DSA pattern
Binary Search
Binary search repeatedly divides the search space in half, eliminating half the remaining elements with each comparison. Beyond simple search, it's used for finding boundaries, minimizing/maximizing values, and searching in rotated arrays.
When to use
5 signals- 01Searching in sorted arrays
- 02Finding first/last occurrence
- 03Searching in rotated sorted arrays
- 04Finding peak elements
- 05Binary search on answer (minimize/maximize)
In interviews, call out the pattern early. It helps interviewers follow your reasoning and keeps your implementation focused. After solving, explain tradeoffs in plain language: why this approach is efficient, where it can break, and what edge cases you would test first.
Practice problems
4 listed- 01Binary SearchPractice →
- 02Search in Rotated ArrayPractice →
- 03Find Minimum in Rotated ArrayPractice →
- 04Koko Eating BananasPractice →
Build a review loop
Treat each pattern as a repeating cycle, not a one-time read. Solve a fresh problem today, revisit the same pattern in 2-3 days, and run one timed attempt at the end of the week. This turns short-term familiarity into reliable recall for live interviews.
When reviewing, re-derive the core steps from scratch before checking a reference solution. If you can explain the state transitions and edge cases clearly, you are much more likely to execute well under interview pressure.