Implement Skip List with without recursion

Last updated: May 4, 2026

Quick Overview

Implement a LRU Cache data structure that supports get and put operations in O(n) time.

Anthropic
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Anthropic
May 4, 2026
Software Engineer
Onsite
Coding & Algorithms
Medium

8

15

961 solved


Implement a LRU Cache data structure that supports get and put operations in O(n) time.

Anthropic uses this problem in the Onsite to evaluate your algorithmic thinking. They expect you to discuss multiple approaches, analyze trade-offs between them, and implement the optimal solution with clean, readable code.

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
Hash maps and frequency counting
Common algorithm patterns (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS)
Sorting and searching
Binary search and divide and conquer
How to Approach This
  1. Clarify input constraints and edge cases before writing code.
  2. Walk through your approach verbally and confirm with the interviewer before coding.
  3. Start with a brute force solution, then optimize. Mention time and space complexity.
  4. Test your solution with examples, including edge cases like empty input or duplicates.
  5. Consider common patterns: sliding window, two pointers, hash map, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming.
Possible Follow-up Questions
  • How would you test this solution thoroughly?
  • Can you solve this iteratively instead of recursively (or vice versa)?
  • How would you parallelize this solution?
  • Can you optimize the space complexity of your solution?
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