> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://anand-aryan.gitbook.io/leetcode/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://anand-aryan.gitbook.io/leetcode/36.-valid-sudoku.md).

# 36. Valid Sudoku

Determine if a Sudoku is valid, according to: Sudoku Puzzles - The Rules.

The Sudoku board could be partially filled, where empty cells are filled with the character '.'.

A partially filled sudoku which is valid.

Note: A valid Sudoku board (partially filled) is not necessarily solvable. Only the filled cells need to be validated.

## Solution <a href="#solution" id="solution"></a>

```java
public class Solution {
    public boolean isValidSudoku(char[][] board) {

     for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
            for (int j = 0; j < 9; j++) {

                if (board[i][j] != '.' && !isValid(board, i, j))
                    return false;

            }
        }

        return true;

    }

    public static boolean isValid(char[][] board, int row, int column) {
        if (row < 0 || row >= 9 || column < 0 || column >= 9) return false;

        char val = board[row][column];
        for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
            if (board[row][i] == val && i != column) return false;
        }

        for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
            if (board[i][column] == val && i != row) return false;
        }

        // 3 * 3
        int startX = ((int) row / 3) * 3;
        int startY = ((int) column / 3) * 3;
        for (int i = startX; i < startX + 3; i++) {
            for (int j = startY; j < startY + 3; j++) {
                if (board[i][j] == val && (i != row || j != column)) {
                    return false;
                }
            }
        }

        return true;
    }
}
```


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