Merge k Sorted Lists

Problem Description

You are given an array of k linked-lists lists, each linked-list is sorted in ascending order.

Merge all the linked-lists into one sorted linked-list and return it.

Example 1:

Input: lists = [[1,4,5],[1,3,4],[2,6]]
Output: [1,1,2,3,4,4,5,6]
Explanation: The linked-lists are:
[
  1->4->5,
  1->3->4,
  2->6
]
merging them into one sorted linked list:
1->1->2->3->4->4->5->6

Example 2:

Input: lists = []
Output: []

Example 3:

Input: lists = [[]]
Output: []

Constraints:

• k == lists.length
• 0 <= k <= 104
• 0 <= lists[i].length <= 500
• -104 <= lists[i][j] <= 104
• lists[i] is sorted in ascending order.
• The sum of lists[i].length will not exceed 104.

Solution (JavaScript)

/**
 * Definition for singly-linked list.
 * function ListNode(val) {
 *     this.val = val;
 *     this.next = null;
 * }
 */
/**
 * @param {ListNode[]} lists
 * @return {ListNode}
 */
var mergeKLists = function(lists) {
    var mergeTwoLists = function(l1, l2) {
        let mergedList = new ListNode(0);
        let p = mergedList;

        while(l1 && l2) {
            if(l1.val < l2.val) {
                p.next = l1;
                l1 = l1.next;
            } else {
                p.next = l2;
                l2 = l2.next;
            }
            p = p.next;
        }
        if(l1) p.next = l1;
        if(l2) p.next = l2;

        return mergedList.next;
    };
    
    if(!lists.length) return null;
    if(lists.length === 1) return lists[0];
    lists.push(mergeTwoLists(lists[0], lists[1]));
    lists.splice(0, 2);
    return mergeKLists(lists);
};