Ultimate Guide to Data Structures and
Algorithms (DSA)
This guide covers essential Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) with explanations, coding
examples, and roadmap links to help you master DSA efficiently.
1. Why Learn DSA?
DSA is crucial for:
Cracking coding interviews at FAANG and top tech companies.
Efficient problem-solving in software development.
Optimizing applications for better performance.
Competitive programming and open-source contributions.
Phase 1: Foundations
1. Mathematics for DSA
o Prime numbers, GCD, LCM,
Factorization
o Modular Arithmetic, Bit Manipulation
2. Big-O Notation & Complexity Analysis
o Time & Space Complexity
o Best, Worst, and Average Cases
2. Roadmap to Master DSA
Phase 1: Foundations
3. Mathematics for DSA
o Prime numbers, GCD, LCM, Factorization
o Modular Arithmetic, Bit Manipulation
4. Big-O Notation & Complexity Analysis
o Time & Space Complexity
o Best, Worst, and Average Cases
Phase 2: Data Structures
Data Structure Concepts Important Problems
Basics, Sliding Window, Two Kadane’s Algorithm, Two
Arrays
Pointers Sum, Rotate Array
Longest Palindromic
Strings Hashing, Prefix/Suffix, Trie Substring, Anagram
Grouping
Single/Doubly Linked List,
Linked List Detect Cycle, Merge K Lists
Fast & Slow Pointers
Stack Implementation, Next Greater Element, LRU
Stacks & Queues
Monotonic Stack Cache
HashMap, HashSet, Count
Hashing Subarray Sum Equals K
Frequency
Lowest Common Ancestor,
Trees Binary Trees, BST, DFS, BFS
Serialize & Deserialize
Heaps/Priority Kth Largest Element, Median
Min-Heap, Max-Heap
Queue Finder
BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Floyd- Shortest Path, Connected
Graphs
Warshall Components
Dynamic Knapsack, Longest
Memoization, Tabulation
Programming (DP) Increasing Subsequence
3. Algorithms to Master
Sorting Algorithms
Algorithm Time Complexity Space Complexity
Bubble Sort O(n²) O(1)
Selection Sort O(n²) O(1)
Insertion Sort O(n²) O(1)
Merge Sort O(n log n) O(n)
Quick Sort O(n log n) O(log n)
Heap Sort O(n log n) O(1)
Searching Algorithms
Linear Search - O(n)
Binary Search - O(log n)
Graph Algorithms
BFS & DFS
Dijkstra’s Algorithm
Bellman-Ford Algorithm
Kruskal’s & Prim’s (MST)
Greedy Algorithms
Activity Selection
Huffman Encoding
Backtracking
N-Queens
Sudoku Solver
4. DSA Problem-Solving Strategy
Step-by-Step Approach
1. Understand the Problem – Read carefully & clarify constraints.
2. Think of a Naive Approach – A brute-force solution is fine initially.
3. Optimize – Use better data structures or algorithms.
4. Code & Debug – Implement and debug the solution.
5. Analyze Time & Space Complexity – Optimize further if necessary.
5. Best Platforms to Practice DSA
Platform Type Best Features
LeetCode Interview Prep FAANG-level questions, mock interviews
CodeChef Competitive Contests, beginner-friendly
HackerRank Learning Well-structured problems, certifications
GeeksforGeeks Theory & Coding Detailed explanations, coding challenges
AtCoder Competitive High-quality contests
Codeforces Competitive Timed contests & rating system
6. Best Resources for DSA
Books
Introduction to Algorithms – Cormen (CLRS)
Algorithms – Robert Sedgewick
Cracking the Coding Interview – Gayle Laakmann McDowell
Online Courses
CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science – Harvard (Free)
Data Structures & Algorithms – Udemy by Abdul Bari
MIT OpenCourseWare - DSA
YouTube Channels
Striver (take U forward)
NeetCode
CodeWithHarry (for beginners)
7. DSA Cheat Sheets & PDFs
Striver’s DSA Sheet
NeetCode’s Blind 75 List
Big-O Complexity Cheat Sheet
8. How to Prepare for Coding Interviews?
✅ Start with LeetCode Easy/Medium problems
✅ Solve company-wise problems on GeeksforGeeks
✅ Participate in mock interviews (Pramp, InterviewBit)
✅ Build projects using DSA (e.g., shortest path in a city)
✅ Time yourself while solving problems to simulate interviews
Resources with Links
🔹 1. DSA Learning Roadmap
A structured way to master DSA from beginner to advanced
level.
📌 Beginner (Month 1-2)
✅ Learn Basic Programming (C++, Java, Python) → Python, C+
+, Java
✅ Math for DSA: Prime Numbers, Modular Arithmetic, GCD
→ CP Handbook - Math
✅ Big-O Complexity: Time Complexity, Recursion → Big-O
Cheat Sheet
✅ Arrays & Strings: Sorting, Searching, Sliding Window →
NeetCode Arrays & Strings
✅ Basic Recursion & Backtracking: Factorial, Fibonacci,
Permutations → Recursion Problems
📌 Intermediate (Month 3-5)
✅ Linked Lists (Singly/Doubly/Circular) → Linked List Guide
✅ Stack & Queue: Monotonic Stack, Deque → Stack Problems
✅ Trees & Graphs: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, MST (Prim’s/Kruskal’s)
→ Tree Guide
✅ Sorting & Searching: QuickSort, MergeSort, Binary Search
→ Sorting Tutorial
✅ Basic Dynamic Programming (DP): Knapsack, LIS, Fibonacci
→ DP Patterns
📌 Advanced (Month 6+)
✅ Graph Theory: Topological Sorting, Floyd-Warshall,
Bellman-Ford → Graph Algorithms
✅ Advanced Dynamic Programming: Bitmasking, Matrix
Exponentiation → LeetCode DP Problems
✅ Segment Trees & Fenwick Trees: Range Queries →
Segment Tree Guide
✅ Trie Data Structure: String Matching, Auto-complete →
Trie Problems
🔹 2. Best Websites & Resources to Learn DSA
📘 Theory & Tutorials
1️GeeksforGeeks DSA Course – Detailed explanations, coding
problems
2️CS50x (Harvard DSA Course) – One of the best free courses
3️MIT OpenCourseWare - Algorithms – Free MIT lectures
4️CP-Algorithms – Best resource for competitive
programming
5️Scalable System Design - DSA for Large Scale Systems
📌 Interactive DSA Learning Platforms
✅ Visualgo – Best for visualizing DSA concepts
✅ Data Structures Illustrated – Interactive learning
✅ Codecademy DSA Course
🔹 3. Problem-Solving Strategy & Practice Questions
🔥 Must-Solve DSA Questions (Striver’s SDE Sheet)
✅ Striver’s 180 DSA Sheet
🔹 Arrays
✅ NeetCode Arrays & Hashing
✅ GFG Array Problems
🔹 Linked Lists
✅ Leetcode Linked List Problems
🔹 Stack & Queue
✅ Monotonic Stack Explanation
🔹 Dynamic Programming
✅ NeetCode DP Roadmap
✅ LeetCode DP Pattern Problems
🔹 4. Competitive Programming (CP) & Interview Preparation
📌 Best Platforms for CP
1️CodeForces – High-quality CP contests
2️AtCoder – Best for beginners & intermediate programmers
3️CodeChef – Long & short contests
4️HackerRank – Beginner-friendly DSA challenges
5️TopCoder – One of the oldest CP platforms
📌 How to Start Competitive Programming?
1️Learn Basics – Arrays, Strings, STL, Sorting, Searching
2️Practice CP on CodeForces Div 3 Contests
3️Join Virtual Contests – Practice with real-time contest
environment
4️Solve Timed Challenges – Participate in LeetCode Weekly
Contests
5️Track Your Progress – Use LeetCode Progress Tracker
🔹 5. DSA Cheat Sheets & PDFs
✅ Striver’s SDE Cheat Sheet
✅ Big-O Complexity Cheat Sheet
✅ Common DP Problems PDF
✅ GeeksforGeeks Interview Questions
🔹 6. How to Prepare for FAANG Interviews?
📌 Steps for Interview Preparation
✅ Solve 150+ LeetCode Problems → LeetCode Problem List
✅ System Design Preparation → Grokking System Design
✅ Mock Interviews → Pramp, InterviewBit
📌 Best Resources for System Design
✅ System Design Primer
✅ Grokking the System Design Interview
