Example 2:

• Input: matrix =

[[1,5],
 [3,6]]

• Expected Output: [1,5,3,6]
• Justification: The traversal starts from 1, moves to 2, then down to 3, and finally to 4.

Example 3:

• Input: `matrix =

[[1],
 [2],
 [3]]

• Expected Output: [1,2,3]
• Justification: The traversal is straightforward down the single-column matrix.

Solution

To solve this problem, we need to cleverly navigate the 2D array. The key is to recognize the pattern of movement: up-right and down-left diagonals, alternating after hitting the boundaries. We utilize two pointers to track our current position in the matrix and a boolean flag to indicate the current direction of movement. This approach ensures we cover all elements in the required order.

By dynamically altering our direction at the array's boundaries, we effectively traverse all elements in the zigzag pattern. This method is efficient as it requires just a single pass through the matrix, making it a time-efficient solution. Moreover, it's intuitive as it closely follows the pattern described in the problem statement.

Step-by-step Algorithm

• Initialize pointers for row and column, and a boolean flag for the direction of movement.
• Iterate through the matrix elements until all elements are traversed.
  • If moving upwards:
    • Move diagonally up-right by decrementing the row and incrementing the column.
    • Check if the boundary is reached. If so, change direction and adjust row/column accordingly.
  • If moving downwards:
    • Move diagonally down-left by incrementing the row and decrementing the column.
    • Check if the boundary is reached. If so, change direction and adjust row/column accordingly.
• Throughout the traversal, add the current element to the result list.
• Return the result list after complete traversal.

Algorithm Walkthrough

• Given Input: matrix =

[[1, 2, 3, 4],
 [5, 6, 7, 8],
 [9, 10, 11, 12],
 [13, 14, 15, 16]]

1. Start: row = 0, column = 0, upwards = true, result = [].

   • Add 1. result = [1].

2. Change diagonal: Hit boundary. Change direction. row = 0, column = 1, upwards = false.

   • Add 2. result = [1, 2].

3. Move Down-Left: Within bounds. row = 1, column = 0.

   • Add 5. result = [1, 2, 5].

4. Change diagonal: Hit boundary. Change direction. row = 2, column = 0, upwards = true.

   • Add 9. result = [1, 2, 5, 9].

5. Move Up-Right: Within bounds. row = 1, column = 1.

   • Add 6. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6].

6. Change diagonal: Hit boundary. Change direction. row = 0, column = 2, upwards = false.

   • Add 3. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3].

7. Move Down-Left: Within bounds. row = 0, column = 3.

   • Add 4. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4].

8. Move Down-Left: Within bounds. row = 1, column = 2.

   • Add 7. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7].

9. Move Up-Right: Within bounds. row = 2, column = 1.

   • Add 10. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10].

10. Change diagonal: Hit boundary. Change direction. row = 3, column = 0, upwards = false.

    • Add 13. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13].

11. Move Down-Left: Within bounds. row = 3, column = 1.

    • Add 14. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 14].

12. Move Down-Left: Within bounds. row = 2, column = 2.

    • Add 11. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 14, 11].

13. Change diagonal: Hit boundary. Change direction. row = 1, column = 3. upwards = false.

    • Add 8. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 14, 11, 8].

14. Move Up-Right: Within bounds. row = 3, column = 2.

    • Add 12. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 14, 11, 8, 12].

15. Change diagonal: Hit boundary. Change direction. row = 3, column = 2, upwards = true.

    • Add 15. result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 14, 11, 8, 12, 15].

16. Change diagonal: Hit boundary. End of matrix. row = 3, column = 3, upwards = false.

    • Add 16. Final result = [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 14, 11, 8, 12, 15, 16].

The final output is [1, 2, 5, 9, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 14, 11, 8, 12, 15, 16].

Code