Why Programming/Coding Problems?
Solving coding problems can be a lot of fun and comes with a lot of benefits:
- Working on coding problem can help you sharpen both your coding and problem-solving skills.
- Working on coding problems allows you to practice writing efficient code.
- Working on coding problems enhances your algorithm understanding and motivates you to learn a lot of algorithms! Further, it also gives you insight in terms of being able to choose the right algorithm for a given problem.
- Regularly solving problems will help you remain updated with the latest algorithm and problem solving techniques since this is an ever-evolving area.
- Finally, once you are familiar with the basic patterns, you will find solving problems to be a lot of fun!
Note that example solutions in this section are provided in Java. Having said that, our solutions are generic and are there to illustrate the workings of general algorithms and strategies. Also, some of the problems are from the LeetCode (www.leetcode.com ); the problems that we have selected are available to all visitors and do not require LeetCode subscription. Lastly, most of these LeetCode problems are identical to those asked popularly in interviews in different companies.
Help with Interview Preparation!
Most of the technology companies have an coding-interview as part of their interview process. Being able to solve problems asked during an interview can help you land your dream job and thus, can make a big impact in your life.
Regularly solving coding problems can help in the interview in many ways:
- Solving a problem asked in an interview demonstrates your technical competence.
- Practicing coding problems regularly means that you would be more familiar with the pattern of problem being asked in the coding interview.
- If you practice coding problems, then it can also help you manage your time better in the interview since you would be able to write solutions faster.
- If you have a lot of practice, then you would write code more confidently in an interview and the interviewer will be able to see that.
- If you are good at solving problems, then it shows that not only are you a good programmer but you are also a good problem solver.
Note that some interview questions may not be super hard, but candidates are expected to be very careful and deal with edge cases or find a performant solution. So coming up with a solution that works in the happy scenario, even quickly, may not be enough, especially for senior candidates.
So, with that, Happy Coding!