class Solution {
    public String mergeAlternately(String word1, String word2) {
        
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
        char[] arr1 = word1.toCharArray();
        char[] arr2 = word2.toCharArray();
        
        int length = Math.max(arr1.length, arr2.length);
        
        for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
            
            if (i < arr1.length) {
                sb.append(arr1[i]);
            }
            
            if (i < arr2.length) {
                sb.append(arr2[i]);
            }

        }
        
        return sb.toString();
        
    }
}