Detect palindrome in linked list
Last updated: June 1, 2026
Quick Overview
Given a singly linked list, write a function to determine if the linked list represents a palindrome. The function should return a boolean value: true if the linked list is a palindrome, and false otherwise. The solution should operate with O(n) time complexity and O(1) space complexity.
Coinbase
June 1, 20260
11
3,227 solved
Given a singly linked list, write a function to determine if the linked list represents a palindrome. The function should return a boolean value: true if the linked list is a palindrome, and false otherwise. The solution should operate with O(n) time complexity and O(1) space complexity.
Coding interviews at Coinbase 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 in a single pass?
- How would you test this solution thoroughly?
- How would you parallelize this solution?
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Problem Analysis
To determine if a linked list is a palindrome, we can utilize the two-pointer technique. This approach is suitable because we need to traverse the list to find the middle point and then compare the fi...
Approach
- Find the Middle of the Linked List: Use two pointers,
slowandfast. Theslowpointer moves one step at a time, while thefastpointer moves two steps. Whenfastreaches the end, `slo...
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