{"id":"next-valid-terminates","text":"`_next_valid` in backspace-string-compare always terminates because the `index` variable strictly decreases on every iteration of its while loop, and the loop exits when `index < 0`.","truth_value":"IN","source":"entries/2026/06/06/backspace-string-compare-solution.md","source_url":"","source_hash":"","justifications":[],"dependents":[],"metadata":{},"created_at":"","updated_at":"","reviewed_at":"","verified_at":"","retracted_at":"","explanation":{"steps":[{"node":"next-valid-terminates","truth_value":"IN","reason":"premise"}]}}