Use a two-pointer technique starting from both ends of the string. When characters mismatch, check if skipping either the left or right character results in a palindrome. If either does, return true; otherwise, return false.
Pro tip: Always clarify edge cases like empty string or single character, and mention that you'll handle them upfront. Also, discuss the time and space complexity (O(n) time, O(1) space) to show efficiency awareness.
Confirm the definition of a palindrome and ask about input constraints (e.g., empty string, single character). State that these cases return true.
Set left pointer at the start and right pointer at the end of the string. Iterate while left < right.
If characters at left and right match, move both pointers inward. If they don't match, check if skipping either character yields a palindrome.
Create a helper that checks if a substring (from left to right) is a palindrome using two pointers. Use it when a mismatch occurs.
Return true if either skip leads to a palindrome, else false. Mention O(n) time and O(1) space complexity.
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