The Essential Ninety DSA Patterns That Cover Nearly All Coding Interviews
You’ve spent hours grinding LeetCode problems — yet still find yourself freezing during live interviews?
What interviewers test isn’t random problem memory, but your ability to identify recurring DSA logic patterns.
Big tech interviews at companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft revolve around consistent logic frameworks.
If you internalize these 90 key templates, recognizing the logic behind any problem becomes second nature.
What You’ll Learn
This comprehensive guide breaks down 90 DSA patterns grouped into 15 core categories.
On Thita.ai, you can experience pattern-based learning with interactive guidance and feedback.
Why Random LeetCode Grinding Doesn’t Work
Blindly solving hundreds of questions rarely helps you identify underlying algorithmic blueprints.
Patterns act like reusable schematics that instantly reveal how to solve new problems.
Sample applications:
– Target sum in sorted list ? Two Pointer technique
– Substring without duplicates ? Sliding Window
– Cycle detection ? Slow & Fast Pointers.
Those who excel identify the pattern first and adapt instantly.
The 15 Core DSA Pattern Families
Each category groups related concepts that repeatedly surface in coding interviews.
1. Two Pointer Patterns (7 Patterns)
Used for efficient array/string navigation and pair-based operations.
Includes logic for in-place edits, fixed gaps, and center-based expansion techniques.
? Quick Insight: Two-pointer works best when the array is sorted or positional relationships exist.
2. Sliding Window Patterns (4 Patterns)
Best for problems requiring flexible range adjustments.
Focuses on dynamically resizing sequences to meet constraints.
? Tip: Efficiency lies in the ability to manage window size dynamically.
3. Tree Traversal Patterns (7 Patterns)
Encompasses standard and advanced traversal techniques like LCA and serialization.
4. Graph Traversal Patterns (8 Patterns)
Focuses on efficient exploration and connection validation in networks.
5. Dynamic Programming Patterns (11 Patterns)
Emphasizes recursive breakdown and memoization.
6. Heap (Priority Queue) Patterns (4 Patterns)
Used for stream processing and efficient order maintenance.
7. Backtracking Patterns (7 Patterns)
Relies on decision trees and pruning to find valid outcomes.
8. Greedy Patterns (6 Patterns)
Common in interval scheduling, stock profits, and gas station routes.
9. Binary Search Patterns (5 Patterns)
Applied in finding thresholds, boundaries, or minimum feasible values.
10. Stack Patterns (6 Patterns)
Use Case: LIFO operations, expression parsing, and monotonic stacks.
11. Bit Manipulation Patterns (5 Patterns)
Use Case: XOR-based logic, bit counting, and power checks.
12. Linked List Patterns (5 Patterns)
Common in list-based storage and cache designs.
13. Array & Matrix Patterns (8 Patterns)
Applied in image processing, pathfinding, and transformation tasks.
14. String Manipulation Patterns (7 Patterns)
Used for matching, substring searches, and string reconstruction.
15. Design Patterns (Meta Category)
Use Case: Data structure and system design logic.
How to Practice Effectively on Thita.ai
Learning the 90 DSA patterns is only the beginning — mastering their application is the key.
Begin by opening the full Thita.ai DSA pattern catalog.
Choose one category (e.g., Sliding Window) to practice related LeetCode-style problems.
Engage Thita.ai’s AI tutor for instant suggestions and solution breakdowns.
Get personalized progress tracking and adaptive recommendations.
The Smart Way to Prepare
Stop random practice; focus on mastering logic templates instead.
Use Thita.ai’s roadmap to learn, practice, and Mock interviews refine through intelligent feedback.
Why Choose Thita.ai?
Thita.ai empowers learners to:
– Master 90 reusable DSA patterns
– Practice interactively with AI feedback
– Experience realistic mock interviews
– Prepare for FAANG and top-tier interviews
– Build a personalized, AI-guided learning path.