Transform string to tree
Last updated: April 26, 2026
Quick Overview
Given a string representation of a binary tree, where each node is represented by its value and the children are denoted by parentheses, transform this string into an actual binary tree data structure. The input will be a valid string format, and the output should be the root node of the constructed binary tree.
Anduril
April 26, 202619
13
2,930 solved
Given a string representation of a binary tree, where each node is represented by its value and the children are denoted by parentheses, transform this string into an actual binary tree data structure. The input will be a valid string format, and the output should be the root node of the constructed binary tree.
This coding problem is frequently asked during Phone Screen at Anduril. The interviewer is testing your ability to translate a problem into clean, working code while discussing time and space complexity. Anduril expects candidates to write production-quality code, not just solve the puzzle.
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
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
- How would your solution change if the input was sorted?
- Can you solve this in a single pass?
- What is the worst-case input for your solution?
- What happens if the input contains duplicates?
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Practice DSA ProblemsSample Answer
Problem Analysis
The problem requires us to parse a string representation of a binary tree and construct an actual binary tree data structure from it. We can identify that a recursive approach is suitable here because...
Approach
- Initialize a pointer to traverse the string.
- Define a recursive function that takes the current pointer position as an argument.
- At each recursive call:
- Read the value before encou...
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