1768. Merge Strings Alternately.py

""""
1768
You are given two strings word1 and word2. Merge the strings by adding letters in alternating order, starting with word1. If a string is longer than the other, append the additional letters onto the end of the merged string.

Return the merged string.

 
"""
class Solution:
    def mergeAlternately(self, word1: str, word2: str) -> str:
        merged_string = ''
        i, j = 0, 0
        while i < len(word1) and j < len(word2):
            merged_string += word1[i] + word2[j]
            i += 1
            j += 1
        merged_string += word1[i:] + word2[j:]
        return merged_string