10 DSA cheatsheets for your interview

preparation
Introduction
DSA cheatsheets are a dime a dozen on the internet. But which ones are actually worth your
time? In this article post, we'll go over 10 of the best DSA cheatsheets out there, covering topics
like data structures, algorithms, and Dynamic Programing. So whether you're just getting started
with DSA or you're looking for a quick refresher, these cheatsheets will have you covered.

Cheatsheet #1: Data Structures

There are four main data structures in computer science: arrays, linked lists, trees, and hash
tables.

Arrays: An array is a collection of data items that are accessed by index. Arrays are often used to
represent vectors or matrices.

Linked Lists: A linked list is a collection of data items that are connected together by links.
Linked lists are often used to represent stacks or queues.

Trees: A tree is a collection of data items that are connected together by branches. Trees are
often used to represent hierarchical data such as file systems or family trees.

Hash Tables: A hash table is a collection of data items that are accessed by keys. Hash tables are
often used to represent dictionaries or sets.

Cheatsheet #2: Algorithms

An algorithm is a set of instructions or rules that are followed in order to solve a problem. There
are many different types of algorithms, and each one is designed to solve a specific type of
problem.

Algorithms can be used for everything from sorting a list of numbers to finding the shortest path
between two points on a map. In computer science, an algorithm is considered to be efficient if it
can be executed in a reasonable amount of time and space.

There are dozens of different algorithms that you could potentially be asked about in an
interview, but there are a few that are more commonly asked than others. Below is a cheatsheet
with some of the most popular algorithms and what they’re used for:

- Sorting: Sorting algorithms are used to sort data so that it can be easily accessed or processed.
Common sorting algorithms include quicksort, heapsort, and mergesort.
- Searching: Searching algorithms are used to find specific items in a data set. Common search
algorithms include linear search and binary search.

- Graph traversal: Graph traversal algorithms are used to visit all nodes in a graph. Common
graph traversal algorithms include depth-first search and breadth-first search.

- Pathfinding: Pathfinding algorithms are used to find the shortest path between two points in a
graph. Common pathfinding algorithms include Dijkstra’s algorithm and A*.

Cheatsheet #3: System Design

In this section, we will be discussing system design. This is an important topic for interviews as
it tests your ability to think through and design complex systems. We will cover the basics of
system design, including how to approach a system design problem, common architectures, and
tradeoffs.

When approaching a system design problem, it is important to first understand the requirements.
What are the goals of the system? What are the constraints? Once you have a good understanding
of the problem, you can start brainstorming possible solutions. It is often helpful to draw out
your ideas on paper or whiteboard.

There are many different architectures that can be used for designing a system. The most
common ones are client-server, peer-to-peer, and distributed systems. Each has its own benefits
and tradeoffs that need to be considered when choosing one for your design.

Systems need to be designed with scalability in mind. As the system grows, more users will be
added and more data will be processed. The system needs to be able to handle this increased load
without performance degradation. There are many factors to consider when designing for
scalability, such as caching, sharding, and replication.

Performance is another key consideration in system design. The goal is to make the system as
fast as possible while still maintaining correctness. There are many optimization techniques that
can be used to improve performance, such as caching and pre-computation.

Security is another vital

Cheatsheet #4: Behavioral Questions

It's no secret that Behavioral Questions are becoming increasingly popular with hiring managers.
After all, they're a great way to gauge a candidate's potential fit for a role. But what exactly is a
Behavioral Question?

A Behavioral Question is simply a question that asks the candidate to describe how they have
behaved in specific situations in the past. For example, a common behavioral question is "Tell
me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer."

Behavioral questions are often used to assess three key areas:

-Problem Solving: Can the candidate identify and solve problems quickly and effectively?
-Communication: Can the candidate communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and
written?
-Leadership: Does the candidate demonstrate qualities such as initiative, decisiveness, and
teamwork?

While there are endless possibilities for behavioral questions, here are four of our favorites:

1. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer.
2. Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond to complete a project.
3. Tell me about a time when you had to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
4. Tell me about a team project where you took on a leadership role.

Cheatsheet #5: Technical Questions

1. What is the difference between a process and a thread?

2. What is a race condition? How can it be prevented?

3. What is the difference between an interrupt and a trap?

4. What is the difference between virtual memory and physical memory?

5. What is the difference between a cache miss and a cache hit?

Cheatsheet #6: Time Complexity

Time complexity is a measure of how long an algorithm takes to run. The time complexity of an
algorithm is the number of operations that the algorithm performs. The time complexity of an
algorithm is the number of steps that the algorithm takes. The time complexity of an algorithm is
the number of instructions that the algorithm executes.

Cheatsheet #7 Sorting Algorithms

There are a variety of sorting algorithms, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. When
choosing a sorting algorithm for your project, it is important to consider the following factors:

-The size of the data set

-The type of data

-The sort order

-Performance requirements

Below is a cheatsheet of some commonly used sorting algorithms, along with their time
complexity in both worst and best cases.

Algorithm Worst Case Best Case

Bubble Sort O(n^2) O(n)

Selection Sort O(n^2) O(n^2)

Insertion Sort O(n^2) O(n)

Merge Sort O(nlogn) O(nlogn)

Quick Sort O(n^2) O(nlogn)

Cheatsheet #8: Search Algorithms

There are a variety of search algorithms out there, and it can be helpful to know the basics of
each one. This cheat sheet will outline some of the most popular search algorithms, and explain
when you might want to use each one.

1. Linear search: This is the simplest search algorithm, and it just involves looking through a list
of items one by one until you find the target item. This can be practical if the list is short, but it
becomes very inefficient as the list gets longer.

2. Binary search: This algorithm is used on sorted lists, and it works by dividing the list in half
and searching either the left or right side depending on whether the target value is less than or
greater than the middle value. This approach is much faster than linear search, but only works if
the list is already sorted.
3. Depth-first search: This algorithm explores a tree or graph by going down each branch as far
as possible before backtracking and explore other branches. This can be helpful for finding paths
through large graphs, but might not find the shortest path if branches are very long.

4. Breadth-first search: The opposite of depth-first search, this algorithm explores a tree or graph by going
across each level before moving down to the next level. This guarantees that the shortest path will be
found, but might take longer if there are a lot of levels in the tree or graph.

Cheatsheet #9: Dynamic programming

1. Dynamic programming is a method for solving complex problems by breaking them
down into smaller, simpler subproblems.

2. Unlike other methods such as greedy algorithms, dynamic programming guarantees

that an optimal solution will be found in all cases – not just some cases.

3. To solve a problem using dynamic programming, you first need to identify the
subproblems within the larger problem. Each subproblem must then be solved
independently, with the results being saved so that they can be reused (“memoized”)
when needed.

4. Finally, the solutions to the subproblems are combined to give a solution to the original
problem.

5. Dynamic programming can be used to solve problems in many different fields,

including mathematics, computer science, and engineering.

Cheatsheet #10: Hash Table

A hash table is a data structure that is used to store keys and values. The key is used to access the
value, which is stored in the table. A hash table can be used to implement a dictionary, or it can
be used to store data in a database.

A hash table is usually implemented with an array. Each element in the array is called a bucket.
The size of the array is called the capacity. The capacity is typically a power of two.

The key is hashed to an index in the array. The value is then stored at that index. To retrieve the
value, the key is hashed again and the value is retrieved from the bucket at that index.
Hash tables are efficient because they have low collision rates. That means that when two keys
are hashed to the same index, they are more likely to have different values than if they were
stored in separate buckets.

Conclusion
Data Structure and Algorithms (DSA) are important concepts in computer science that every
software engineer should

If you're preparing for a DSA interview, these cheatsheets will come in handy. They cover all the
essential topics you need to know, from data structures and algorithms to system design.
Bookmark this page so you can easily refer back to it during your preparation. And if you have
any questions, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Good luck!