Based on your experience, what's the best way to find a node that begins with two single link lists?

How to Answer
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

You will find that interviewers like to ask candidates about the various methods to find nodes and link lists. Don't be surprised if this question comes up a couple of times in an interview but is asked differently. To get a broader understanding of linked lists, here's an overview: A linked list is easiest explained as a linear data structure with the collection of multiple nodes, where each element stores its own data and a pointer to the location of the next element. The last link is essentially a linked list that points to null, which indicates it's at the end of a chain. An element, on the other hand, in a linked list is called a node. The first of the nodes is called the head, and the last of the nodes is called the tail. An interviewer will likely dig into questions about linear data structure and which nodes contain a value and pointer.

"The best example I can give is to list the most important properties of a class Linked List. This highlights how they are used and why they are used.

A Linked List maintains an insertion order of the elements.
Implements Queue and Deque interfaces. These can also be used as a Queue, Deque, or Stack.
A Linked List can contain all the elements, including but not limited to duplicates and null.
A Java Linked List Class library is not synchronized, which means in a multi-threaded environment, it must be synchronized concurrently for external modifications to the linked list.
A Linked List Class doesn't implement a Random Access interface so that elements can be accessed in sequential order.
I can use a List Iterator to iterate elements of the list
I can use a collections synchronized List (new Linked List) to get a synchronized linked list."

"The easiest way I can demonstrate the types of linked lists is to break them down by an example of how it is used in a Java development environment. The reason I am using Java as an example is if most development environments use Java. Before we do that, let me explain what a link list is in Java. Java, as a well-known programming language, focuses on code reusability through concepts like classes and objects. A class, in simple terms, is a template for an object. While you have the option of building your own custom classes for a linked list implementation, Java offers a convenient built-in Linked List class that allows you to implement a linked list in Java.

Here are the three types of link lists:
Single Linked List (Uni-Directional)
Double Linked List (Bi-Directional)
Circular Linked List"

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How to Answer: Based on your experience, what's the best way to find a node that begins with two single link lists?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Software Developer job interview.

27. Based on your experience, what's the best way to find a node that begins with two single link lists?

How to Answer

You will find that interviewers like to ask candidates about the various methods to find nodes and link lists. Don't be surprised if this question comes up a couple of times in an interview but is asked differently. To get a broader understanding of linked lists, here's an overview: A linked list is easiest explained as a linear data structure with the collection of multiple nodes, where each element stores its own data and a pointer to the location of the next element. The last link is essentially a linked list that points to null, which indicates it's at the end of a chain. An element, on the other hand, in a linked list is called a node. The first of the nodes is called the head, and the last of the nodes is called the tail. An interviewer will likely dig into questions about linear data structure and which nodes contain a value and pointer.

Written by Tom Dushaj on August 31st, 2021

1st Answer Example

"The best example I can give is to list the most important properties of a class Linked List. This highlights how they are used and why they are used.

A Linked List maintains an insertion order of the elements.
Implements Queue and Deque interfaces. These can also be used as a Queue, Deque, or Stack.
A Linked List can contain all the elements, including but not limited to duplicates and null.
A Java Linked List Class library is not synchronized, which means in a multi-threaded environment, it must be synchronized concurrently for external modifications to the linked list.
A Linked List Class doesn't implement a Random Access interface so that elements can be accessed in sequential order.
I can use a List Iterator to iterate elements of the list
I can use a collections synchronized List (new Linked List) to get a synchronized linked list."

Written by Tom Dushaj on August 31st, 2021

2nd Answer Example

"The easiest way I can demonstrate the types of linked lists is to break them down by an example of how it is used in a Java development environment. The reason I am using Java as an example is if most development environments use Java. Before we do that, let me explain what a link list is in Java. Java, as a well-known programming language, focuses on code reusability through concepts like classes and objects. A class, in simple terms, is a template for an object. While you have the option of building your own custom classes for a linked list implementation, Java offers a convenient built-in Linked List class that allows you to implement a linked list in Java.

Here are the three types of link lists:
Single Linked List (Uni-Directional)
Double Linked List (Bi-Directional)
Circular Linked List"

Written by Tom Dushaj on August 31st, 2021

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