Algorithm Pattern Reference

Quick reference for common coding patterns and their templates.

Array & String Patterns

Two Pointers

When to use:

•Sorted arrays
•Finding pairs or triplets
•Palindrome checks
•Removing duplicates
•Partitioning arrays

Template (opposite ends):

python

def two_pointers_opposite(arr):
    left, right = 0, len(arr) - 1

    while left < right:
        # Process current pair
        if condition(arr[left], arr[right]):
            # Found solution
            return result
        elif some_check:
            left += 1
        else:
            right -= 1

    return default

Template (same direction):

python

def two_pointers_same(arr):
    slow = 0

    for fast in range(len(arr)):
        if condition(arr[fast]):
            arr[slow] = arr[fast]
            slow += 1

    return slow  # or arr[:slow]

Examples:

•Two Sum II (sorted array)
•Container With Most Water
•Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array
•Valid Palindrome

Time: O(n) Space: O(1)

Sliding Window

When to use:

•Contiguous subarray/substring problems
•Maximum/minimum of subarrays of size K
•Longest substring with constraint
•Finding all anagrams

Template (fixed size):

python

def sliding_window_fixed(arr, k):
    window_sum = sum(arr[:k])
    max_sum = window_sum

    for i in range(k, len(arr)):
        # Slide window: remove left, add right
        window_sum = window_sum - arr[i - k] + arr[i]
        max_sum = max(max_sum, window_sum)

    return max_sum

Template (variable size):

python

def sliding_window_variable(arr):
    left = 0
    result = 0
    window = {}  # or set, or counter

    for right in range(len(arr)):
        # Expand window
        window[arr[right]] = window.get(arr[right], 0) + 1

        # Contract window while invalid
        while not is_valid(window):
            window[arr[left]] -= 1
            if window[arr[left]] == 0:
                del window[arr[left]]
            left += 1

        # Update result
        result = max(result, right - left + 1)

    return result

Examples:

•Maximum Sum Subarray of Size K
•Longest Substring Without Repeating Characters
•Minimum Window Substring
•Find All Anagrams in a String

Time: O(n) Space: O(k) where k is window size or alphabet size

Prefix Sum

When to use:

•Range sum queries
•Subarray sum equals K
•Continuous subarrays

Template:

python

def prefix_sum(arr):
    prefix = [0]

    for num in arr:
        prefix.append(prefix[-1] + num)

    # Range sum from i to j (inclusive)
    # sum = prefix[j + 1] - prefix[i]

    return prefix

# With hash map for subarray sum
def subarray_sum(arr, target):
    prefix_sum = 0
    sum_count = {0: 1}  # sum -> frequency
    result = 0

    for num in arr:
        prefix_sum += num

        # Check if (prefix_sum - target) exists
        if prefix_sum - target in sum_count:
            result += sum_count[prefix_sum - target]

        sum_count[prefix_sum] = sum_count.get(prefix_sum, 0) + 1

    return result

Examples:

•Range Sum Query
•Subarray Sum Equals K
•Contiguous Array

Time: O(n) for building, O(1) for query Space: O(n)

Search Patterns

Binary Search

When to use:

•Sorted arrays
•Finding boundaries
•Minimizing/maximizing with condition
•Search in rotated sorted array

Template (find exact):

python

def binary_search(arr, target):
    left, right = 0, len(arr) - 1

    while left <= right:
        mid = left + (right - left) // 2

        if arr[mid] == target:
            return mid
        elif arr[mid] < target:
            left = mid + 1
        else:
            right = mid - 1

    return -1  # not found

Template (find boundary):

python

def find_first(arr, target):
    left, right = 0, len(arr) - 1
    result = -1

    while left <= right:
        mid = left + (right - left) // 2

        if arr[mid] == target:
            result = mid
            right = mid - 1  # keep searching left
        elif arr[mid] < target:
            left = mid + 1
        else:
            right = mid - 1

    return result

def find_last(arr, target):
    left, right = 0, len(arr) - 1
    result = -1

    while left <= right:
        mid = left + (right - left) // 2

        if arr[mid] == target:
            result = mid
            left = mid + 1  # keep searching right
        elif arr[mid] < target:
            left = mid + 1
        else:
            right = mid - 1

    return result

Template (minimize/maximize):

python

def minimize_max(arr, condition):
    left, right = min(arr), max(arr)

    while left < right:
        mid = left + (right - left) // 2

        if is_feasible(arr, mid):
            right = mid  # try smaller
        else:
            left = mid + 1

    return left

Examples:

•Binary Search
•Find First and Last Position
•Search in Rotated Sorted Array
•Capacity To Ship Packages Within D Days

Time: O(log n) Space: O(1)

Tree Patterns

DFS (Depth-First Search)

When to use:

•Tree traversal (preorder, inorder, postorder)
•Path finding
•Tree depth/height
•Validate BST

Template (recursive):

python

def dfs_recursive(root):
    if not root:
        return base_case

    # Preorder: process current, then children
    result = process(root.val)
    left = dfs_recursive(root.left)
    right = dfs_recursive(root.right)

    # Postorder: process children, then current
    return combine(result, left, right)

# With helper for global state
def dfs_with_state(root):
    result = []

    def dfs(node, state):
        if not node:
            return

        # Update state
        state.append(node.val)

        # Leaf node check
        if not node.left and not node.right:
            result.append(state[:])

        dfs(node.left, state)
        dfs(node.right, state)

        # Backtrack
        state.pop()

    dfs(root, [])
    return result

Template (iterative):

python

def dfs_iterative(root):
    if not root:
        return []

    stack = [root]
    result = []

    while stack:
        node = stack.pop()
        result.append(node.val)

        # Push right first so left is processed first
        if node.right:
            stack.append(node.right)
        if node.left:
            stack.append(node.left)

    return result

Examples:

•Binary Tree Paths
•Maximum Depth of Binary Tree
•Path Sum
•Validate Binary Search Tree

Time: O(n) Space: O(h) where h is height (recursion stack)

BFS (Breadth-First Search)

When to use:

•Level-order traversal
•Shortest path in unweighted graph/tree
•Finding nodes at specific level
•Minimum depth

Template:

python

from collections import deque

def bfs(root):
    if not root:
        return []

    queue = deque([root])
    result = []

    while queue:
        level_size = len(queue)
        level = []

        for _ in range(level_size):
            node = queue.popleft()
            level.append(node.val)

            if node.left:
                queue.append(node.left)
            if node.right:
                queue.append(node.right)

        result.append(level)

    return result

Examples:

•Binary Tree Level Order Traversal
•Minimum Depth of Binary Tree
•Zigzag Level Order Traversal
•Binary Tree Right Side View

Time: O(n) Space: O(w) where w is maximum width

Graph Patterns

Graph DFS

When to use:

•Connected components
•Cycle detection
•Topological sort
•Path finding

Template:

python

def graph_dfs(graph):
    visited = set()

    def dfs(node):
        if node in visited:
            return

        visited.add(node)

        for neighbor in graph[node]:
            dfs(neighbor)

    # Visit all components
    for node in graph:
        if node not in visited:
            dfs(node)

    return visited

Examples:

•Number of Islands
•Clone Graph
•Course Schedule
•All Paths From Source to Target

Time: O(V + E) Space: O(V)

Graph BFS

When to use:

•Shortest path in unweighted graph
•Level-by-level exploration
•Finding distance

Template:

python

from collections import deque

def graph_bfs(graph, start):
    queue = deque([start])
    visited = {start}
    distance = {start: 0}

    while queue:
        node = queue.popleft()

        for neighbor in graph[node]:
            if neighbor not in visited:
                visited.add(neighbor)
                queue.append(neighbor)
                distance[neighbor] = distance[node] + 1

    return distance

Examples:

•Word Ladder
•Shortest Path in Binary Matrix
•Rotting Oranges

Time: O(V + E) Space: O(V)

Union-Find (Disjoint Set)

When to use:

•Connected components in dynamic graph
•Cycle detection in undirected graph
•Kruskal's algorithm

Template:

python

class UnionFind:
    def __init__(self, n):
        self.parent = list(range(n))
        self.rank = [0] * n

    def find(self, x):
        if self.parent[x] != x:
            self.parent[x] = self.find(self.parent[x])  # path compression
        return self.parent[x]

    def union(self, x, y):
        root_x, root_y = self.find(x), self.find(y)

        if root_x == root_y:
            return False  # already connected

        # Union by rank
        if self.rank[root_x] < self.rank[root_y]:
            self.parent[root_x] = root_y
        elif self.rank[root_x] > self.rank[root_y]:
            self.parent[root_y] = root_x
        else:
            self.parent[root_y] = root_x
            self.rank[root_x] += 1

        return True

    def connected(self, x, y):
        return self.find(x) == self.find(y)

Examples:

•Number of Connected Components
•Redundant Connection
•Accounts Merge

Time: O(α(n)) amortized per operation (nearly constant) Space: O(n)

Dynamic Programming Patterns

1D DP

When to use:

•Fibonacci-like problems
•House robber variants
•Climbing stairs

Template:

python

def dp_1d(arr):
    n = len(arr)
    if n == 0:
        return 0

    dp = [0] * n
    dp[0] = base_case

    for i in range(1, n):
        dp[i] = max(
            dp[i-1] + arr[i],  # include current
            dp[i-1]             # exclude current
        )

    return dp[n-1]

# Space optimized
def dp_1d_optimized(arr):
    prev, curr = 0, 0

    for num in arr:
        prev, curr = curr, max(curr, prev + num)

    return curr

Examples:

•Climbing Stairs
•House Robber
•Decode Ways

Time: O(n) Space: O(n) or O(1) optimized

2D DP

When to use:

•Grid problems
•String matching
•Knapsack variants

Template:

python

def dp_2d(grid):
    m, n = len(grid), len(grid[0])
    dp = [[0] * n for _ in range(m)]

    # Initialize base cases
    dp[0][0] = grid[0][0]

    # Fill first row and column
    for i in range(1, m):
        dp[i][0] = dp[i-1][0] + grid[i][0]
    for j in range(1, n):
        dp[0][j] = dp[0][j-1] + grid[0][j]

    # Fill rest of table
    for i in range(1, m):
        for j in range(1, n):
            dp[i][j] = grid[i][j] + min(
                dp[i-1][j],   # from top
                dp[i][j-1]    # from left
            )

    return dp[m-1][n-1]

Examples:

•Unique Paths
•Minimum Path Sum
•Edit Distance
•Longest Common Subsequence

Time: O(m * n) Space: O(m * n) or O(n) optimized

Knapsack Pattern

When to use:

•Subset sum
•Target sum
•Partition problems

Template (0/1 Knapsack):

python

def knapsack(weights, values, capacity):
    n = len(weights)
    dp = [[0] * (capacity + 1) for _ in range(n + 1)]

    for i in range(1, n + 1):
        for w in range(1, capacity + 1):
            if weights[i-1] <= w:
                dp[i][w] = max(
                    values[i-1] + dp[i-1][w - weights[i-1]],  # include
                    dp[i-1][w]                                  # exclude
                )
            else:
                dp[i][w] = dp[i-1][w]

    return dp[n][capacity]

Examples:

•Partition Equal Subset Sum
•Target Sum
•Coin Change

Time: O(n * capacity) Space: O(n * capacity)

Other Important Patterns

Backtracking

When to use:

•Generate all permutations/combinations
•Subsets
•N-Queens
•Sudoku solver

Template:

python

def backtrack(nums):
    result = []

    def helper(path, remaining):
        # Base case: found valid solution
        if is_complete(path):
            result.append(path[:])
            return

        # Try all possibilities
        for i, num in enumerate(remaining):
            # Make choice
            path.append(num)

            # Recurse with updated state
            helper(path, remaining[:i] + remaining[i+1:])

            # Undo choice (backtrack)
            path.pop()

    helper([], nums)
    return result

Examples:

•Permutations
•Subsets
•Combination Sum
•Generate Parentheses

Time: Varies (often O(2^n) or O(n!)) Space: O(n) recursion depth

Monotonic Stack

When to use:

•Next greater/smaller element
•Histogram problems
•Stock span

Template:

python

def monotonic_stack(arr):
    stack = []  # stores indices
    result = [-1] * len(arr)

    for i in range(len(arr)):
        # Maintain monotonic property
        while stack and arr[stack[-1]] < arr[i]:
            idx = stack.pop()
            result[idx] = arr[i]  # arr[i] is next greater

        stack.append(i)

    return result

Examples:

•Next Greater Element
•Daily Temperatures
•Largest Rectangle in Histogram

Time: O(n) Space: O(n)

Fast & Slow Pointers

When to use:

•Cycle detection in linked list
•Finding middle of linked list
•Happy number

Template:

python

def has_cycle(head):
    slow = fast = head

    while fast and fast.next:
        slow = slow.next
        fast = fast.next.next

        if slow == fast:
            return True

    return False

def find_cycle_start(head):
    slow = fast = head

    # Find meeting point
    while fast and fast.next:
        slow = slow.next
        fast = fast.next.next
        if slow == fast:
            break

    if not fast or not fast.next:
        return None

    # Find cycle start
    slow = head
    while slow != fast:
        slow = slow.next
        fast = fast.next

    return slow

Examples:

•Linked List Cycle
•Find Duplicate Number
•Happy Number

Time: O(n) Space: O(1)

Greedy

When to use:

•Locally optimal choice leads to global optimum
•Interval scheduling
•Jump game

Template:

python

def greedy(arr):
    # Sort if needed
    arr.sort(key=lambda x: some_criteria)

    result = 0
    current_state = initial_state

    for item in arr:
        if can_take(item, current_state):
            result += 1
            current_state = update(current_state, item)

    return result

Examples:

•Jump Game
•Meeting Rooms II
•Gas Station

Time: Varies, often O(n log n) due to sorting Space: O(1) typically

Quick Pattern Identification

Keywords	Pattern
Sorted array	Binary search, two pointers
Substring/subarray	Sliding window
All pairs	Nested loops or hash map
Tree traversal	DFS or BFS
Graph connectivity	Union-find or DFS
Shortest path	BFS (unweighted), Dijkstra (weighted)
Optimal/max/min subproblem	Dynamic programming
Generate all	Backtracking
Next greater/smaller	Monotonic stack
Top K	Heap
Cycle detection	Fast & slow pointers
Local optimal → global	Greedy

Use this reference to quickly identify which pattern applies to your problem!