Debugging Under Pressure

Coding interviews can be intimidating, but with the right approach and preparation, you can tackle them systematically.

Before You Code

Understand the Problem

• Read the problem statement carefully
• Ask clarifying questions
• Identify inputs, outputs, and constraints
• Work through examples by hand

Plan Your Approach

• Consider multiple solutions
• Start with brute force, then optimize
• Discuss trade-offs with interviewer
• Confirm approach before coding

Essential Patterns to Know

Two Pointers

Use when dealing with sorted arrays or linked lists. Move pointers based on conditions.

Sliding Window

Use for contiguous subarray/substring problems. Maintain a window and expand/shrink.

Binary Search

Use for sorted data or when finding a threshold. Halve the search space each iteration.

BFS/DFS

Use for graph/tree traversal. BFS for shortest path, DFS for exploring all paths.

Dynamic Programming

Use when problem has optimal substructure and overlapping subproblems.

Hash Maps

Use for O(1) lookups, counting frequencies, or caching results.

During the Interview

• Verbalize your thought process
• Write clean, readable code
• Use meaningful variable names
• Test with examples as you go
• Handle edge cases

Common Edge Cases

• Empty input
• Single element
• Duplicates
• Negative numbers
• Maximum/minimum values

If You Get Stuck

• Ask for a hint (it's okay!)
• Think about simpler versions of the problem
• Consider what data structures might help
• Look for patterns in the examples