> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://r24zeng.gitbook.io/leetcode-notebook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://r24zeng.gitbook.io/leetcode-notebook/binary-search-and-tree/257.-binary-tree-paths.md).

# 257. Binary Tree Paths

\# Easy

{% hint style="info" %}
Not easy. Hard to think. Two cases are needed to consider in `helper` function.

1. `root` doesn't have any child, then this path completes
2. `root` is empty, then this path is invalid.

`List1 = [1, 2, 3], List2 = [2, 4, 6]. List1 + List2 = [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 6]`

So in the implementation below, `List1 = ['1->2->5'], List2 = ['1->3']`, then `List1+List2 = [['1->2->5'], ['1->3']].`
{% endhint %}

![](https://3288217904-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LxJcc9A1TOyn5a5HJQ4%2F-MAwzCKAOzCQuug0-d2x%2F-MAxAYYgRuPCiaowDpBo%2F1593385553714.jpg?alt=media\&token=3c74cc20-ed1f-417f-95d4-62a0083902a1)

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Python" %}

```python
class Solution:
    def binaryTreePaths(self, root: TreeNode) -> List[str]:
        # edge case
        if root == None:
            return []
        
        # regular case
        path = ""
        return self.helper(root, path)
    
    def helper(self, root, path):
        # stop condition
        if root == None:
            return []
        
        if root.left == None and root.right == None:
            return [path + str(root.val)]
        
        # regular case
        path = path + str(root.val) + "->"
        return self.helper(root.left, path) + self.helper(root.right, path)
```

Time complexity = $$O(n)$$ , traversal all nodes. 
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Second Tab" %}

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}