Navigating the Coding Challenge Seas: Unraveling the Search in Rotated Sorted Array Puzzle

Hey Dev.to community! 👋 Today, I'm thrilled to share a recent triumph in the coding realm – solving the LeetCode problem "Search in Rotated Sorted Array".

The Challenge:
The task at hand involved searching for a target element in a rotated, sorted array. Sounds tricky, right? But fear not, as I dove into the problem armed with a Java implementation and a strategic algorithm.

The Algorithm:
Let's break down the thought process behind the solution:

// Java code snippet
public class D1 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Given rotated sorted array
        int[] nums = {4,5,6,7,0,1,2};
        int target = 0;
        int low=0;
        int high=nums.length-1;
        int result=-1;

        while(low<=high) {
            // Binary search implementation
            int mid = high+(low-high)/2;
            if(nums[mid] == target) {
                result = mid;
                break;
            }

            // Check if the left part is sorted
            if(nums[low] <= nums[mid]) {
                // Check if there is a possibility that the target exists here
                if(nums[low] <= target && target <= nums[mid]) {
                    high = mid - 1;
                } else {
                    low = mid + 1;
                }
            } else {
                // Check if there is a possibility that the target exists here
                if(target <= nums[high] && nums[mid] <= target) {
                    low = mid + 1;
                } else {
                    high = mid - 1;
                }
            }
        }

        System.out.println(result);
    }
}

The algorithm cleverly narrows down the search space by identifying sorted portions of the rotated array and zeroing in on the potential location of the target.

Resources and Learning:
To solidify my understanding and approach, I delved into other valuable resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8XENwh8Oy8
https://takeuforward.org/data-structure/search-element-in-a-rotated-sorted-array/
These resources provided additional insights and perspectives, contributing to a holistic grasp of the problem.

As I share this accomplishment, I'm eager to connect with the Dev.to community. Your feedback, thoughts, and alternative approaches are not just welcomed but encouraged. Let's learn and grow together!

This coding journey is a testament to my commitment to professionalism, continuous learning, and problem-solving skills. The ability to navigate complex challenges is not just a technical feat but a demonstration of adaptability and perseverance.