How to Start Data Structures & Algorithms?
Give you a clear idea and it would be easier for you to understand.
Why DSA ???
Data structures and algorithms help us solve real-world problems. For example, while developing a website, you might have to use a binary tree to get the hierarchy of your web pages.
Due to its utmost importance in companies, engineering college grads and working professionals can’t skip DSA.
Don’t worry; today’s article will clear all the confusion and guide you to the best way to learn data structures and algorithms.
- Look Out For Best Resources:
In this era of the internet, you can find countless resources such as paid or unpaid video lectures, tutorials, articles, books, etc.
You might be thinking about buying books, but these books may not be the best way to learn data structures and algorithms.
Therefore, students should choose a reliable platform where they can watch video lectures to begin learning data structures and algorithms and take their skill assessments within frequent intervals.
2. Understand the fundamentals properly:
The following is an ordered list of Data Structures and Algorithms you need to master:
- Array
- Strings
- Tuple and sets
- Lists and Two Dimensional Lists
- HashMaps & HashTables
- LinkedLists
- Stack & Queues
- Recursion
- Trees
- Priority Queues
- Graphs
- Dynamic Programming
- Trie
3. Increase your Problem-Solving Ability:
There are no limitations on the number of questions, but leveling up from easy to hard problems will help you strengthen your concepts. Once you start solving problems, some days you will solve them in one go while getting stuck on other days.
It’s alright. Try that problem utmost for two hours using pen and paper.
5. Practice More and More:
Many interactive websites focus heavily on your practice by providing you with countless questions and coding contests.
Coding contests are the most reliable way to upgrade yourself. They are like a sports field where you challenge yourself and get the better of others.
6. Notice the patterns:
Once you solve plenty of problems, you will begin to notice patterns.
Yes, you read that correctly.
You have already solved enough problems for almost all the topics. Solving new problems would be a subset or combination of already learned concepts. You will realize that most of the logic and code is common among them and can be reused depending on the use cases.
The smart move you can take here is to isolate your common code and practice it more often. You may wonder why we need this.
Now try to clear mock interviews of DSA rounds and practice practice practice.
All the best✌
