10 Top LeetCode Patterns to Crack FAANG Coding Interviews

LeetCode Problems Distribution

Top Data Structures with the Best ROI

Here are the top Data Structures with the highest return on investment:

  1. Array (1142 problems)
  2. String (549)
  3. Hash Table (392)
  4. Tree (191)
  5. Matrix (171)
  6. Stack (128)
  7. Heap or Priority Queue (107)
  8. Graph (102)
  9. Linked List (69)
  10. Trie (44)

Top Algorithmic Techniques with the Best ROI

Here are the top common algorithms techniques with the highest return on investment:

  1. Dynamic Programming (383)
  2. Sorting (253)
  3. Greedy (248)
  4. Binary Search (186)
  5. Backtracking (91)
  6. Recursion (44)
  7. Divide and Conquer (38)

Top Coding Patterns with the Best ROI

Here are the top coding patterns with the highest return on investment:

  1. Depth First Search (250)
  2. Breadth First Search(198)
  3. Binary Search (186)
  4. Two Pointers (147)
  5. Sliding Window (72)
  6. Monotonic Stack (44)
  7. Union Find (63)
  8. Memoization (32)
  9. Topological Sort (28)
  10. Segment Tree (27)

Best Coding Patterns with Highest ROI

1. Two Pointers (Arrays, Strings, Fast & Slow Pointer)

The Two Pointers technique uses two indices to traverse a data structure, often from opposite ends or at different speeds. This approach shines in problems like Container With Most Water or Two Sum II.

2. Sliding Window (Arrays, Strings, Hash Tables)

A Sliding Window is an ingenious pattern for tackling problems involving subarrays or substrings. It’s especially handy for finding longest/shortest sequences or checking sums in an array.

3. Tree and Graph Depth First Search ( Matrix Traversal)

Depth-First Search (DFS) is a fundamental pattern for tree and graph problems, allowing you to traverse all the way down one branch of a structure before exploring a different branch.

4. Tree and Graph Breadth First Search (Queue, Subsets, Matrix Traversal, Topological Sort)

Breadth-First Search (BFS) takes a layer-by-layer approach. A common use-case is Binary Tree Level Order Traversal.

5. Binary Search (Arrays)

The Binary Search pattern is a classic technique to pinpoint an element’s position in sorted data in logarithmic time.

6. Interval Merge

The Merge Intervals pattern revolves around dealing with overlapping intervals.

7. Recursion/Backtracking

Recursion and Backtracking are invaluable for exhaustive search problems.

8. Union-Find (Disjoint Set Union)

Union-Find is a pattern centered around efficiently connecting and grouping elements.

9. Monotonic Stack Pattern

A Monotonic Stack is a specialized stack data structure that maintains its elements in sorted order.

10. Dynamic Programming (DP)

Dynamic programming is a general technique: you break a problem into smaller overlapping subproblems.

Conclusion

Most technical interviews include LeetCode-type questions. Software engineers practice such coding problems before interviews. The highest return on investment is achieved by preparing smartly and focusing on the top LeetCode interview patterns.

FAQs - LeetCode Patterns and Interview Prep

Q1. What are LeetCode patterns?

LeetCode patterns are common coding techniques that show up in LeetCode problems and technical interviews.

Q2. Why should I learn LeetCode patterns instead of solving random problems?

Focusing on patterns helps you avoid burnout and prepares you faster.

Q3. How many LeetCode patterns should I learn for FAANG interviews?

Start with the top 7–10 core patterns like Two Pointers, Sliding Window, DFS, BFS, Binary Search, and Dynamic Programming.

Q4. Do LeetCode patterns actually help in real interviews?

Yes—most FAANG interview questions map to well-known patterns.

Q5. Where can I practice LeetCode patterns?

You can start with categorized problem lists on LeetCode or check out structured resources like Grokking the Coding Interview.

Q6. Are LeetCode patterns the same as algorithms?

Not exactly. Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving specific types of problems. Patterns are reusable problem-solving approaches.

Q7. How do I identify which pattern a question belongs to?

Look at the problem constraints and the goal.

Q8. Is mastering patterns enough to crack coding interviews?

Patterns are your foundation—but combine them with good communication, mock interviews, and time management.

Q9. What are the best LeetCode patterns to know?

The best LeetCode patterns include:

Q10. Why study coding patterns for interviews?

Studying coding patterns helps you prepare more strategically.