{"id":"sentinel-as-found-flag","text":"Solutions use sentinel values (e.g., initializing `result = n` where max valid answer is `n // 2`) to double as both accumulator and \"not found\" indicator, avoiding a separate boolean flag.","truth_value":"IN","source":"entries/2026/06/06/shortest-distance-to-target-string-in-a-circular-array-solution.md","source_url":"","source_hash":"","justifications":[],"dependents":[],"metadata":{},"created_at":"","updated_at":"","reviewed_at":"","verified_at":"","retracted_at":"","explanation":{"steps":[{"node":"sentinel-as-found-flag","truth_value":"IN","reason":"premise"}]}}