Longest Consecutive Sequence
Detailed guide and Python implementation for the 'Longest Consecutive Sequence' problem.
Problem Statement
Given an unsorted array of integers nums, return the length of the longest consecutive elements sequence.
You must write an algorithm that runs in O(n) time.
Write a function longestConsecutive(nums: List[int]) -> int.
- •0 <= len(nums) <= 10^5
- •-10^9 <= nums[i] <= 10^9
Examples
nums = [100, 4, 200, 1, 3, 2]
4
The longest consecutive elements sequence is [1, 2, 3, 4]. Its length is 4.
nums = [0, 3, 7, 2, 5, 8, 4, 6, 0, 1]
9
The longest consecutive elements sequence is [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Its length is 9.
Need a Hint?
Edge Cases to Watch
- Empty input structures
- Single element inputs
- Large numerical bounds
Ready to Solve?
Open the problem in PyRun's browser-based Python editor. Your code runs fully offline — no server required.
Recommended Python Resources
Expand your knowledge with related interactive tutorials, cheat sheets, and code comparisons.
Python Loops
Learn how to use Python loops to iterate over data. Master for loops, while loops, break, continue, and loop best practices with interactive examples.
How to Sort a List in Python
Learn how to sort a list in Python using the sort() method and the sorted() function. Discover custom key sorting and reverse order examples.
Python String Methods
A complete reference guide for Python string manipulation. Master formatting, searching, splitting, replacing, and checking string properties.
Python vs JavaScript: Which Programming Language is Best?
A comprehensive comparison between Python and JavaScript. Explore syntax differences, performance, use cases (backend vs frontend), and coding examples.