Merge Strings Alternately

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.

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class Solution {
    public String mergeAlternately(String word1, String word2) {
        // Get lengths of both words
        int word1Length = word1.length();
        int word2Length = word2.length();

        // StringBuilder to build the merged string
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

        // Determine the loop limit by considering the combined lengths of both words
        int loopLimit = word2Length + word1Length;

        // Initialize indices for both words
        int word1Index = 0;
        int word2Index = 0;

        // Iterate through the words to merge them alternately
        for (int i = 0; i < loopLimit; i++) {
            // If word2 is longer or both words have equal lengths
            if ((word2Length > word1Length) || (word1Length == word2Length)) {
                // Check for even index to append characters from word1
                if ((i % 2 == 0) && (word1Index < word1Length)) {
                    sb.append(word1.charAt(word1Index));
                    word1Index++;
                } else {
                    // Append characters from word2 if not an even index or word1 is finished
                    sb.append(word2.charAt(word2Index));
                    word2Index++;
                }
            }
            // If word1 is longer than word2
            if (word1Length > word2Length) {
                // Check for odd index to append characters from word2
                if ((i % 2 != 0) && (word2Index < word2Length)) {
                    sb.append(word2.charAt(word2Index));
                    word2Index++;
                } else {
                    // Append characters from word1 if not an odd index or word2 is finished
                    sb.append(word1.charAt(word1Index));
                    word1Index++;
                }
            }
        }

        // Convert the StringBuilder to a string
        String newString = sb.toString();

        // Return the merged string
        return newString;
    }
}