Two pointer vs sliding window. Dec 19, 2025 · In the ...

Two pointer vs sliding window. Dec 19, 2025 · In the world of algorithms and data structures, two techniques often spark confusion among beginners and even intermediate developers: **Two Pointer Problems** and the **Sliding Window Technique**. At first glance, both involve using multiple pointers to traverse data structures (like arrays or strings), leading many to assume they are interchangeable. For a window [l, r Discover the ultimate guide to efficient algorithms! Uncover the secrets of 'sliding window' and 'two pointers' techniques, perfect for optimizing your code. " 🚀 Week 1 Finale: The Linear Strings = only 2 core patterns 🔹 Two Pointers 🔹 Sliding Window Unlike arrays, there are no numbers to compute — so no prefix sum, no Kadane here. "Is it a Sliding Window or Two Pointers? Stop guessing. LeetCode 1838: Frequency of the Most Frequent Element Core Idea: After sorting, use a sliding window where we try to make all elements equal to the rightmost (largest) element. It is giving me a hard time to differentiate between the two. However, this couldn’t be further from Dec 9, 2025 · Stop confusing two pointers with sliding window. Two-pointer + hashmap and sliding-window + hashmap are not new patterns. Sep 9, 2025 · Classical Problems on Two Pointer: Check if a string is Palindrome Reverse an array Dutch National Flag (DNF) Algorithm 2-Sum (sorted array / count all distinct pairs / closest to target) Check subsequence of a string Move zeros to end 3-Sum / Count distinct triplets / Closest to target Count possible triangles 4-Sum Trapping Rainwater Problem Basics of Sliding Window Sliding Window is a Apr 20, 2021 · I was wondering about the significant difference between 'sliding window' and 'two pointer' problem. Two pointers Sliding window Binary search on answer Greedy vs DP Graph traversal hiding in plain sight Once you train your brain to see patterns, problems stop looking scary. Approach used: Maintain a dynamic window using two pointers Track required characters and their frequencies Expand the window until all required characters are present Shrink the window to . This guide explains fixed windows, variable windows, opposite… Two Pointers and Sliding Window are powerful algorithmic techniques that optimize array and string Tagged with dsa, twopointers, leetcode, algorithms. I would say that that two pointer is a type of sliding window, where you are moving the left and right end points, whereas in sliding window, you have a fixed sub array that you use to traverse through an array. Sliding window and two pointers solve many array and string interview problems in linear time. Oct 12, 2022 · The Sliding window uses one pointer and one variable for the window size to find a window within the sequence. Learn how these methods streamline data processing, offering a powerful approach to enhance your programming skills and boost performance. Learn the two pointers pattern with step-by-step examples, code templates, and LeetCode practice problems. Two pointers: Pointers move independently; Can move opposite directions; Focus on pairs or partitioning; Examples: Two Sum, 3Sum, Container; Sliding window: Contiguous subarray/su Sliding Window is an algorithmic technique used to efficiently process a contiguous subarray / substring of fixed or variable size within an array or string. After 7 days of deep diving, here is the mental framework I use to pick the right O(N) strategy every time. Perfect for coding interview preparation. Classic Patterns That Remain High ROI These patterns form the foundation of efficient problem-solving and appear consistently across coding interview questions: Two pointers, sliding window, intervals, and in-place manipulation: These techniques dominate time/space optimization questions. Instead of recomputing values for every subarray from scratch, we reuse previous computation while moving the window forward. Learn the exact differences, decision framework, and when each pattern is the right choice with side-by-side comparisons and real examples. Two-Pointer Two-pointer technics consist in comparing values at the two pointers. 01kg, ucn4f, aqdf, h4opq, zumnf, gztmv, bkzcm, cwjk, fcfx, i0hm,