Case sensitivity tripped me up for a second.
Start by clarifying the problem constraints (e.g., input size, case sensitivity, whether the list is static or dynamic) and then propose a straightforward solution using a linear scan with a string prefix check. If the list is large or queries are frequent, discuss optimizing with a trie or sorting plus binary search to achieve better time complexity.
Pro tip: Mention that in real-world systems like search autocomplete, a trie is often used to handle prefix queries efficiently, but for a one-off query, a simple scan is acceptable—showing you can balance simplicity and performance.
Ask about input size, case sensitivity, whether the list is static or dynamic, and if multiple queries will be made. This determines the optimal approach.
Suggest iterating through the list and checking if each word starts with the prefix using a built-in method like startsWith. This is O(n * m) where m is prefix length.
If the list is large or queries are frequent, propose building a trie for O(m + k) retrieval, or sorting the list and using binary search to find the range of words with the prefix.
Compare time and space complexity of each approach. Discuss when to use each based on constraints like memory, query frequency, and list size.
Consider empty prefix, empty list, no matches, and case sensitivity. Mention how to handle them in the chosen solution.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.