LeetCode #1720 — EASY

Decode XORed Array

Build confidence with an intuition-first walkthrough focused on array fundamentals.

The Problem

Problem Statement

There is a hidden integer array arr that consists of n non-negative integers.

It was encoded into another integer array encoded of length n - 1, such that encoded[i] = arr[i] XOR arr[i + 1]. For example, if arr = [1,0,2,1], then encoded = [1,2,3].

You are given the encoded array. You are also given an integer first, that is the first element of arr, i.e. arr[0].

Return the original array arr. It can be proved that the answer exists and is unique.

Example 1:

Input: encoded = [1,2,3], first = 1
Output: [1,0,2,1]
Explanation: If arr = [1,0,2,1], then first = 1 and encoded = [1 XOR 0, 0 XOR 2, 2 XOR 1] = [1,2,3]

Example 2:

Input: encoded = [6,2,7,3], first = 4
Output: [4,2,0,7,4]

Constraints:

2 <= n <= 10⁴
encoded.length == n - 1
0 <= encoded[i] <= 10⁵
0 <= first <= 10⁵

Step 01

Brute Force Baseline

Problem summary: There is a hidden integer array arr that consists of n non-negative integers. It was encoded into another integer array encoded of length n - 1, such that encoded[i] = arr[i] XOR arr[i + 1]. For example, if arr = [1,0,2,1], then encoded = [1,2,3]. You are given the encoded array. You are also given an integer first, that is the first element of arr, i.e. arr[0]. Return the original array arr. It can be proved that the answer exists and is unique.

Baseline thinking

Start with the most direct exhaustive search. That gives a correctness anchor before optimizing.

Pattern signal: Array · Bit Manipulation

Example 1

[1,2,3]
1

Example 2

[6,2,7,3]
4

Core Insight

What unlocks the optimal approach

Since that encoded[i] = arr[i] XOR arr[i+1], then arr[i+1] = encoded[i] XOR arr[i].
Iterate on i from beginning to end, and set arr[i+1] = encoded[i] XOR arr[i].

Interview move: turn each hint into an invariant you can check after every iteration/recursion step.

Step 03

Algorithm Walkthrough

Iteration Checklist

Define state (indices, window, stack, map, DP cell, or recursion frame).
Apply one transition step and update the invariant.
Record answer candidate when condition is met.
Continue until all input is consumed.

Use the first example testcase as your mental trace to verify each transition.

Step 04

Edge Cases

Minimum Input

Single element / shortest valid input

Validate boundary behavior before entering the main loop or recursion.

Duplicates & Repeats

Repeated values / repeated states

Decide whether duplicates should be merged, skipped, or counted explicitly.

Extreme Constraints

Upper-end input sizes

Re-check complexity target against constraints to avoid time-limit issues.

Invalid / Corner Shape

Empty collections, zeros, or disconnected structures

Handle special-case structure before the core algorithm path.

Step 05

Full Annotated Code

Source-backed implementations are provided below for direct study and interview prep.

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #1720: Decode XORed Array
class Solution {
    public int[] decode(int[] encoded, int first) {
        int n = encoded.length;
        int[] ans = new int[n + 1];
        ans[0] = first;
        for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
            ans[i + 1] = ans[i] ^ encoded[i];
        }
        return ans;
    }
}

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #1720: Decode XORed Array
func decode(encoded []int, first int) []int {
	ans := []int{first}
	for i, x := range encoded {
		ans = append(ans, ans[i]^x)
	}
	return ans
}

# Accepted solution for LeetCode #1720: Decode XORed Array
class Solution:
    def decode(self, encoded: List[int], first: int) -> List[int]:
        ans = [first]
        for x in encoded:
            ans.append(ans[-1] ^ x)
        return ans

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #1720: Decode XORed Array
struct Solution;

impl Solution {
    fn decode(encoded: Vec<i32>, first: i32) -> Vec<i32> {
        let n = encoded.len();
        let mut res = vec![first];
        for i in 0..n {
            res.push(res[i] ^ encoded[i]);
        }
        res
    }
}

#[test]
fn test() {
    let encoded = vec![1, 2, 3];
    let first = 1;
    let res = vec![1, 0, 2, 1];
    assert_eq!(Solution::decode(encoded, first), res);
    let encoded = vec![6, 2, 7, 3];
    let first = 4;
    let res = vec![4, 2, 0, 7, 4];
    assert_eq!(Solution::decode(encoded, first), res);
}

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #1720: Decode XORed Array
function decode(encoded: number[], first: number): number[] {
    const ans: number[] = [first];
    for (const x of encoded) {
        ans.push(ans.at(-1)! ^ x);
    }
    return ans;
}

Step 06

Interactive Study Demo

Use this to step through a reusable interview workflow for this problem.

Custom checkpoints (one per line)

Press Step or Run All to begin.

Step 07

Complexity Analysis

Time

O(n)

Space

O(n)

Approach Breakdown

SORT + SCAN

O(n log n) time

O(n) space

Sort the array in O(n log n), then scan for the missing or unique element by comparing adjacent pairs. Sorting requires O(n) auxiliary space (or O(1) with in-place sort but O(n log n) time remains). The sort step dominates.

BIT MANIPULATION

O(n) time

O(1) space

Bitwise operations (AND, OR, XOR, shifts) are O(1) per operation on fixed-width integers. A single pass through the input with bit operations gives O(n) time. The key insight: XOR of a number with itself is 0, which eliminates duplicates without extra space.

Shortcut: Bit operations are O(1). XOR cancels duplicates. Single pass → O(n) time, O(1) space.

Coach Notes

Common Mistakes

Review these before coding to avoid predictable interview regressions.

Off-by-one on range boundaries

Wrong move: Loop endpoints miss first/last candidate.

Usually fails on: Fails on minimal arrays and exact-boundary answers.

Fix: Re-derive loops from inclusive/exclusive ranges before coding.