1768. Merge Strings Alternately

Merge Strings Alternately - Leetcode 1768/Merge Strings Alternately - Leetcode 1768.py

@@ -1,28 +1,13 @@
 class Solution:
-    def mergeAlternately(self, word1: str, word2: str) -> str:
-        A, B = len(word1), len(word2)
-        a, b = 0, 0
-        s = []
-
-        word = 1
-        while a < A and b < B:
-            if word == 1:
-                s.append(word1[a])
-                a += 1
-                word = 2
-            else:
-                s.append(word2[b])
-                b += 1
-                word = 1
-
-        while a < A:
-            s.append(word1[a])
-            a += 1
-
-        while b < B:
-            s.append(word2[b])
-            b += 1
-
-        return ''.join(s)
-        # Time: O(A + B) - A is Length of word1, B is Length of word2
+    def mergeAlternately(self, word1: str, word2: str) -> str:        
+        l = 0
+        res = ""
+        while l < len(word1) or l < len(word2):
+            if l < len(word1):
+                res += word1[l]
+            if l < len(word2):
+                res += word2[l]
+            l+=1
+        return res  
+        # Time: O(n)  
         # Space: O(A + B) - A is Length of word1, B is Length of word2