Merge Two Sorted interval lists
Last updated: February 13, 2026
Quick Overview
Given two sorted lists of intervals, merge them into a single sorted list of intervals, ensuring that any overlapping intervals are combined into one. The output should be a list of merged intervals sorted by their start times. If there are no overlapping intervals, simply return the original lists combined in sorted order.
Salesforce
February 13, 2026313
5
3,348 solved
Given two sorted lists of intervals, merge them into a single sorted list of intervals, ensuring that any overlapping intervals are combined into one. The output should be a list of merged intervals sorted by their start times. If there are no overlapping intervals, simply return the original lists combined in sorted order.
Coding interviews at Salesforce 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
- What if the input doesn't fit in memory?
- Can you solve this iteratively instead of recursively (or vice versa)?
- Can you solve this in a single pass?
- What is the worst-case input for your solution?
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Practice DSA ProblemsSample Answer
Problem Analysis
This problem involves merging two sorted lists of intervals, which means we need to assess overlapping intervals and combine them. The key pattern here is to use a two pointers technique. Since bo...
Approach
- Initialize Pointers: Start with two pointers,
ifor the first list andjfor the second list, both set to 0. - Iterate Through Both Lists: While both pointers are within their respect...
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