Not a direct copy but close enough that anyone who drilled that list would recognize it.
Clarify the problem, constraints, and edge cases, then discuss brute force and optimize using appropriate data structures or algorithms. Walk through your solution with examples, analyze time and space complexity, and write clean, modular code while explaining your thought process.
Pro tip: Google values structured problem-solving and communication over just getting the right answer. Verbally explain your reasoning, trade-offs, and how you would test and scale your solution.
Restate the problem in your own words, ask clarifying questions about input/output, constraints, and edge cases. Confirm assumptions with the interviewer.
Discuss a brute-force solution first, then identify bottlenecks and propose optimized approaches using appropriate data structures or algorithms. Compare trade-offs.
Outline your chosen approach step-by-step, then write clean, modular code. Use meaningful variable names and handle edge cases explicitly.
Walk through your code with a few test cases, including edge cases. Identify and fix any bugs or logical errors.
State the time and space complexity of your solution. Discuss potential optimizations or alternative approaches if needed.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.