Graphs are everywhere in programming, from social networks to road maps, and mastering them starts with understanding Depth-First Search (DFS). DFS is a fundamental graph traversal algorithm that explores as far as possible along a branch before backtracking. Whether you’re solving coding problems or tackling real-world applications, DFS is a…
A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding the Basics of Topological Sort
Topological sort is a foundational concept in graph theory that helps solve problems involving dependencies. Imagine you’re organizing tasks where some tasks must be completed before others. Topological sorting provides a way to order these tasks so that all dependencies are respected. Understanding Directed Acyclic Graphs To truly understand and…
Number of 1 Bits – 191. LeetCode
Counting the number of 1 bits in a binary number (also know as the Hamming Weight) is a fundamental problem in computer science. It’s a basic operation often used in error detection, network routing, cryptography. The task is simple: given an integer, count how many bits are set to 1…
Matrices Decoded: The Ultimate Guide to Rows, Columns, and Patterns
Matrices are a versatile data structure used in programming to organize and process information, from game boards to images and geographic maps. They play a key role in solving problems efficiently, such as finding paths, counting clusters, and processing submatrices. Mastering matrices not only helps with coding challenges but also…
The Ultimate Guide to Prefix Sum: Algorithm Patterns Simplified
If you’ve ever solved a problem that required adding up parts of an array or finding the sum of a subarray multiple times, you know how tedious it can get. What if there were a way to do it in a snap? Prefix sum is the algorithmic shortcut you didn’t…
Preorder Traversal of a Binary Tree: Understanding the Basics
Preorder traversal is one of the fundamental techniques used to explore binary trees. Whether you’re a beginner learning about trees or an experienced developer revisiting this topic, understanding preorder traversal is essential for solving many tree-based problems efficiently. In this blog post, we’ll break down the concept, introduce a simple…
Backtracking Demystified: The Algorithm Pattern That Powers Problem Solving
Backtracking is a powerful and versatile algorithmic technique used to solve problems that require exploring all possible solutions while eliminating unpromising paths along the way. It works by incrementally building candidates for a solution and abandoning those that fail to satisfy the problem’s constraints. Think of it as navigating a…
Mastering the Top-K Algorithm Pattern: A Step-by-Step Guide
In the world of algorithms, the Top-K pattern stands out as one of the most versatile and practical techniques. Whether you’re ranking search results, analyzing data trends, or solving complex coding problems, the Top-K algorithm pattern is your go-to strategy. This blog will walk you through a structured framework to…
Simplify Algorithm Design with the Monotonic Stack Pattern
When solving sequence-based problems—like finding the next greater element, stock span, or calculating sliding window maximum—efficiency is paramount. Many of these problems involve comparing elements across a sequence, and a brute-force approach often leads to nested loops with a costly O(n^2) time complexity. Enter the monotonic stack: a powerful data…
Frequency Counters 101: The Algorithm Pattern You Need to Know
The Frequency Counter pattern is a fundamental algorithm design approach used to solve problems by counting occurrences of elements in an efficient way. It replaces the need for nested loops (brute-force methods) with hash maps or dictionaries to reduce time complexity. Here’s a structured framework to learn and master this…
