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#753
Hard Algorithms

Cracking the safe

String Depth-First Search Graph Theory Eulerian Circuit
58.4% acceptance
Feb 21, 2026
662
130
There is a safe protected by a password. The password is a sequence of n digits where each digit can be in the range [0, k - 1]. The safe has a peculiar way of checking the password. When you enter in a sequence, it checks the most recent n digits that were entered each time you type a digit. For example, the correct password is "345" and you enter in "012345": After typing 0, the most recent 3 digits is "0", which is incorrect. After typing 1, the most recent 3 digits is "01", which is incorrect. After typing 2, the most recent 3 digits is "012", which is incorrect. After typing 3, the most recent 3 digits is "123", which is incorrect. After typing 4, the most recent 3 digits is "234", which is incorrect. After typing 5, the most recent 3 digits is "345", which is correct and the safe unlocks. Return any string of minimum length that will unlock the safe at some point of entering it.

Solution

Rust
Time O(n)
Space O(n)
LeetCode
solution.rs
/*
 * There is a safe protected by a password. The password is a sequence of n digits where each digit can be in the range [0, k - 1].
 * The safe has a peculiar way of checking the password. When you enter in a sequence, it checks the most recent n digits that were entered each time you type a digit.
 * For example, the correct password is "345" and you enter in "012345":
 * After typing 0, the most recent 3 digits is "0", which is incorrect.
 * After typing 1, the most recent 3 digits is "01", which is incorrect.
 * After typing 2, the most recent 3 digits is "012", which is incorrect.
 * After typing 3, the most recent 3 digits is "123", which is incorrect.
 * After typing 4, the most recent 3 digits is "234", which is incorrect.
 * After typing 5, the most recent 3 digits is "345", which is correct and the safe unlocks.
 * Return any string of minimum length that will unlock the safe at some point of entering it.
 * Example 1:
 * Input: n = 1, k = 2
 * Output: "10"
 * Explanation: The password is a single digit, so enter each digit. "01" would also unlock the safe.
 * Example 2:
 * Input: n = 2, k = 2
 * Output: "01100"
 * Explanation: For each possible password:
 * - "00" is typed in starting from the 4th digit.
 * - "01" is typed in starting from the 1st digit.
 * - "10" is typed in starting from the 3rd digit.
 * - "11" is typed in starting from the 2nd digit.
 * Thus "01100" will unlock the safe. "10011", and "11001" would also unlock the safe.
 * Constraints:
 * 1 <= n <= 4
 * 1 <= k <= 10
 * 1 <= kn <= 4096
 */
use std::collections::HashSet;

impl Solution {
  pub fn crack_safe(n: i32, k: i32) -> String {
    let n = n as usize;
    let k = k as usize;
    let mut visited: HashSet<String> = HashSet::new();
    let mut result: Vec<char> = vec![];
    let start = "0".repeat(n - 1);
    Self::dfs(&start, k, &mut visited, &mut result);
    result.reverse();
    let mut s = start;
    s.extend(result);
    s
  }

  fn dfs(node: &str, k: usize, visited: &mut HashSet<String>, result: &mut Vec<char>) {
    for d in 0..k {
      let edge = format!("{}{}", node, (b'0' + d as u8) as char);
      if !visited.contains(&edge) {
        visited.insert(edge.clone());
        Self::dfs(&edge[1..], k, visited, result);
        result.push((b'0' + d as u8) as char);
      }
    }
  }
}