Optimize traversal for O(1) space

Last updated: December 1, 2025

Quick Overview

Find an efficient solution for compression given the O(1) space constraint.

Splunk
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Splunk
December 1, 2025
Software Engineer
Technical Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Medium

4

9

1,945 solved


Find an efficient solution for compression given the O(1) space constraint.

Splunk uses this problem in the Technical Screen 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
Graph algorithms and traversal
Tree structures and recursion
Binary search and divide and conquer
Hash maps and frequency counting
Time and space complexity analysis
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
  • Can you solve this in a single pass?
  • What is the worst-case input for your solution?
  • How would you parallelize this solution?
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