Solution.py

"""
Given a list of sorted characters letters containing only lowercase letters, and given a target letter target, find the smallest element in the list that is larger than the given target.

Letters also wrap around. For example, if the target is target = 'z' and letters = ['a', 'b'], the answer is 'a'.

Examples:
Input:
letters = ["c", "f", "j"]
target = "a"
Output: "c"

Input:
letters = ["c", "f", "j"]
target = "c"
Output: "f"

Input:
letters = ["c", "f", "j"]
target = "d"
Output: "f"

Input:
letters = ["c", "f", "j"]
target = "g"
Output: "j"

Input:
letters = ["c", "f", "j"]
target = "j"
Output: "c"

Input:
letters = ["c", "f", "j"]
target = "k"
Output: "c"
Note:
letters has a length in range [2, 10000].
letters consists of lowercase letters, and contains at least 2 unique letters.
target is a lowercase letter.

"""
class Solution(object):
    def nextGreatestLetter(self, letters, target):
        """
        :type letters: List[str]
        :type target: str
        :rtype: str
        """
        if not letters:
            return None
        n, r = None, None
        should_round = (target >= letters[-1])
        for c in letters:
            t = ord(c) - ord(target)
            if t <= 0 and should_round:
                t += 26
            elif t <= 0 and not should_round:
                continue
            if n is None:
                n = t
                r = c
            elif n > t:
                n = t
                r = c
        return r