Dev.to
6/19/2026

The 15 LeetCode patterns that cover ~90% of coding interviews
Short summary
Master ~15 algorithmic patterns—sliding window, two pointers, dynamic programming, binary search, backtracking, heaps, and topological sort—that cover ~90% of coding interviews. Learn signal words that trigger each pattern, then practice 3–5 problems per pattern with deep understanding rather than grinding hundreds of random problems. The key is recognizing the pattern in the first 30 seconds, letting you execute a proven template instead of solving from scratch.
- •15 patterns cover ~90% of real coding interviews; master recognition over rote memorization
- •Learn signal words that trigger each pattern; practice depth over breadth with 3–5 problems per pattern
- •Re-derive templates from memory; real interviews don't announce the pattern, only the prompt
Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.
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