1768. Merge String Alternately.py

# Leetcode 1768. Merge String Alternately
# You are given two strings word1 and word2. Merge the strings by adding letters in alternating order, starting with
# word1. If a string is longer than the other, append the additional letters onto the end of the merged string.
# Return the merged string.

# Example 1:
# Input: word1 = "abc", word2 = "pqr"
# Output: "apbqcr"
# Explanation: The merged string will be merged as so:
# word1:  a   b   c
# word2:    p   q   r
# merged: a p b q c r

# Example 2:
# Input: word1 = "ab", word2 = "pqrs"
# Output: "apbqrs"
# Explanation: Notice that as word2 is longer, "rs" is appended to the end.
# word1:  a   b
# word2:    p   q   r   s
# merged: a p b q   r   s

# Example 3:
# Input: word1 = "abcd", word2 = "pq"
# Output: "apbqcd"
# Explanation: Notice that as word1 is longer, "cd" is appended to the end.
# word1:  a   b   c   d
# word2:    p   q
# merged: a p b q c   d

def mergeAlternately(word1, word2):
    result = []
    min_length = min(len(word1), len(word2))

    for i in range(min_length):
        result.append(word1[i])
        result.append(word2[i])

    result.append(word1[min_length:])
    result.append(word2[min_length:])

    return ''.join(result)

word1 = "abc"
word2 = "xyz"
result = mergeAlternately(word1, word2)
print(result)
# Output: "axbycz"