LeetCode #209 — MEDIUM

Minimum Size Subarray Sum

Move from brute-force thinking to an efficient approach using array strategy.

The Problem

Problem Statement

Given an array of positive integers nums and a positive integer target, return the minimal length of a subarray whose sum is greater than or equal to target. If there is no such subarray, return 0 instead.

Example 1:

Input: target = 7, nums = [2,3,1,2,4,3]
Output: 2
Explanation: The subarray [4,3] has the minimal length under the problem constraint.

Example 2:

Input: target = 4, nums = [1,4,4]
Output: 1

Example 3:

Input: target = 11, nums = [1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
Output: 0

Constraints:

1 <= target <= 10⁹
1 <= nums.length <= 10⁵
1 <= nums[i] <= 10⁴

Follow up: If you have figured out the O(n) solution, try coding another solution of which the time complexity is O(n log(n)).

Step 01

Brute Force Baseline

Problem summary: Given an array of positive integers nums and a positive integer target, return the minimal length of a subarray whose sum is greater than or equal to target. If there is no such subarray, return 0 instead.

Baseline thinking

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

Pattern signal: Array · Binary Search · Sliding Window

Example 1

7
[2,3,1,2,4,3]

Example 2

4
[1,4,4]

Example 3

11
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]

Core Insight

What unlocks the optimal approach

No official hints in dataset. Start from constraints and look for a monotonic or reusable state.

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 #209: Minimum Size Subarray Sum
class Solution {
    public int minSubArrayLen(int target, int[] nums) {
        int n = nums.length;
        long[] s = new long[n + 1];
        for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
            s[i + 1] = s[i] + nums[i];
        }
        int ans = n + 1;
        for (int i = 0; i <= n; ++i) {
            int j = search(s, s[i] + target);
            if (j <= n) {
                ans = Math.min(ans, j - i);
            }
        }
        return ans <= n ? ans : 0;
    }

    private int search(long[] nums, long x) {
        int l = 0, r = nums.length;
        while (l < r) {
            int mid = (l + r) >> 1;
            if (nums[mid] >= x) {
                r = mid;
            } else {
                l = mid + 1;
            }
        }
        return l;
    }
}

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #209: Minimum Size Subarray Sum
func minSubArrayLen(target int, nums []int) int {
	n := len(nums)
	s := make([]int, n+1)
	for i, x := range nums {
		s[i+1] = s[i] + x
	}
	ans := n + 1
	for i, x := range s {
		j := sort.SearchInts(s, x+target)
		if j <= n {
			ans = min(ans, j-i)
		}
	}
	if ans == n+1 {
		return 0
	}
	return ans
}

# Accepted solution for LeetCode #209: Minimum Size Subarray Sum
class Solution:
    def minSubArrayLen(self, target: int, nums: List[int]) -> int:
        n = len(nums)
        s = list(accumulate(nums, initial=0))
        ans = n + 1
        for i, x in enumerate(s):
            j = bisect_left(s, x + target)
            if j <= n:
                ans = min(ans, j - i)
        return ans if ans <= n else 0

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #209: Minimum Size Subarray Sum
impl Solution {
    pub fn min_sub_array_len(target: i32, nums: Vec<i32>) -> i32 {
        let n = nums.len();
        let mut res = n + 1;
        let mut sum = 0;
        let mut i = 0;
        for j in 0..n {
            sum += nums[j];

            while sum >= target {
                res = res.min(j - i + 1);
                sum -= nums[i];
                i += 1;
            }
        }
        if res == n + 1 {
            return 0;
        }
        res as i32
    }
}

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #209: Minimum Size Subarray Sum
function minSubArrayLen(target: number, nums: number[]): number {
    const n = nums.length;
    const s: number[] = new Array(n + 1).fill(0);
    for (let i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
        s[i + 1] = s[i] + nums[i];
    }
    let ans = n + 1;
    const search = (x: number) => {
        let l = 0;
        let r = n + 1;
        while (l < r) {
            const mid = (l + r) >>> 1;
            if (s[mid] >= x) {
                r = mid;
            } else {
                l = mid + 1;
            }
        }
        return l;
    };
    for (let i = 0; i <= n; ++i) {
        const j = search(s[i] + target);
        if (j <= n) {
            ans = Math.min(ans, j - i);
        }
    }
    return ans === n + 1 ? 0 : 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 × log n)

Space

O(n)

Approach Breakdown

LINEAR SCAN

O(n) time

O(1) space

Check every element from left to right until we find the target or exhaust the array. Each comparison is O(1), and we may visit all n elements, giving O(n). No extra space needed.

BINARY SEARCH

O(log n) time

O(1) space

Each comparison eliminates half the remaining search space. After k comparisons, the space is n/2ᵏ. We stop when the space is 1, so k = log₂ n. No extra memory needed — just two pointers (lo, hi).

Shortcut: Halving the input each step → O(log n). Works on any monotonic condition, not just sorted arrays.

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.

Boundary update without `+1` / `-1`

Wrong move: Setting `lo = mid` or `hi = mid` can stall and create an infinite loop.

Usually fails on: Two-element ranges never converge.

Fix: Use `lo = mid + 1` or `hi = mid - 1` where appropriate.

Shrinking the window only once

Wrong move: Using `if` instead of `while` leaves the window invalid for multiple iterations.

Usually fails on: Over-limit windows stay invalid and produce wrong lengths/counts.

Fix: Shrink in a `while` loop until the invariant is valid again.