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Meta·Software Engineer·Onsite - Coding / Algorithms·Intermediate

Intermediate
Apr 2026

Summary

Meta SWE coding round focused on tree traversal variations. Three problems, all BFS-based, but the way they were grouped together made it feel like one extended question with escalating requirements.

Questions Asked (3)

Q1

Given a binary tree, return the value of the rightmost node at each level (right side view).

Algorithms & Data Structures
Author's notes

Pretty standard BFS question once you realize you just grab the last element of each level's queue snapshot.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Use BFS level-order traversal, processing each level and recording the last node's value. Alternatively, use DFS with a depth parameter, updating the result array when visiting a node at a new depth for the first time (visiting right child before left).

Pro tip: Clarify the definition of 'rightmost node' (e.g., if a level has only a left child, that node is the rightmost). Also, mention that the solution should handle edge cases like an empty tree and that both BFS and DFS are acceptable, but BFS is more intuitive.

1. Understand the problem

Confirm that the right side view is the set of nodes visible when the tree is viewed from the right side, i.e., the rightmost node at each depth. Clarify edge cases: empty tree, skewed tree, etc.

2. Choose an approach

Decide between BFS (level-order traversal) and DFS (pre-order with depth tracking). BFS is straightforward: process each level and take the last node. DFS can be more space-efficient: traverse right-first, and record the first node seen at each depth.

3. Implement the algorithm

For BFS: use a queue, iterate level by level, and for each level, record the value of the last node. For DFS: use recursion with depth, maintain a result list, and if depth equals result size, append current node's value; recurse right then left.

4. Test with examples

Walk through a sample tree (e.g., [1,2,3,null,5,null,4]) to verify the output [1,3,4]. Also test edge cases: empty tree, single node, left-skewed tree.

5. Analyze complexity

State time complexity O(n) and space complexity O(n) for BFS (queue) or O(h) for DFS (recursion stack), where h is tree height. Mention that both are optimal.

Key Points to Mention

  • Level-order traversal (BFS) using a queue
  • DFS with depth tracking and right-first traversal
  • Handling edge cases: empty tree, single node, skewed trees
  • Time and space complexity analysis
  • Clarifying the definition of 'rightmost node'
  • Choosing between BFS and DFS based on constraints

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

Q2

Now return the leftmost node at each level instead (left side view).

Algorithms & Data Structures
Author's notes

Same structure, just grab index 0 instead of the last.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Clarify that this is a variation of level-order traversal where we record the first node at each level. Use BFS with a queue, and for each level, capture the first node's value before processing the rest. Alternatively, use DFS with depth tracking, updating the result only when visiting a level for the first time.

Pro tip: Mention that BFS is more intuitive for level-based problems, but DFS can be more space-efficient for skewed trees. Also, handle edge cases like an empty tree and a tree with only right children.

1. Clarify the problem

Confirm that the left side view means the leftmost node at each depth, and that we return a list of values from top to bottom.

2. Choose traversal method

Decide between BFS (queue) and DFS (recursion/stack). BFS naturally processes level by level; DFS can track depth and update the result when a new depth is reached.

3. Implement traversal

For BFS: enqueue root, then for each level, record the first node's value and enqueue children. For DFS: recurse with depth, and if depth equals result size, append current node's value.

4. Handle edge cases

Check for null root and return an empty list. Ensure the algorithm works for trees with only right children (leftmost node is the right child).

5. Analyze complexity

State time complexity O(n) and space complexity O(w) for BFS (w = max width) or O(h) for DFS (h = height).

Key Points to Mention

  • Level-order traversal (BFS) with a queue
  • DFS with depth tracking and pre-order traversal
  • Recording the first node at each level
  • Time complexity O(n) and space complexity trade-offs
  • Edge cases: empty tree, skewed tree
  • Comparison of BFS vs DFS for this problem

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

Q3

For each level of a binary tree, return the average value of all nodes at that level.

Algorithms & Data Structures
Author's notes

Still BFS, just sum the level and divide by count.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Use a breadth-first search (BFS) with a queue to traverse the tree level by level. For each level, compute the sum of node values and divide by the number of nodes to get the average. Collect these averages in a list and return it.

Pro tip: Clarify upfront whether the tree can be empty and how to handle division by zero (e.g., return an empty list). Also, mention that using a queue with level-size tracking avoids needing to store all nodes, keeping space complexity O(w) where w is the maximum width.

1. Clarify requirements and edge cases

Ask about input constraints: can the tree be empty? What should be returned for an empty tree? Are node values within a certain range? Confirm the expected output format.

2. Choose BFS with a queue

Explain that BFS naturally processes nodes level by level. Use a queue to store nodes of the current level, and track the number of nodes at that level to compute the average.

3. Implement level-by-level traversal

While the queue is not empty, record the current level size, iterate that many times, summing node values and enqueuing children. After the loop, compute the average and add to the result list.

4. Analyze complexity and test

State time complexity O(n) since each node is visited once, and space complexity O(w) where w is the maximum width of the tree. Walk through a small example to verify correctness.

Key Points to Mention

  • BFS is ideal for level-order traversal because it processes nodes level by level.
  • Use a queue (e.g., collections.deque in Python) for efficient FIFO operations.
  • Track the number of nodes at each level to compute the average correctly.
  • Handle edge cases: empty tree returns empty list; single node returns its value.
  • Time complexity O(n) and space complexity O(w) where w is the maximum width.
  • Alternative: DFS with level tracking, but BFS is more straightforward for this problem.

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