BFS on linked list
Last updated: April 13, 2026
Quick Overview
Implement a breadth-first search (BFS) algorithm to traverse a linked list, starting from a given node. Your function should return a list of values in the order they are visited. The input will be the head of the linked list, and the output should be an array of the node values.
Snowflake
April 13, 202627
14
3,259 solved
Implement a breadth-first search (BFS) algorithm to traverse a linked list, starting from a given node. Your function should return a list of values in the order they are visited. The input will be the head of the linked list, and the output should be an array of the node values.
Coding interviews at Snowflake focus on problem-solving approach as much as the final solution. The interviewer wants to see you break down the problem, consider edge cases, and optimize iteratively. Communication throughout the process is key.
What the Interviewer Expects
- Identify the correct data structure and algorithm for the problem
- Write clean, bug-free code with proper variable naming
- Analyze time and space complexity correctly
- Handle basic edge cases (empty input, single element)
- Communicate your thought process while coding
Key Topics to Cover
How to Approach This
- Clarify input constraints and edge cases before writing code.
- Walk through your approach verbally and confirm with the interviewer before coding.
- Start with a brute force solution, then optimize. Mention time and space complexity.
- Test your solution with examples, including edge cases like empty input or duplicates.
- Consider common patterns: sliding window, two pointers, hash map, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming.
Possible Follow-up Questions
- Can you solve this iteratively instead of recursively (or vice versa)?
- Can you solve this in a single pass?
- How would you modify your solution to handle streaming input?
- Can you optimize the space complexity of your solution?
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Problem Analysis
To solve this problem, we will employ the Breadth-First Search (BFS) algorithm. BFS is particularly suitable here because it explores all neighbors at the present depth prior to moving on to nodes at ...
Approach
- Initialize a queue: Start with an empty queue and a result list to store the values of the nodes as we traverse them.
- Enqueue the head: If the head of the linked list is not null, enqueu...
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