Merge K Sorted arrays
Last updated: August 7, 2025
Quick Overview
Given three sorted linked lists, merge them into a single sorted result.
Netflix
Coding & Algorithms
Machine Learning Engineer
Netflix
August 7, 2025Machine Learning Engineer
Phone Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Easy
49
7
2,589 solved
Given three sorted linked lists, merge them into a single sorted result.
Coding interviews at Netflix 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
Hash maps and frequency counting
Time and space complexity analysis
Binary search and divide and conquer
Data structure selection and trade-offs
Graph algorithms and traversal
Tree structures and recursion
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
- What is the worst-case input for your solution?
- How would you test this solution thoroughly?
- Can you optimize the space complexity of your solution?
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Problem Analysis
To merge three sorted linked lists into a single sorted list, the best approach is to use a two-pointer technique. Each pointer will traverse one of the linked lists, allowing us to compare the cu...
Approach
- Initialize three pointers, one for each linked list (let's call them
p1,p2, andp3). - Create a dummy head for the result linked list to simplify the merging process.
- While any of the po...
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