Anagram Grouping Algorithms in Python
Anagrams are fascinating linguistic puzzles where words are formed by rearranging the letters of another word. For instance, "car" and "arc," "cat" and "act" are classic examples.
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Python Anagram Solver How to Group Anagrams Effectively |
Grouping anagrams is a common challenge in coding interviews and a great exercise to enhance your problem-solving skills.
Crack the Code Group Anagrams Using Python
To tackle the problem of grouping anagrams, we can leverage Python's dictionary data structure for efficient grouping based on sorted character patterns. Here's a step-by-step approach to implement a function:
Code :
def group_anagrams(words):
anagrams = {}
for word in words:
sorted_word = ''.join(sorted(word))
if sorted_word in anagrams:
anagrams[sorted_word].append(word)
else:
anagrams[sorted_word] = [word]
return list(anagrams.values())
# Example usage:
word_list = ["eat", "tea", "tan", "ate", "nat", "bat"]
print(group_anagrams(word_list))
Explanation :
- Dictionary Usage : We use a dictionary 'anagrams' where keys are sorted versions of words ('sorted_word'), and values are lists of words that share the same sorted pattern.
- Sorting and Grouping : For each word in the input list, we sort its characters to create a canonical form ('sorted_word'). Words that are anagrams will produce the same 'sorted_word', allowing us to group them efficiently.
- Output : The function returns a list of lists, where each inner list contains words that are anagrams of each other.
Testing the Function :
Let's test the function with a sample list of words containing anagrams and other words to see how it groups them:
word_list = ["eat", "tea", "tan", "ate", "nat", "bat"]
print(group_anagrams(word_list))
OutPut :
[['eat', 'tea', 'ate'], ['tan', 'nat'], ['bat']]
[['eat', 'tea', 'ate'], ['tan', 'nat'], ['bat']]
Conclusion :
Mastering the art of grouping anagrams not only sharpens your coding skills but also prepares you for tackling more complex data manipulation tasks in interviews and real-world applications. Practice such problems regularly to boost your algorithmic thinking and Python programming proficiency.
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