<p>The string <code>&quot;PAYPALISHIRING&quot;</code> is written in a zigzag pattern on a given number of rows like this: (you may want to display this pattern in a fixed font for better legibility)</p>

<pre>
P   A   H   N
A P L S I I G
Y   I   R
</pre>

<p>And then read line by line: <code>&quot;PAHNAPLSIIGYIR&quot;</code></p>

<p>Write the code that will take a string and make this conversion given a number of rows:</p>

<pre>
string convert(string s, int numRows);
</pre>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong class="example">Example 1:</strong></p>

<pre>
<strong>Input:</strong> s = &quot;PAYPALISHIRING&quot;, numRows = 3
<strong>Output:</strong> &quot;PAHNAPLSIIGYIR&quot;
</pre>

<p><strong class="example">Example 2:</strong></p>

<pre>
<strong>Input:</strong> s = &quot;PAYPALISHIRING&quot;, numRows = 4
<strong>Output:</strong> &quot;PINALSIGYAHRPI&quot;
<strong>Explanation:</strong>
P     I    N
A   L S  I G
Y A   H R
P     I
</pre>

<p><strong class="example">Example 3:</strong></p>

<pre>
<strong>Input:</strong> s = &quot;A&quot;, numRows = 1
<strong>Output:</strong> &quot;A&quot;
</pre>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Constraints:</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><code>1 &lt;= s.length &lt;= 1000</code></li>
	<li><code>s</code> consists of English letters (lower-case and upper-case), <code>&#39;,&#39;</code> and <code>&#39;.&#39;</code>.</li>
	<li><code>1 &lt;= numRows &lt;= 1000</code></li>
</ul>

class Solution:
    def convert(self, s: str, numRows: int) -> str:
        if numRows == 1 or numRows >= len(s):
            return s  # No need for zigzag if there's only one row or if the number of rows is greater than or equal to string length.

        # Create an array of strings, one for each row
        rows = [''] * numRows
        current_row = 0
        going_down = False  # A flag to track the direction of zigzag

        # Traverse the string and place characters in appropriate rows
        for char in s:
            rows[current_row] += char

            # Change direction when we hit the first or last row
            if current_row == 0 or current_row == numRows - 1:
                going_down = not going_down

            # Move to the next row depending on direction
            current_row += 1 if going_down else -1

        # Join all rows together to get the final zigzag string
        return ''.join(rows)

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