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Grokking the Coding Interview Patterns

Grokking the Coding Interview is the best course that saves countless hours wasted in grinding LeetCode. Master 28 coding patterns; unlock all LeetCode problems. Developed by and for MAANG engineers.

4.8
1033 Lessons
17 Mock Interviews
85h
Updated this week
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Join 2.9 million developers at
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
  • Master 28 coding patterns that unlock the logic behind thousands of LeetCode-style problems
  • Identify the underlying pattern in any coding interview question by analyzing the problem statement
  • Solve real-world problems across arrays, trees, graphs, dynamic programming, and more without relying on memorization
  • Evaluate time and space complexity tradeoffs to choose the optimal approach under pressure
  • Practice with 500+ hands-on challenges and 17 mock interviews simulating real FAANG coding interview loops
Why choose this course?

Learn 28 Non-negotiable Coding Patterns

Begin your journey with core coding patterns such as Two Pointers, Binary Search, and Linked List manipulation. Each problem comes as a paired challenge and solution: first, implement your own approach, then study a step-by-step optimal sol

Master Advanced Algorithms and Data Structures

Level up with complex topics such as Dynamic Programming, Graphs, Tries, and Union Find. These advanced patterns often appear in the toughest interviews and will prepare you to approach difficult questions with confidence and clarity.

Mock Interviews for Every Coding Pattern

At the end of each chapter, take an AI-driven mock interview. Practice under real conditions and strengthen your ability to explain solutions clearly.

Put Your Skills to the Test

Wrap up your preparation in the Challenge Yourself section, where problems are presented without pattern labels. This sharpens your ability to recognize the right approach on your own, just like in a real interview.

Learning Roadmap

3.

Sliding Window

Break down the sliding window technique to solve computational problems with optimized efficiency.

4.

Intervals

Solve problems in merging intervals, inserting and finding intersections of intervals, scheduler tasks, and determining employee free time.

5.

In-Place Manipulation of a Linked List

Tackle in-place linked list manipulations for efficient and memory-optimized operations.

6.

Two Heaps

Master the steps to optimize dynamic data processing and decision-making using heaps.

7.

K-way Merge

Learn how to use k-way merge for efficient data merging and finding k-th small elements.

8.

Top K Elements

Walk through the top k elements pattern and learn efficient selection using heaps.

9.

Modified Binary Search

Break apart modified binary search adaptations and solutions for diverse search problems.

10.

Subsets

Grasp the fundamentals of generating subsets, permutations, and combinations.

11.

Greedy Techniques

Dig into optimization problems with greedy algorithms through practical scenarios and solutions.

12.

Backtracking

Explore backtracking algorithm for solving complex problems like N-Queens, word search, binary tree paths, and Sudoku.

13.

Dynamic Programming

Build on dynamic programming concepts to efficiently solve complex optimization problems.

14.

Cyclic Sort

Step through cyclic sort concepts to efficiently handle various missing and corrupt number scenarios.

15.

Topological Sort

Unpack the core of topological sort, focusing on ordering dependencies and resolving compilation sequences efficiently.

16.

Sort and Search

Solve problems by organizing data through sorting and applying binary search, two-pointer, and sliding window for efficient solutions.

17.

Matrices

Go hands-on with matrix operations, transformations, and efficient traversal techniques in coding.

18.

Stacks

Apply your skills to use stacks for various tasks, including calculators, string manipulation, and queuing.

19.

Graphs

Deepen your knowledge of graph theory, algorithms, practical solutions, and real-world applications.

20.

Tree Depth-First Search

Follow the process of exploring tree structures and implementing various binary tree problems.

21.

Tree Breadth-First Search

Piece together the parts of the Tree BFS traversal, focusing on various traversal methods.

22.

Trie

Step through efficient trie implementations to optimize search suggestions, word replacements, and common prefix finding.

23.

Hash Maps

Discover the logic behind implementing efficient hash maps and their applications in problem-solving.

24.

Knowing What to Track

Master the steps to efficiently track data, solve permutations, anagrams, and game design problems.

25.

Union Find

Enhance your skills in Union-Find to address diverse graph and connectivity problems.

26.

Custom Data Structures

Dig into creating and implementing custom data structures for solving specialized problems efficiently.

27.

Bitwise Manipulation

Explore bitwise operations for problem-solving and algorithm optimization.

28.

Math and Geometry

Explore math and geometry for problem-solving.

29.

Challenge Yourself

Test your understanding of various coding challenges focusing on algorithm efficiency.

Course Author:

Developed by MAANG Engineers
ABOUT THIS COURSE
I created Grokking the Coding Interview because I watched too many talented engineers fail interviews they should have passed. At Microsoft and Meta, I saw firsthand what separated the candidates who succeeded from the ones who didn't. It wasn't how many LeetCode problems they'd solved. It was whether they could look at an unfamiliar problem and know how to approach it the right way. That's what this course teaches. Rather than throwing hundreds of disconnected problems at you, we organize the entire coding interview around 28 fundamental patterns. Each pattern is a reusable strategy. Once you understand two pointers, for example, you can apply them to dozens of problems you've never seen before. The course walks you through each pattern step by step, starting with the intuition behind it, then building through increasingly complex applications. As with every course on Educative, you will practice in a hands-on way with 500+ challenges, 17 mock interviews, and detailed explanations for every solution. The course is available in Python, Java, JavaScript, Go, C++, and C#, so you can prep in the language you'll actually use in your interview. Whether you're preparing for your first FAANG loop or brushing up after a few years away from interviewing, this course will give you a repeatable framework for cracking the coding interview.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fahim ul Haq

Software Engineer, Distributed Storage at Meta and Microsoft, Educative (Co-founder & CEO)

Learn more about Fahim

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Java good for coding interviews?

Yes, Java is excellent for coding interviews. It’s a popular and widely used programming language in the industry and effectively supports core data structures and algorithms. Java’s strong typing and object-oriented features help write clear, maintainable code, making it a solid choice for technical interviews.

How to crack Java coding interviews?

To crack Java coding interviews, thoroughly understand the basics, including OOP principles (inheritance, encapsulation), Java data structures (arrays, lists, maps), exception handling, and multithreading. Practice coding problems on platforms like Educative, LeetCode, and HackerRank to apply these concepts effectively.

How can I prepare for a Java interview fast?

Practice coding by solving coding exercises and practice problems on platforms like Educative, LeetCode, and HackerRank to improve your problem-solving skills for the Java coding interview. Conduct mock interviews with friends, colleagues, or online platforms like Educative to simulate the real Java technical interview experience.

What are the coding patterns?

Coding patterns are common strategies or techniques for solving recurring coding problems asked in coding interviews. They include approaches like two pointer techniques, sliding windows, backtracking, greedy algorithms, and dynamic programming, which help efficiently tackle various algorithmic challenges.

Which coding platform is best for interviews?

LeetCode offers diverse problems for interview prep, and HackerRank is great for learning Python basics. However, Educative stands out by combining interactive lessons to learn Python deeply and coding challenges to practice, all in one platform, making it the ideal choice for comprehensive interview preparation.