Data structures are the building blocks of your computer science concepts and coding problems. Usually, the tech experts analyze your grasp of the basic data structures to determine your skills.
Whereas the most commonly asked data structure amongst these questions is the Array. Arrays are a part of tech interviews at different companies all around the globe just like the SDE striver sheets.
If you are all set to prepare for your tech interviews and assessments, make sure you have completed the Arrays and their important topics in detail.
In case the Arrays are still lying in the pending list of your preparation list, this is the right time to get started on this significant topic.
Do not let the golden opportunity of joining your dream tech company on account of lack of information in arrays.
Know all you need to crack your array of problem statements through an efficient approach with this article.
Here, we will uncover all the important details of how array interview questions and problem statements are constructed and what kind of approaches will help you resolve different problem statements easily and smartly.
Before digging deep, let's explore what arrays are and how they work.
What are Arrays?
When a group of elements in a similar data type is combined to make a single form, that form is known as an array. The array is a technical term used for elements in a set.
Each element in an array contains an index value or key that defines its location in the array system. You can easily determine the location of each element through the index value using a fixed and concrete mathematical formula.
Arrays are the simplest linear data structures that help you to store, apply operations, and perform different functions with the data given in these arrays.
Various operations that you can carry out on the arrays include
- Array sorting
- Searching
- Reversing
- Conditional operations
- Traversal
Solving the different array questions can be a huge problem itself for many candidates, especially typical questions like SDE striver sheets, arrays, etc.
To make sure that you don't face any such situation, you need to excel at a few array concepts that you will find in committee-asked questions. The next segment covers all such concepts to help you boost your performance.
Array concepts to solve any code
Fundamentals of Arrays are most important to resolve any code.
To make sure that you can crack the basic as well as the advanced problem statements based on arrays, you need to learn the basics in detail.
Following are the terminologies, concepts, and topics that you need to learn to resolve different coding assessments accurately:
- Insertion
Arrays are linear data elements and hence, you can easily insert any data element after it is declared. To insert an element at a particular location inside an existing array, all you need is to provide the value and insert a point into the code. The whole array and its respective index values will be adjusted accordingly.
- Deletion
Similar to the insertion technique, you can also remove an element from an array by inserting its value or position. Deleting an element will remove it from the list as well as empty the index value for another element (if you wish to insert it)
- Searching
You can use different conditional operations to search for an element inside an array. Searching in an array is quite easy. All you need to know is the value or index key of the element to search it amongst the several data elements of an array.
- Reversing
One of the most important functions of Arrays includes that you can easily reverse them. Using loops, you can allot the accurate elemental value to different array elements. You can reverse the order of elements by a single loop as well
- Sorting
Another important trick used by tech experts while dealing with huge arrays is to sort the data elements based on different conditions. You can apply different sorting techniques on the arrays to attain accurate results after sorting the elements.
Once you learn all these tools and techniques, approaching an array of problems will become quite easy.
However, to efficiently approach different array problems you can keep a few details in your mind. Find the most efficient approaches to solve common array problems easily.
Approaches to solving array problems in data structures
There are a few general problem-solving approaches that will help you get efficient solutions for different array problems. These approaches include
- Divide and Conquer Approach
As the name suggests, this approach is simply used when you have a complex problem that can be further divided into sub-problems. The approach is to divide the main problem into different smaller problems and resolve them one by one.
Arrays can easily be sorted and distinguished after which you can follow this approach to solving the problem.
- Two pointer approach
In the case of complex and large arrays, the problem statements can easily be resolved through a two pointer approach. The idea behind this approach is to use two pointers that execute the same operation on different ends of the array. This will save time and space also. In addition to that, this approach is quite easy to execute.
- Sliding Window Approach
The window approach is most efficient when it comes to the problem statement which requires tasks to be executed in sets of elements. In this approach, the array elements are divided into sets (windows). Each operation is applied on these windows and once it is done, the window sliding that covers the next elements
- Incremental approach
The most efficient approach for array problems is to develop the solutions first and then incrementally apply them through loops.
Winding up
There can be N number of approaches that can provide you with an efficient solution for the array problem statements. You can use different approaches for solving array interview questions.
Make sure you learn different techniques such as problem-solving, SDE striver sheets, and many more for accurate results.
