ADVANCED DATA STRUCTURES PROGRAM • LEVEL 15 — DIGITAL SEARCH TREES
Delete a Word from a Trie
Learn how to delete a word from a trie using a clear C program.
PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING
Input and expected output
Sample input
No input required
Sample output
code = Missing coder = Found
COMPLETE C PROGRAM
Complete C implementation
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct Trie { struct Trie *child[26]; int terminal, pass; };
struct Trie *new_trie(void) { struct Trie *node = calloc(1, sizeof *node); if (!node) exit(EXIT_FAILURE); return node; }
void insert_word(struct Trie *root, const char *word) { for (int i = 0; word[i]; i++) { int index = word[i] - 'a'; if (!root->child[index]) root->child[index] = new_trie(); root = root->child[index]; root->pass++; } root->terminal = 1; }
struct Trie *walk(struct Trie *root, const char *word) { for (int i = 0; word[i] && root; i++) root = root->child[word[i] - 'a']; return root; }
void free_trie(struct Trie *root) { if (root) { for (int i = 0; i < 26; i++) free_trie(root->child[i]); free(root); } }
int main(void)
{
struct Trie *root = new_trie(); insert_word(root, "code"); insert_word(root, "coder");
struct Trie *node = walk(root, "code"); if (node) node->terminal = 0;
printf("code = %s coder = %s\n", walk(root, "code") && walk(root, "code")->terminal ? "Found" : "Missing", walk(root, "coder") && walk(root, "coder")->terminal ? "Found" : "Missing");
free_trie(root); return 0;
}CURRENT STEP
SELECTED LINE
EXPECTED OUTPUT FOR THE SAMPLE
code = Missing coder = Found
Step 0 of 0
PROGRAM EXPLANATION
Algorithm and explanation
- Read the required input values.
- Clear only the terminal marker so longer words sharing the prefix remain available.
- Display the computed result.
Clear only the terminal marker so longer words sharing the prefix remain available.
EFFICIENCY
Time and space complexity
Time complexity
O(word length)
Auxiliary space
O(total characters * alphabet)
DEBUGGING CHECKLIST
Common mistakes
Check this
Use the correct format specifier for every variable.
Check this
Initialize variables before using their values.
Check this
Check braces, semicolons and input order carefully.
Try it yourself
Practice: Run the program with the sample input, predict its output, and then test one boundary case of your own.
