The key to mastering LeetCode is understanding and practicing common coding patterns. By focusing on these patterns, you will be able to solve a wider range of problems more effectively.
I solve LeetCode problems and explain the patterns on my TikTok account @GarciaCoding.
Study Tips & Strategy
🎯 The 3-Step Approach
First 25 minutes: Try to solve without help
Next 15 minutes: Look at hints or similar problems
If still stuck: Study the solution and understand every line
📚 Study Plan
Start with Easy problems in each pattern
Aim to solve 2-3 problems daily
Review and retry problems after a week
Keep a coding journal for patterns and insights
Time Complexity Quick Reference
Common Operations
Array/String Access: O(1)
Array/String Search: O(n)
Sorting: O(n log n)
Hash Table Access/Insert: O(1)
Space Complexity Tips
In-place modification: O(1)
Recursion stack: O(h) - height
Hash map of n items: O(n)
Creating new array: O(n)
Interview Success Tips
Before Coding
Clarify requirements and edge cases
Discuss multiple approaches
Explain time/space complexity
Use examples to verify understanding
While Coding
Think aloud - explain your thought process
Write clean, organized code
Handle edge cases explicitly
Test your solution with examples
Track Your Progress
Keep track of your progress by following these milestones:
Beginner Milestones
Complete all Easy HashMap problems
Solve Array/String basics
Master Basic Recursion
Intermediate Goals
Complete Medium DFS/BFS problems
Master Sliding Window technique
Solve Dynamic Programming basics
Advanced Challenges
Tackle Hard problems in each category
Optimize solutions for space/time
Solve problems under time constraints
Ready to Practice?
Now that you understand the strategies and patterns, start practicing with our curated list of problems.