Cracking the Coding Interview: 189 Programming Questions and Solutions for Coding Interviews

Cracking the Coding Interview is the go-to interview preparation resource for software engineers targeting positions at major tech companies. Gayle has worked as a software engineer at Google, Microsoft, and Apple before writing this book. She has also interviewed hundreds of software engineers, so she knows exactly what the interviewer looks for in coding interviews.

The book covers everything you need for programming interviews. This guide to data structures and algorithms includes chapters on arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, and dynamic programming. Each chapter includes practice problems and detailed solutions that show you how to think through coding interviews step by step. If you read this book and work through every algorithm problem, you'll be far ahead of most candidates.

Gayle Laakmann McDowell holds a bachelor's and master's in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Wharton School. Gayle Laakmann McDowell is the founder and CEO of CareerCup and also authored Cracking the PM Interview and Cracking the Tech Career. The book also teaches you software development thinking beyond just solving coding problems. Her background gives the book credibility that computer science textbooks can't match.

Most interview preparation resources give you a list of questions without teaching you how to think. Cracking the Coding Interview takes a different approach. Each section covers how to prepare for specific question types. You learn what happens behind the scenes during your interview and what the interviewer actually evaluates.

The book teaches strategies to tackle problems you've never seen before. That's fundamental because you won't see the exact same questions in your current interview. You need to recognize patterns and apply algorithm knowledge to new situations. Good coding practices and algorithm thinking matter more than memorizing LeetCode solutions ever could.

Technical questions dominate most software engineering interviews. The book gives you the interview preparation you need to get the top software developer jobs. Whether you're solving whiteboard problems or writing code in a shared editor, the approach works. Understanding data structures and algorithms at a deep level separates candidates who ace the interview from those who struggle.

Don't just read the book passively. Work through it actively. Buy the book and use it with intention. Solve algorithm problems on paper before looking at the solutions. Time yourself. Simulate real coding interviews by explaining your thinking out loud as you work through each problem.

Start with the section on the interview process. This section explains the process for experience candidates and what happens behind the scenes at tech companies. Learn what happens behind the scenes so you understand what the interviewer is evaluating. Many candidates fail not because they can't code, but because they don't know how the interview process works.

Then move to the core technical content. The section forms the bulk of the book and contains 189 programming questions and solutions organized by topic. Work through arrays first, then linked lists, trees, graphs, and dynamic programming. Don't skip the math and logic puzzles section. These problems appear more often than most candidates expect.

Use LeetCode alongside the book. Many problems in Cracking the Coding Interview have equivalent versions on LeetCode where you can test your code against real test cases. The book is meant for learning algorithm concepts and technical questions. LeetCode provides coding exercises for drilling execution. Both matter in order to ace the interview at top tech companies.

Although most of a software engineering interview will be technical, behavioral questions matter too. The book offers an overview on questions in this category and how to answer them. Don't skip this section just because you're focused on algorithm practice.

Behavioral questions test whether you'll work well on a team. The interviewer wants to know how you handle conflict, ambiguity, and failure. Cracking the Coding Interview also teaches you the framework for answering these questions with concrete stories from your experience. Prepare these answers with the same rigor you bring to technical preparation.

Some engineers read the book passively like a novel. That doesn't work for coding interviews. You need to solve problems with pencil and paper. Struggle with each algorithm problem for at least 15 minutes before checking the solution. The struggle is where learning happens.

Other engineers skip the explanations and just memorize solutions. That's a mistake too. Interview questions and answers vary between companies. If you only memorize, you'll freeze when the interviewer asks a slight variation. Understanding the underlying algorithm lets you adapt to any question.

Don't treat the book as your only resource either. The fifth edition includes over 200 pages of new content with significant changes from the fourth edition, and the 6th edition adds even more. No single book covers everything. Combine Cracking the Coding Interview with online resources, practice with peers, and mock technical interviews. The best prepared candidates use multiple approaches.

Most software engineers need 2 to 4 months of focused preparation to be as prepared as possible. If you're weak on data structures and algorithms, add more time. If you studied computer science recently and remember the fundamentals, you might need less.

Work through the book systematically. Aim to solve at least 3 to 5 algorithm problems daily. Track which interview questions give you trouble and spend extra time there. By the end of the book, you should be able to solve medium difficulty coding interviews consistently and hard problems occasionally.

You should master Python or Java for coding interviews at most tech companies. Pick one language and master it for interview purposes. The book shows solutions in Java primarily, but the concepts translate to any language. What matters is writing flawless code quickly while explaining your thinking to the interviewer.

Here's something Cracking the Coding Interview doesn't tell you. The candidates who get the best offers aren't just the ones who solve problems correctly. They're the ones who walk into interviews with credibility already established.

Think about two engineers who both worked through this book. One studied alone and applied cold. The other built a personal brand while studying. They wrote blog posts about what they learned, contributed to open source, and shared their knowledge online. Who do you think gets more interview opportunities? Who negotiates higher offers?

Personal branding is a multiplier for your technical skills. You could be the most talented developer in the world, but if nobody knows you exist, that talent doesn't create opportunities. Start building your visibility now. Write about coding patterns you're learning. Share your journey publicly. The compound effect transforms your career over time.

Order the 6th edition today if you don't already have it. The sixth edition is current and contains the most comprehensive content. Don't waste time with older versions when newer material exists.

Create a study schedule. Block time daily for working through the book. Consistency beats intensity for interview preparation. Thirty focused minutes every day produces better results than occasional marathon sessions. Many engineers who bought this book and followed a consistent schedule went on to ace coding interviews at top companies.

Find a study partner or use LeetCode's discussion forums to talk through problems. Explaining your approach out loud builds the communication skills you need for technical interviews. The book would be incomplete without this practice component.

Cracking the Coding Interview gives you the interview preparation you need to land jobs at Google, Amazon, and other top tech companies. But the book only works if you put in the effort. Start today, work through the problems systematically, and you'll be ready to ace the interview when your opportunity comes.

Is Cracking the Coding Interview worth it? Yes, I highly recommend this book. It's the best book for coding interviews and has helped thousands of software engineers land jobs at top tech companies. The combination of interview strategy and algorithm practice problems makes it essential for serious interview preparation at many of the top tech companies.

How long does it take to finish Cracking the Coding Interview? Most engineers take 2 to 4 months to work through the book thoroughly. Rushing through it defeats the purpose. Take time to solve each algorithm problem yourself before reading solutions.

Should I use Cracking the Coding Interview or LeetCode? Use both for coding interviews. Cracking the Coding Interview teaches algorithm concepts and strategies. LeetCode provides additional practice problems and lets you test code against real test cases. Many software engineers use them together for comprehensive interview preparation.

Is Cracking the Coding Interview good for beginners? The book assumes basic knowledge of data structures and algorithms. If you're new to computer science, study the fundamentals first. The book is meant for candidates who understand the basics and want to prepare specifically for programming interviews.