The Essential Ninety DSA Patterns That Cover Nearly All Coding Interviews
You’ve spent hours grinding LeetCode problems — yet still find yourself freezing during live interviews?
Most companies reuse recurring data structure and algorithm (DSA) templates to evaluate problem-solving skills.
Tech giants like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft repeatedly test the same core ideas.
If you internalize these 90 key templates, recognizing the logic behind any problem becomes second nature.
What You’ll Learn
The guide maps all 90 DSA patterns into 15 logical families — the same framework elite engineers use to master FAANG interviews.
Learn how to train smarter through real-time AI-assisted exercises on Thita.ai.
Why Random LeetCode Grinding Doesn’t Work
Blindly solving hundreds of questions rarely helps you identify underlying algorithmic blueprints.
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
Let’s dive into the core families that represent nearly every type of DSA problem.
1. Two Pointer Patterns (7 Patterns)
Use Case: Fast array or string traversal through pointer logic.
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.
? Insight: Timing your window adjustments correctly boosts performance.
3. Tree Traversal Patterns (7 Patterns)
Applicable in computing paths, depths, and relationships within trees.
4. Graph Traversal Patterns (8 Patterns)
Includes Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, and DSA patterns sheet disjoint set operations.
5. Dynamic Programming Patterns (11 Patterns)
Emphasizes recursive breakdown and memoization.
6. Heap (Priority Queue) Patterns (4 Patterns)
Ideal for top-K computations and real-time priority adjustments.
7. Backtracking Patterns (7 Patterns)
Includes subsets, permutations, N-Queens, Sudoku, and combination problems.
8. Greedy Patterns (6 Patterns)
Common in interval scheduling, stock profits, and gas station routes.
9. Binary Search Patterns (5 Patterns)
Use Case: Efficient searching over sorted data or answer ranges.
10. Stack Patterns (6 Patterns)
Use Case: LIFO operations, expression parsing, and monotonic stacks.
11. Bit Manipulation Patterns (5 Patterns)
Crucial for low-level data operations.
12. Linked List Patterns (5 Patterns)
Focuses on optimizing node traversal and transformation.
13. Array & Matrix Patterns (8 Patterns)
Applied in image processing, pathfinding, and transformation tasks.
14. String Manipulation Patterns (7 Patterns)
Used for matching, substring searches, and string reconstruction.
15. Design Patterns (Meta Category)
Use Case: Data structure and system design logic.
How to Practice Effectively on Thita.ai
The real edge lies in applying these patterns effectively through guided AI coaching.
Access the DSA 90 framework sheet to visualize all pattern families.
Next, select any pattern and explore associated real-world problems.
Step 3: Solve with AI Coaching ? Receive real-time hints, feedback, and explanations.
Get personalized progress tracking and adaptive recommendations.
The Smart Way to Prepare
Stop random practice; focus on mastering logic templates instead.
Thita.ai provides the smartest route — combining AI guidance with proven DSA frameworks.
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.