Transform string to adjacency list
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Quick Overview
Given a string representation of a graph where each node is separated by commas and edges are represented by a specific character (e.g., '->'), transform this string into an adjacency list. The output should be a dictionary where each key is a node and its value is a list of nodes it is directly connected to. For example, the input "A->B,C->A" should produce an adjacency list like {"A": ["B"], "C": ["A"]}.
Tesla
January 27, 20266
14
1,879 solved
Given a string representation of a graph where each node is separated by commas and edges are represented by a specific character (e.g., '->'), transform this string into an adjacency list. The output should be a dictionary where each key is a node and its value is a list of nodes it is directly connected to. For example, the input "A->B,C->A" should produce an adjacency list like {"A": ["B"], "C": ["A"]}.
Coding interviews at Tesla 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 happens if the input contains duplicates?
- How would you parallelize this solution?
- What is the worst-case input for your solution?
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Problem Analysis
The problem requires us to transform a string representation of a directed graph into an adjacency list. The key here is recognizing that the input string has a specific format where nodes and edges a...
Approach
- Initialize a dictionary: Start with an empty dictionary that will hold our adjacency list.
- Split the input string: Use commas to split the string into segments where each segment repre...
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