev = head.next head.next.next.next = Node(1) head.next.next.next.prev = head.next.next head = sort(head) printList(head) C# // C# implementation to sort the // biotonic doubly linked list class Node { public int data; public Node next; public Node prev; public Node(int x) { data = x; next = null; prev = null; } } class GfG { // Function to reverse a Doubly Linked List static Node Reverse(Node headRef) { Node temp = null; Node currNode = headRef; // Swap next and prev for all nodes of // doubly linked list while (currNode != null) { temp = currNode.prev; currNode.prev = currNode.next; currNode.next = temp; currNode = currNode.prev; } // Before changing head, check for the cases like // empty list and list with only one node if (temp != null) headRef = temp.prev; return headRef; } // Function to merge two sorted doubly linked lists static Node Merge(Node first, Node second) { // If first linked list is empty if (first == null) return second; // If second linked list is empty if (second == null) return first; // Create a dummy node to act as the head // of the merged list Node dummy = new Node(0); Node tail = dummy; while (first != null && second != null) { // Pick the smaller value if (first.data < second.data) { tail.next = first; first.prev = tail; first = first.next; } else { tail.next = second; second.prev = tail; second = second.next; } tail = tail.next; } // Append the remaining nodes of the // non-empty list if (first != null) { tail.next = first; first.prev = tail; } else { tail.next = second; second.prev = tail; } // Adjust the head of the merged list Node mergedHead = dummy.next; mergedHead.prev = null; return mergedHead; } // Function to sort a bitonic doubly linked list static Node Sort(Node head) { // If list is empty or if it contains a // single node only if (head == null || head.next == null) return head; Node currNode = head.next; while (currNode != null) { // If true, then 'currNode' is the first node // which is smaller than its previous node if (currNode.data < currNode.prev.data) break; // Move to the next node currNode = currNode.next; } // If true, then list is already sorted if (currNode == null) return head; // Split into two lists, one starting with // 'head' and the other starting with 'currNode' currNode.prev.next = null; currNode.prev = null; // Reverse the list starting with 'currNode' currNode = Reverse(currNode); // Merge the two lists and return the // final merged doubly linked list return Merge(head, currNode); } static void PrintList(Node head) { while (head != null) { System.Console.Write(head.data + " "); head = head.next; } System.Console.WriteLine(); } static void Main(string[] args) { // Create the doubly linked list: // 2<->12<->11<->1 Node head = new Node(2); head.next = new Node(12); head.next.prev = head; head.next.next = new Node(11); head.next.next.prev = head.next; head.next.next.next = new Node(1); head.next.next.next.prev = head.next.next; head = Sort(head); PrintList(head); } } JavaScript // Javascript implementation to sort the // biotonic doubly linked list class Node { constructor(data) { this.data = data; this.next = null; this.prev = null; } } // Function to reverse a Doubly Linked List function reverse(headRef) { let temp = null; let currNode = headRef; // Swap next and prev for all nodes // of doubly linked list while (currNode !== null) { temp = currNode.prev; currNode.prev = currNode.next; currNode.next = temp; currNode = currNode.prev; } // Before changing head, check for the cases // like empty list and list with only one node if (temp !== null) { headRef = temp.prev; } return headRef; } // Function to merge two sorted doubly linked lists function merge(first, second) { // If first linked list is empty if (!first) return second; // If second linked list is empty if (!second) return first; // Create a dummy node to act as the // head of the merged list let dummy = new Node(0); let tail = dummy; while (first && second) { // Pick the smaller value if (first.data < second.data) { tail.next = first; first.prev = tail; first = first.next; } else { tail.next = second; second.prev = tail; second = second.next; } tail = tail.next; } // Append the remaining nodes of the non-empty list if (first) { tail.next = first; first.prev = tail; } else { tail.next = second; if (second) { second.prev = tail; } } // Adjust the head of the merged list let mergedHead = dummy.next; mergedHead.prev = null; return mergedHead; } // Function to sort a bitonic doubly linked list function sort(head) { // If list is empty or if it contains a single // node only if (!head || !head.next) return head; let currNode = head.next; while (currNode !== null) { // If true, then 'currNode' is the first node // which is smaller than its previous node if (currNode.data < currNode.prev.data) break; // Move to the next node currNode = currNode.next; } // If true, then list is already sorted if (currNode === null) return head; // Split into two lists, one starting with 'head' // and the other starting with 'currNode' currNode.prev.next = null; currNode.prev = null; // Reverse the list starting with 'currNode' currNode = reverse(currNode); // Merge the two lists and return the // final merged doubly linked list return merge(head, currNode); } // Function to print nodes in a given doubly // linked list function printList(head) { let output = ''; while (head !== null) { output += head.data + ' '; head = head.next; } console.log(output.trim()); } // Create the doubly linked list: // 2<->12<->11<->1 let head = new Node(2); head.next = new Node(12); head.next.prev = head; head.next.next = new Node(11); head.next.next.prev = head.next; head.next.next.next = new Node(1); head.next.next.next.prev = head.next.next; head = sort(head); printList(head); Output1 2 11 12 Time Complexity: O(n), where n is number of nodes in DLL.Auxiliary Space: O(1) Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Analysis of Algorithms N nik1996 Follow Improve Article Tags : Linked List DSA doubly linked list Linked-List-Sorting Practice Tags : Linked List Similar Reads Basics & PrerequisitesLogic Building ProblemsLogic building is about creating clear, step-by-step methods to solve problems using simple rules and principles. 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