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Meta·Software Engineer·Technical Phone Screen·Intermediate

IntermediatePrefer not to say
May 2026

Summary

Meta software engineer coding round with two problems back to back. Tree traversal and then a classic array problem. Nothing too shocking but the combo kept me on my toes.

Questions Asked (2)

Q1

Given a binary tree, return the values of nodes visible from the right side, top to bottom.

Algorithms & Data Structures
Author's notes

Level-order traversal, take the last node at each level.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Use BFS level-order traversal, recording the last node at each level. Alternatively, use DFS prioritizing the right child and track the maximum depth seen so far. Clearly state the time and space complexity.

Pro tip: Mention that the right-side view is the last node at each level in BFS, and that DFS with right-first traversal can also work by tracking depth. This shows you understand multiple approaches and can choose based on constraints.

1. Clarify the problem

Confirm that 'right side view' means the rightmost node at each depth, and that the tree may be empty or skewed.

2. Choose an approach

Decide between BFS (level-order) and DFS (right-first with depth tracking), explaining trade-offs.

3. Walk through an example

Trace the chosen algorithm on a sample tree to verify correctness and edge cases.

4. Analyze complexity

State time and space complexity: O(N) time and O(N) space for BFS (queue) or O(H) for DFS (recursion stack).

5. Discuss edge cases

Mention handling of empty tree, single node, and skewed trees (left or right).

Key Points to Mention

  • BFS level-order traversal using a queue
  • DFS with right-first traversal and depth tracking
  • Time complexity O(N) and space complexity O(N) for BFS, O(H) for DFS
  • Handling edge cases: empty tree, single node, skewed trees
  • Comparison of BFS vs DFS in terms of code simplicity and memory usage
  • Potential follow-up: return left side view or both sides

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

Q2

Given an integer array, find all unique triplets that sum to zero.

Algorithms & Data Structures
Author's notes

Sort first, then two pointers.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the problem constraints (e.g., array size, duplicates, expected time complexity). Then propose the optimal O(n^2) solution: sort the array and use a two-pointer technique for each fixed element, skipping duplicates to ensure uniqueness. Discuss trade-offs with brute force and hash-based approaches.

Pro tip: Mention that sorting enables efficient duplicate skipping and two-pointer search, and that the O(n^2) time complexity is optimal for this problem since the output can be O(n^2) in the worst case. Also, handle edge cases like arrays with fewer than 3 elements.

1. Clarify and Confirm

Ask about input size, duplicate handling, and expected time/space complexity. Confirm that triplets must be unique and indices cannot be reused.

2. Outline Approaches

Briefly describe brute force O(n^3), hash map O(n^2) with extra space, and the optimal sort + two-pointer O(n^2) with O(1) extra space (excluding output).

3. Detail Optimal Solution

Explain: sort the array; for each index i, skip duplicates; use two pointers left=i+1 and right=n-1 to find pairs summing to -nums[i]; skip duplicates for left and right.

4. Analyze Complexity

State time complexity O(n^2) due to nested loops, and space complexity O(1) extra (or O(n) if counting sorting space).

5. Test with Examples

Walk through a small example like [-1,0,1,2,-1,-4] to demonstrate correctness and duplicate handling.

Key Points to Mention

  • Sorting the array to enable two-pointer technique and duplicate skipping.
  • Two-pointer approach for each fixed element to find pairs summing to its negation.
  • Skipping duplicates for the fixed element and for left/right pointers to ensure unique triplets.
  • Time complexity O(n^2) and space complexity O(1) extra (or O(n) due to sorting).
  • Edge cases: array length < 3, all zeros, no valid triplets.
  • Comparison with hash map approach: O(n^2) time but O(n) space, and potential duplicate handling issues.

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