Where did Blind 75 come from? The path to interview success

If you've been preparing for coding interviews, chances are you’ve heard of "Blind 75"—the legendary curated list of problems that countless engineers swear by. But where did Blind 75 come from, and why has it become a gold standard for tech interview preparation?

In this blog, we’ll explore Blind 75's origin story, why it became so influential, and how it revolutionized the way developers approach coding interviews today.

The origin of Blind 75#

The Blind 75 list was created by Yangshun Tay, a former Facebook (now Meta) engineer who wanted to help others prepare more efficiently for technical interviews. Frustrated by the overwhelming number of problems available across platforms like LeetCode, Yangshun decided to curate a focused, high-impact list.

Instead of recommending hundreds of random problems, he handpicked 75 problems that covered the most important topics, including:

• Arrays and strings

• Trees and graphs

• Dynamic programming

• Backtracking

• Binary search

• Linked lists

• Stack and queue operations

His goal was simple: eliminate noise, eliminate guesswork, and give candidates a clear, achievable roadmap for mastering essential problem-solving skills crucial for FAANG interviews.

Why was it called "Blind 75"?#

The name "Blind 75" is a nod to Yangshun’s website, "blind75," where he first published the list. It reflects the idea of tackling a lean set of problems "blindly"—without getting distracted by hundreds of alternatives. It champions discipline over randomness.

Blind 75 wasn’t meant to be exhaustive. Instead, it focused tightly on the problems that consistently appear across top-tier interviews—problems that interviewers love because they reveal a candidate’s ability to think critically, debug effectively, and optimize under pressure.

How Blind 75 changed interview prep#

Before Blind 75, many candidates fell into the trap of random grinding—solving hundreds of LeetCode questions without building real intuition. Blind 75 flipped the script by offering:

• Focus: A curated set of essential problems across core categories.

• Efficiency: Faster, smarter preparation without feeling lost.

• Pattern recognition: Mastery of fundamental strategies and reusable problem-solving frameworks.

Instead of chasing quantity, candidates focused on mastering transferable thinking patterns. It created a more strategic, sustainable approach to interview prep that emphasized depth over breadth.

Today, many educators, bootcamps, and even internal company prep guides reference Blind 75 as a benchmark for high-quality preparation.

Is Blind 75 still relevant?#

Absolutely. While new problem sets like NeetCode 150 and curated interview courses have emerged, Blind 75 remains one of the best starting points for candidates who want to:

• Build a bulletproof problem-solving foundation

• Prepare efficiently for FAANG and top tech interviews

• Focus on understanding core data structures and algorithms deeply

That said, senior-level candidates often supplement Blind 75 with additional System Design practice, more advanced dynamic programming challenges, or newer concurrency/distributed systems problems to round out their preparation.

Why Blind 75 works for busy developers#

One major reason Blind 75 became so popular is that it respects your time. Most developers preparing for interviews balance work, school, or other commitments. A lean, high-impact list saves hundreds of hours of random grinding and keeps motivation high.

With Blind 75, you’re not trying to "do it all"—focusing on the 20% of problems that deliver 80% of results. It's the ultimate Pareto-efficient approach to technical interviews.

How to use Blind 75 effectively#

The real secret isn’t just solving all 75 problems—it’s solving them well.

Tips for success:

• Solve each problem without relying immediately on hints or solution guides.

• After solving, reflect critically: What patterns or strategies did you use? Could it have been optimized?

• Revisit tough problems after a few days to reinforce pattern memory.

• Keep a mistake journal: track common mistakes, misunderstood patterns, and insights.

Blind 75 isn’t just a checklist—it’s a personal training ground for deep, repeatable problem-solving intuition.

Common mistakes when using Blind 75#

Even a great list can be misused.

Watch out for these pitfalls:

• Speed-solving without understanding the "why" behind the solution.

• Memorizing code snippets instead of internalizing patterns and concepts.

• Skipping tougher topics like graphs, dynamic programming, or backtracking.

• Not re-solving problems after a cooling-off period, leading to false confidence.

Consistent, thoughtful, reflective practice is what transforms Blind 75 from "just another list" into a game-changing resource.

How Blind 75 fits into a broader interview prep plan#

Blind 75 is an excellent foundation, but a strong interview prep strategy should also include:

• Mock interviews: To simulate real interview pressure and practice communication skills.

• System Design basics: Essential if you're applying to mid-level or backend-heavy roles.

• Behavioral interview preparation: FAANG companies weigh leadership principles and teamwork stories heavily.

Think of Blind 75 as your technical core training. Adding real-world practice and behavioral fluency ensures you’re a complete candidate.

Blind 75 vs. other problem lists#

There are plenty of other curated lists—NeetCode 150, Top 100 Liked Questions on LeetCode, etc. Blind 75 stands out because:

• It’s achievable for busy professionals and students.

• It avoids redundancy and excessive overlap.

• It prioritizes the patterns that matter most for top-tier interviews.

For most developers, starting with Blind 75 gives faster skill-building and earlier confidence than drowning in endless problem sets.

Testimonials from developers who used Blind 75#

Thousands of developers credit Blind 75 with helping them land jobs at FAANG companies, top startups, and leading tech consultancies.

Common themes in their feedback include:

• "I didn’t feel lost anymore—there was a clear roadmap."

• "It made interview prep manageable alongside my full-time job."

• "Blind 75 taught me how to recognize and adapt patterns, not just memorize answers."

• "I built genuine confidence in whiteboarding and timed coding challenges."

Hearing these success stories reinforces why Blind 75 remains a trusted staple even as new prep resources emerge.

How Educative improves the Blind 75 experience#

Educative’s Blind 75 course enhances the original experience significantly by making it:

• Fully interactive: Code directly in the browser without tedious environment setup.

• Deeper in explanation: Each problem comes with step-by-step walkthroughs and optimized solutions.

• Smartly categorized: Problems are tagged by topic and difficulty so you can target weaknesses strategically.

• Motivation-driven: Progress tracking, quizzes, and badges gamify learning to keep you engaged.

Educative's version transforms Blind 75 from a static checklist into a guided, dynamic journey designed to make you interview-ready in the most efficient way possible.

Whether you're starting fresh or revisiting Blind 75 for a refresh, Educative’s approach gives you a faster, clearer path to mastery.

Final thoughts#

If you're wondering "Where did Blind 75 come from?" Now you know—it was born out of one engineer’s desire to simplify and optimize the chaotic world of interview prep. Yangshun’s list gave structure to the chaos and helped thousands of developers land offers at top tech companies.

If you’re starting your coding interview journey, Blind 75 remains a smart, strategic place to begin. Focus on understanding the patterns, practice consistently, reflect deeply, and use it as a launchpad for even greater growth.