Algorithmic Techniques to remember
Algorithmic tips and concepts that can be useful when solving coding problems:
- Understand the problem: Make sure you understand the problem before you start coding. Ask questions if necessary.
- Identify the input and output: Figure out what the input to your program is and what the output should be.
- Use a brute-force approach first: If you're not sure where to start, try a brute-force approach. This means trying all possible solutions until you find the right one.
- Break the problem down: Divide the problem into smaller sub-problems that are easier to solve.
- Use data structures: Use data structures like arrays, linked lists, and hash tables to organize your data.
- Optimize for time or space: Depending on the problem, you may need to optimize for either time or space complexity.
- Use recursion: Recursion can be a powerful tool for solving problems, especially when dealing with nested data structures.
- Use dynamic programming: Dynamic programming can be used to solve problems where the solution depends on the solutions to smaller sub-problems.
- Use memoization: Memoization can be used to speed up recursive algorithms by caching the results of sub-problems.
- Use binary search: Binary search is a fast and efficient algorithm for finding an element in a sorted array.
- Use two pointers: Two pointers can be used to solve problems that involve searching for a pair of elements in an array.
- Use a sliding window: A sliding window can be used to solve problems that involve finding a subarray that meets a certain condition.
- Use backtracking: Backtracking can be used to solve problems where you need to explore all possible solutions.
- Use a priority queue: A priority queue can be used to implement algorithms that require finding the minimum or maximum element in a set of data.
- Use a stack or queue: A stack or queue can be used to implement algorithms that involve processing data in a specific order.
- Use bit manipulation: Bit manipulation can be used to perform operations on binary representations of data.
- Use graph algorithms: Graph algorithms can be used to solve problems that involve finding the shortest path between two points, or finding connected components in a graph.
- Use string algorithms: String algorithms can be used to solve problems that involve searching, matching, or manipulating strings.
- Use machine learning: Machine learning can be used to solve problems that involve pattern recognition, classification, or prediction.
- Use parallelization: Parallelization can be used to speed up algorithms by distributing the workload across multiple processors or machines.