Merge_Strings_Alternatively.java

// 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
 

// Constraints:

// 1 <= word1.length, word2.length <= 100
// word1 and word2 consist of lowercase English letters.


class Solution {
    public String mergeAlternately(String word1, String word2) {
        StringBuilder merged = new StringBuilder();
        int max_length = Math.max(word1.length(),word2.length());

        for(int i=0;i<max_length;i++){
            if(i<word1.length()){
                merged.append(word1.charAt(i));
            }
            if(i<word2.length()){
                merged.append(word2.charAt(i));
            }
        }
        return merged.toString();
    }
}