Reordering / Partitioning — Linked List Manipulation Patterns
The Reordering / Partitioning pattern applies when you need the Reordering / Partitioning technique within the Linked List Manipulation Patterns pattern. Its time complexity is O(n) and space complexity O(1). It is used in 5 problems on Thita, including Odd Even Linked List, Partition List and Reorder List. Common variations are In-place Reversal and Merging Two Sorted Lists.
Learn to reorder and partition linked lists. Master techniques like swap pairs, rotate list, and odd-even separation.
Reordering / Partitioning is one of the 5 subpatterns of the Linked List Manipulation Patterns pattern, which covers in-place reversal, merging sorted lists, reordering, and intersection detection. The whole pattern is about 2 hours of study. This subpattern is an important variation worth recognising on sight.
What Reordering / Partitioning covers
Master linked list manipulation including in-place reversal, merging sorted lists, detecting intersections, and reordering. Essential pointer manipulation techniques for interviews. Problems in this subpattern are usually searched for as reorder list, partition list, swap pairs, rotate list, odd even linked list, leetcode 143.
How to practise Reordering / Partitioning on Thita.ai
Read the theory for Reordering / Partitioning, then work the problems attached to it in the browser editor. Your solution runs against the problem's test cases, and the AI coach offers a hint about the technique you are missing rather than a finished solution. Progress is tracked per subpattern, so the Linked List Manipulation Patterns tracker shows this one as covered once you have solved its problems.
Other subpatterns in Linked List Manipulation Patterns
- In-place Reversal — Master in-place linked list reversal including full reversal, partial reversal, and k-group reversal techniques.
- Merging Two Sorted Lists — Learn to merge two sorted linked lists efficiently. Foundation for merge sort and k-way merge problems.
- Addition of Numbers — Master adding numbers represented as linked lists. Handle carry operations and different list lengths.
- Intersection Detection — Learn to find the intersection point of two linked lists using the two-pointer technique.
Related DSA patterns
- Binary Search Patterns — Standard binary search, rotated arrays, first/last occurrence, and search on answer space.
- Array/Matrix Manipulation Patterns — In-place operations, hashing, prefix sums, spiral traversal, and cyclic sort.
- Stack Patterns — Parentheses matching, monotonic stack, histogram, and expression evaluation.
- String Manipulation Patterns — Palindrome checking, anagram detection, pattern matching, and string conversion.
Where to go next
Reordering / Partitioning is one lesson in a 16-pattern DSA course. If you are preparing end to end, work the interview-critical patterns first and use the pattern sheet as the checklist; if you are here for one technique, the Linked List Manipulation Patterns guide is the shortest path back to the rest of it.