Binary Search on string
Last updated: August 28, 2025
Quick Overview
Implement a binary search algorithm to find the position of a target substring within a sorted array of strings. Given an array of strings and a target string, return the index of the target if it exists in the array, or -1 if it does not. The solution should have a time complexity of O(log n).
Anthropic
August 28, 2025195
13
1,351 solved
Implement a binary search algorithm to find the position of a target substring within a sorted array of strings. Given an array of strings and a target string, return the index of the target if it exists in the array, or -1 if it does not. The solution should have a time complexity of O(log n).
Coding interviews at Anthropic 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
- Recognize the underlying problem pattern (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS, etc.)
- Discuss multiple approaches and trade-offs before coding
- Implement an optimal solution with clean, production-quality code
- Handle all edge cases including boundary conditions and invalid input
- Optimize both time and space complexity with clear justification
- Test your solution systematically with well-chosen examples
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)?
- What if the input doesn't fit in memory?
- How would you modify your solution to handle streaming input?
- How would you parallelize this solution?
Sharpen Your Skills on Codemia
Practice similar problems with our interactive workspace, get AI feedback, and track your progress.
Practice DSA ProblemsSample Answer
Problem Analysis
This problem requires implementing a binary search algorithm to locate a target substring within a sorted array of strings. The binary search algorithm is well-suited here because of the sorted nature...
Approach
- Initialize Pointers: Start with two pointers,
leftat the beginning (0) andrightat the end (length of the array - 1) of the array. - Iterate: While
leftis less than or equal to `r...
Submit Your Answer
