The 90 DSA Patterns That Cover Nearly All Coding Interviews
Many candidates solve 200+ LeetCode challenges but still blank out during actual technical rounds.
The truth is, interviewers rarely invent new problems; they adapt known logical structures.
Tech giants like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft repeatedly test the same core ideas.
Understanding these 90 DSA blueprints equips you to decode almost any interview challenge with ease.
What You’ll Learn
Inside this guide, we organize 90 DSA templates into 15 essential families used by elite programmers.
You’ll be guided on how to practice these patterns dynamically through AI-driven hints and feedback on Thita.ai.
Why Random LeetCode Grinding Doesn’t Work
Without pattern-based learning, random LeetCode practice fails to build adaptability.
Think of patterns as templates you can reuse for any similar scenario.
For instance:
– Sorted array with a target ? Two Pointers (Converging)
– Find longest substring without repeats ? Sliding Window (Variable Size)
– Detect loop in linked list ? Fast & Slow 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.
Examples: Converging pointers, expanding from center, and two-pointer string comparison.
? Hint: Look for sorted input or pairwise relationships between indices.
2. Sliding Window Patterns (4 Patterns)
Used to handle range-based optimizations in arrays and strings.
Common templates: expanding/shrinking windows and character frequency control.
? Hint: Balance expansion and contraction logic to optimize results.
3. Tree Traversal Patterns (7 Patterns)
Used for recursive and iterative traversals across hierarchical structures.
4. Graph Traversal Patterns (8 Patterns)
Use Case: Connectivity, pathfinding, and topology analysis.
5. Dynamic Programming Patterns (11 Patterns)
Central to solving resource allocation and sequence-based problems efficiently.
6. Heap (Priority Queue) Patterns (4 Patterns)
Helps in scheduling Product Management roadmap and optimization tasks.
7. Backtracking Patterns (7 Patterns)
Powerful for constraint satisfaction and combinatorial logic.
8. Greedy Patterns (6 Patterns)
Relies on sorted order or prioritization strategies.
9. Binary Search Patterns (5 Patterns)
Use Case: Efficient searching over sorted data or answer ranges.
10. Stack Patterns (6 Patterns)
Enables structured data management through stack logic.
11. Bit Manipulation Patterns (5 Patterns)
Applied in optimization and binary arithmetic problems.
12. Linked List Patterns (5 Patterns)
Common in list-based storage and cache designs.
13. Array & Matrix Patterns (8 Patterns)
Covers spiral traversals, rotations, and prefix/suffix computations.
14. String Manipulation Patterns (7 Patterns)
Use Case: Parsing, validation, and frequency analysis in strings.
15. Design Patterns (Meta Category)
Applied in designing scalable and efficient systems.
How to Practice Effectively on Thita.ai
Learning the 90 DSA patterns is only the beginning — mastering their application is the key.
Access the DSA 90 framework sheet to visualize all pattern families.
Step 2: Choose a Pattern ? Pick one like “Sliding Window – Variable Size.”
Engage Thita.ai’s AI tutor for instant suggestions and solution breakdowns.
Get personalized progress tracking and adaptive recommendations.
The Smart Way to Prepare
Most candidates waste effort on random problem-solving instead of structured pattern recognition.
Use Thita.ai’s roadmap to learn, practice, and 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.