Z algorithm (Linear time pattern searching Algorithm) in C++ (2024)

Z algorithm is used to find the occurrence of a pattern in a string in linear time. Suppose if the length of the string is n and the size of the pattern to be searched is m, the time taken to solve will be of the order O(m+n).

The z-algorithm uses a Z array to find the occurrence of a pattern.

Z array

It is an array of the same length as the string. Each element of the z-array consists of the length of the longest substring of the string starting from I which can be used as a prefix of the string itself.

Algorithm

In this algorithm, we are given a string S of length n and the pattern to be searched p of length m.

We will create a z array. Now, the algorithm loops of all the characters of the string with i = 1 to n-1. Now, we will create a substring s[L-R] which is a prefix substring such that 1 ≤ L ≤ I ≤ R.

Now, for a correct interval for creating the substring [L, R] for i-1 and all z values up to i-1. Compute z[i] and the new interval [L, R] using the following steps −

Step1: if i > R, no larger prefix-substring is possible. So, we will compute new interval bt comparing S[0] to S[i] i.e. string starting from index 0 i.e. from start with substring starting from index i. And find z[i] using z[i] = R - L + 1.Step 2: Else if, i ≤ R, [L, R] can be extended to i. For k = i-L, z[i] ≥ min(Z[k], R-i+1). Step 2.1: If, Z[k] < R-i+1, no longer prefix substring s[i] exist. Step 2.2: If Z[k] ≥ R-i+1, then there can be a longer substring. So, we will update [L, R] by changing L = i and changing R by matching from S[R+1].

This process finds all the Z values in a single iteration (looping only once).

Example

Program to show the implementation of the algorithm −

Live Demo

#include<iostream>using namespace std;void createZarray(string str, int Z[]){ int n = str.length(); int L, R, k; L = R = 0; for (int i = 1; i < n; ++i){ if (i > R){ L = R = i; while (R<n && str[R-L] == str[R]) R++; Z[i] = R-L; R--; } else { k = i-L; if (Z[k] < R-i+1) Z[i] = Z[k]; else { L = i; while (R<n && str[R-L] == str[R]) R++; Z[i] = R-L; R--; } } }}void zAlgorithm(string text, string pattern){ string str = pattern+"$"+text; int len = str.length(); int Z[len]; createZarray(str, Z); for (int i = 0; i < len; ++i){ if (Z[i] == pattern.length()) cout<<(i-pattern.length()-1)<<"\t"; }}int main(){ string str = "Hello! Welcome To tutorials Point programming tutorial"; string pattern = "tutorial"; cout<<"The patter ' "<<pattern<<" ' is found in the string '"<<str<<" ' at index \t"; zAlgorithm(str, pattern); return 0;}

Output

The patter ' tutorial ' is found in the string 'Hello! Welcome To tutorials Point programming tutorial ' at index 18 46