fast slow pointers
AI, ML & GenAI interview questions tagged fast slow pointers, across every topic.
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Concepts behind "fast slow pointers"
The curriculum that explains the ideas these questions test.
Foundational
Linked ListsA linked list keeps elements in nodes that reference the next node, giving up O(1) random access in exchange for O(1) insertion and deletion once you hold a pointer. Interviews use them to check pointer discipline: the dummy-head trick, fast/slow pointers for cycle detection and locating the midpoint, and in-place reversal. Applied-AI interviews reach for them because the patterns carry over to streaming buffers, LRU caches, and any structure where you splice without shifting.💻 Coding & Engineering Craft
Foundational
Fast and Slow Pointers (Floyd's Cycle Detection)Fast and slow pointers send two cursors through a sequence at different speeds so geometry, not extra memory, reveals structure. The tortoise and hare detect a cycle, pinpoint where it begins, and find the middle of a list in a single pass with O(1) extra space. Interviews test this because it checks whether a candidate can swap a hash set for a pointer trick and prove the meeting actually happens.💻 Coding & Engineering Craft