How would you display an array of integers as a set of ranges? (algorithm)

Question

Given an array of integers, what is the simplest way to iterate over it and figure out all the ranges it covers? for example, for an array such as:

$numbers = ar         


        

Answer 1

Here's a C# 3.0'y way of doing it:

Points of interest:

• automatic properties (public int Property { get; set; })
• using new object initializers (new Range { Begin = xxx; ... }
• using yield for lazy evaluation
• using linq extension methods (First() and Skip())

-

class Demo
{
    private class Range
    {
        public int Begin { get; set; }
        public int End { get; set; }

        public override string ToString()
        {
            if (Begin == End)
                return string.Format("{0}", Begin);
            else
                return string.Format("{0}-{1}", Begin, End);
        }
    }

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        var list = new List { 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 };
        // list.Sort();
        var ranges = GetRangesForSortedList(list);

        PrintRange(ranges);

        Console.Read();
    }

    private static void PrintRange(IEnumerable ranges)
    {
        if (ranges.Count() == 0)
            return;

        Console.Write("[{0}", ranges.First());

        foreach (Range range in ranges.Skip(1))
        {
            Console.Write(", {0}", range);
        }

        Console.WriteLine("]");
    }

    private static IEnumerable GetRangesForSortedList(IList sortedList)
    {
        if (sortedList.Count < 1) 
            yield break;

        int firstItem = sortedList.First();
        Range currentRange = new Range { Begin = firstItem, End = firstItem };

        foreach (int item in sortedList.Skip(1))
        {
            if (item == currentRange.End + 1)
            {
                currentRange.End = item;
            }
            else
            {
                yield return currentRange;
                currentRange = new Range { Begin = item, End = item };
            }
        }

        yield return currentRange;
    }
}

Cheers, David