Simple data compression algorithm

Question:

write a program for simple data compression algorithm

Example:

data = [1,2,3,4,0,0,0,3,4,6,0,0,0,21,2,3]

out = [1,2,3,4,"3x0",4,6,"2x0",21,2,3]

Logic:

1. Initialize comp_count to 1 and an empty list called result.

2. Iterate over the input list data (except for the last element).

3. If the current element is the same as the next element, increment comp_count.

4. If the current element is different from the next element:

   • If there were consecutive identical elements (i.e., comp_count > 1), append the count and the element to result.

   • Append the current element to result.

   • Reset comp_count to 1 for the next element.

5. Return the compressed list in the format “count x element”.

Solution in python:

# Example 1

data = [1,2,3,4,0,0,0,3,4,6,0,0,0,21,2,3]

out = [1,2,3,4,"3x0",4,6,"2x0",21,2,3]

# Example 2

data = [1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4],

output would be ['2x1', '3x2', 3, '4x4']

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