Verify Preorder Serialization of a Binary Tree

One way to serialize a binary tree is to use pre-order traversal. When we encounter a non-null node, we record the node’s value. If it is a null node, we record using a sentinel value such as #.

     _9_
    /   \
   3     2
  / \   / \
 4   1  #  6
/ \ / \   / \
# # # #   # #

For example, the above binary tree can be serialized to the string “9,3,4,#,#,1,#,#,2,#,6,#,#”, where # represents a null node.

Given a string of comma separated values, verify whether it is a correct preorder traversal serialization of a binary tree. Find an algorithm without reconstructing the tree.

Each comma separated value in the string must be either an integer or a character ‘#’ representing null pointer.

You may assume that the input format is always valid, for example it could never contain two consecutive commas such as “1,,3”.

Example 1: “9,3,4,#,#,1,#,#,2,#,6,#,#” Return true

Example 2: “1,#” Return false

Example 3: “9,#,#,1” Return false

Solution:

public class Solution {
    public boolean isValidSerialization(String preorder) {
        int n = 0;
        for(String s : preorder.split(",")){
            if(n<0) return false;
            if(s.equals("#")) n--;
            else n++;
        }
        return n==-1;
    }
}