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Visa·Software Engineer·Technical Phone Screen·Intermediate

Intermediate
May 2026

Summary

Visa SWE interview with a meaty data structures problem that required designing something efficient enough to handle large-scale inputs. The question had a clear algorithmic angle but also pushed into system design territory with the complexity analysis ask.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

You have two integer arrays A and B and need to support two operations: Query(T) returns the count of pairs (i, j) where A[i] + B[j] equals T, and Replace(idx, val) updates B at a given index. Design a data structure to handle these operations efficiently for very large inputs, and analyze the time and space complexity.

Algorithms & Data StructuresSystem DesignTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the constraints and expected operation frequency, then propose a hash map-based solution that stores frequencies of B and maintains a running sum of A. For Replace, update the frequency map and adjust the running sum accordingly. Analyze the time complexity for both operations and discuss trade-offs with alternative approaches like sorting or balanced trees.

Pro tip: Mention that if Replace operations are frequent, a hash map may not be optimal due to O(n) updates; consider a balanced BST or segment tree if B is static and A is dynamic, but clarify assumptions. Also, discuss memory usage and potential for integer overflow.

1. Clarify Requirements and Constraints

Ask about the size of arrays, frequency of operations, and whether arrays can be modified. Confirm if T is arbitrary and if there are memory constraints.

2. Propose a Data Structure

Suggest using a hash map to store frequencies of elements in B, and precompute the sum of A. For Query(T), iterate over unique elements of A and look up T - A[i] in the map. For Replace, update the map and adjust the sum.

3. Analyze Complexity

Query: O(U) where U is number of unique elements in A. Replace: O(1) for map update and sum adjustment. Space: O(U + V) where V is unique elements in B. Discuss worst-case scenarios.

4. Discuss Trade-offs and Alternatives

Compare with sorting B and using binary search for Query (O(log n) per query but O(n) for Replace). Mention balanced BST or segment tree if both operations need to be fast, but note increased complexity.

5. Conclude with Recommendation

Based on typical constraints (e.g., many queries, few replaces), recommend the hash map approach. If replaces are frequent, suggest a more balanced structure.

Key Points to Mention

  • Hash map for frequency counting of B
  • Precomputed sum of A for efficient query
  • Time complexity: Query O(U), Replace O(1)
  • Space complexity: O(U + V)
  • Trade-offs with sorting and binary search
  • Handling large inputs and potential integer overflow

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.