Use a recursive depth-first traversal to compare the two trees simultaneously. At each step, check if both nodes are null (return true), if one is null (return false), or if their values differ (return false). Then recursively check the left and right subtrees.
Pro tip: Mention that this problem is a classic example of structural recursion and that the same pattern extends to checking subtree equality or symmetry. Also, note that an iterative BFS approach using a queue is possible, but recursion is cleaner and more intuitive.
Confirm that 'identical' means same structure and same node values at every position. Ask if the trees can be empty or have duplicate values.
If both nodes are null, they are identical. If one is null and the other is not, they are not identical.
Check if the values of the current nodes are equal. If not, return false.
Recursively check if the left subtrees are identical and if the right subtrees are identical. Return true only if both are true.
State that time complexity is O(n) where n is the number of nodes, and space complexity is O(h) for recursion stack, where h is the height of the tree.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.