204. Maximum Subarray

Medium
Kadane's Algorithm
Array

Problem

Given an integer array nums, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum and return its sum. The subarray must contain at least one element.

Examples

Example 1

Input: nums = [-2,1,-3,4,-1,2,1,-5,4]
Output: 6

The subarray [4,-1,2,1] has the largest sum 6.

Example 2

Input: nums = [1]
Output: 1

Example 3

Input: nums = [5,4,-1,7,8]
Output: 23
Constraints

1 <= nums.length <= 10⁵

-10⁴ <= nums[i] <= 10⁴

Hints

?? At each position, decide whether to extend the previous subarray or start a new one.

?? Track the best sum ending at the current position.

?? Keep a global maximum while scanning the array.

Expected Complexity
Time: O(n)
Space: O(1)
Follow-up

Can you implement Kadane's Algorithm in O(n) time and O(1) space?

Practice Notes

Attempts: 0

Time spent: 0min

Hints used: 0

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Case 1
Case 2
Case 3
Input
[-2,1,-3,4,-1,2,1,-5,4]
Expected
6