Seemed easy at first and I jumped straight into coding without clarifying the expected return behavior.
Clarify the requirements first: whether the array is static or dynamic, the expected time complexity for each operation, and whether operations are in-place or return a new array. Then choose an appropriate data structure (e.g., dynamic array for O(1) add/update and O(n) remove, or a balanced BST for O(log n) operations) and implement the operations with careful handling of edge cases like invalid indices.
Pro tip: Discuss the trade-offs between different data structures and mention that in a real-world scenario, you would consider using a library or built-in methods unless the interviewer wants a from-scratch implementation. Also, proactively mention edge cases and error handling to show maturity.
Ask about the expected time complexity, whether the array is static or dynamic, and if operations should modify in-place or return a new array. Also clarify input types and error handling expectations.
Decide between a simple array, dynamic array, linked list, or balanced BST based on the required time complexities. Explain your choice and its trade-offs.
Write clean code for add, remove, and update, handling edge cases such as invalid indices, empty array, and resizing if necessary. Ensure each operation returns the modified array as required.
State the time and space complexity for each operation and justify them. Discuss any optimizations or alternative approaches.
Walk through a few test cases, including edge cases, to demonstrate correctness and robustness of your solution.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.