spiral_traversal.py

"""
Given a matrix of m x n elements (m rows, n columns),
return all elements of the matrix in spiral order.
For example,
Given the following matrix:
[
 [ 1, 2, 3 ],
 [ 4, 5, 6 ],
 [ 7, 8, 9 ]
]


You should return [1,2,3,6,9,8,7,4,5].
"""


def spiral_traversal(matrix):
    res = []
    if len(matrix) == 0:
        return res
    row_begin = 0
    row_end = len(matrix) - 1
    col_begin = 0
    col_end = len(matrix[0]) - 1

    while row_begin <= row_end and col_begin <= col_end:
        for i in range(col_begin, col_end+1):
            res.append(matrix[row_begin][i])
        row_begin += 1

        for i in range(row_begin, row_end+1):
            res.append(matrix[i][col_end])
        col_end -= 1

        if row_begin <= row_end:
            for i in range(col_end, col_begin-1, -1):
                res.append(matrix[row_end][i])
        row_end -= 1

        if col_begin <= col_end:
            for i in range(row_end, row_begin-1, -1):
                res.append(matrix[i][col_begin])
        col_begin += 1

    return res


if __name__ == "__main__":
    mat = [[1, 2, 3],
           [4, 5, 6],
           [7, 8, 9]]
    print(spiral_traversal(mat))