

Most technical interviews for software engineers involve questions about Big O notation.

Typically this happens after coding your solution, when you'll be asked about its time and space complexity. How you analyze and communicate this can be just as important as the solution itself.  

In this blog post we'll break down how to best answer it clearly and effectively.

______

## A Four-Step Approach

When discussing time or space complexity during an interview, structure your explanation with these four steps:

### 1. State the Time and Space Complexity upfront 
- Use Big O notation
- Focus on the worst-case scenario at this stage

### 2. Break down the algorithm 
- **Time complexity**:  
    • Walk through the key operations (loops, recursion, etc.)   
    • Identify the [most significant term](/fundamental-course/?module=simplifying)  
- **Space complexity**:  
    • Highlight the key data structures and recursion stack that contribute to memory usage  
    • Identify the [most significant term](/fundamental-course/?module=simplifying)    

### 3. Mention best / average cases (optional)
- Focus on worst-case complexity first, but acknowledge best and average cases when relevant ([see misconception 3](/blog/common-big-o-misconceptions/))

### 4. Tie it back to real-world implications
- Discuss how the complexity scales with input size  
- Talk about how a modern cloud infrastructure could handle the scale of the algorithm in real life ([see misconceptions 1 and 5](/blog/common-big-o-misconceptions/))
- Mention any possible trade-offs and optimizations 

______

## Examples

Let's use a couple of examples to illustrate this approach. 

### Example 1: Array Manipulation

```javascript
function findPairs(arr, target) {
    const pairs = [];
    const seen = new Set();
    
    for (const num of arr) {
        const complement = target - num;
        if (seen.has(complement)) {
            pairs.push([num, complement]);
        }
        seen.add(num);
    }
    
    return pairs;
}
```

#### 1. State the Time and Space Complexity upfront 
> "This solution has a worst-case time complexity of O(n) and a space complexity of O(n)"

#### 2. Break down the algorithm 
> "There is a single loop going through the array, where for each element it:  
> • calculates the complement (O(1))  
> • checks if it exists in the Set (O(1))  
> • adds the current number to the Set (O(1))
>
> Since all operations inside the loop are O(1), and they are done n times, the overall time complexity is O(n)."


> "For space complexity, the algorithm is using:  
> • A Set to store the numbers we've seen, which could grow to size n  
> • An array to store the pairs, which in the worst case could be n/2 pairs
>
> Both of these scale linearly with input size, so our space complexity is O(n)."

#### 3. Mention best / average cases (optional)
*Skip this step since best and average complexities are not particularly relevant for this algorithm*

#### 4. Tie it back to real-world implications
> "This solution is efficient for finding pairs. It scales linearly with the input size, and could easily scale with modern cloud infrastructure."

> "I can't think of any optimizations that would significantly improve the time or space complexity of this solution."

### Example 2: Matrix Traversal

```javascript
function rotateMatrix(matrix) {
    const n = matrix.length;
    
    for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        for (let j = i; j < n; j++) {
            [matrix[i][j], matrix[j][i]] = 
                [matrix[j][i], matrix[i][j]];
        }
    }
    
    for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        for (let j = 0; j < n/2; j++) {
            [matrix[i][j], matrix[i][n-1-j]] = 
                [matrix[i][n-1-j], matrix[i][j]];
        }
    }
    
    return matrix;
}
```

#### 1. State the Time and Space Complexity upfront 
> "This solution has a time complexity of O(n²) where n is the size of the matrix, and a space complexity of O(1)."

#### 2. Break down the algorithm 
> "Let's break down the time complexity:  
> • The first operation uses nested loops, its worst-case time complexity is O(n²) even though the second loop starts at i.  
> • Similarly, whe second operation is also a nested loop, with the inner loop going to n/2. This is also O(n²).  
> • Since both operations are O(n²) and we do them sequentially, the overall time complexity is O(n²)."

> "For space complexity, we're modifying the matrix in place without any additional data structures. 
 Therefore, the space complexity is O(1)"

#### 3. Mention best / average cases (optional)
*Skip this step since best and average complexities are not particularly relevant for this algorithm*

#### 4. Tie it back to real-world implications
> "This solution is very performant when it comes down to space. On the other hand, the time complexity is O(n²), which could be a bottleneck for large matrices. There are no significant optimizations that would improve the time complexity. In the real world, one might consider a different approach for large matrices by marking them as rotated and performing the rotation only when needed."

______

## Tips for Better Complexity Discussion

1. **Be Proactive**: Don't wait for the interviewer to ask about every aspect. Cover time complexity, space complexity, and any significant trade-offs.

2. **Explain**: Walk the interviewer through your thinking. Don't simply state the complexity without any explanations.

3. **Reference Specific Code**: Point to specific parts of your code when explaining complexity.

4. **Acknowledge Trade-offs**: Show you understand the implications.

5. **Be aware of [common misconceptions about Big O](/blog/common-big-o-misconceptions/)**.

6. **Tie it back to the real world**: Discuss how the complexity would scale with real-world inputs and infrastructure.

    

Learn how to effectively explain Big O notation during technical interviews, with examples and frameworks for clear communication.

Learn how to effectively explain Big O notation during technical interviews thanks to a step by step approach. Includes examples, analogies, and common follow-up questions with sample answers.

How to Explain Big O Notation in Technical Interviews: Complete Guide

How to Explain Big O Notation in Interviews: A Step-by-Step Guide



During technical interviews, there are certain expectations from interviewers about time complexity and big O notation. In this blog post, we'll explore what interviewers are really expecting to hear through when running into common Big O notation misconceptions.

## Misconception 1: "Constants Never Matter"

While it's true that we [simplify Big O notations](/fundamental-course/?module=simplifying) (e.g., O(2n) becomes O(n)), this doesn't mean constants are irrelevant in the real world. Make sure to mention it to your interviewer.

```javascript
// The time complexity of this function is O(2n) but we simplify it to O(n)
function sum(arr) {
    let total = 0;
    for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
        total += arr[i];
    }
    for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
        total += arr[i];
    }
    return total;
}
```

**What your interviewer wants to hear:**
"The time complexity of this function is O(n), but it performs twice as many operations as a single loop. In practice, the constant factor can significantly impact performance. While we simplify to O(n) in Big O notation, it's important to consider the real-world implications."

## Misconception 2: "All Nested Loops are O(n²)"

As we covered in our [nested loops trap post](/blog/nested-loops-trap), not all nested loops result in O(n²) complexity. Here's another example:

```javascript
function processItems(items) {
    for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
        let limit = Math.min(i + 3, items.length);
        for (let j = i; j < limit; j++) {
            console.log(items[j]);
        }
    }
}
```

When interviewing, make sure to explain why this function is O(n) rather than O(n²).

**What your interviewer wants to hear:**
"While this contains a nested loop, the inner loop only processes a maximum of 3 elements for each iteration of the outer loop. As a result, each element is processed a constant number of times, making this O(n) rather than O(n²)."

## Misconception 3: "Average Case Doesn't Matter"

More often than not focusing on the worst-case complexity is the right thing to do. But there are times where average case complexity is as important.
When discussing specific algorithms like sorting ones, mentioning both complexities and explaining why the average case is more representative of real-world performance is crucial.

```javascript
function findValue(arr, target) {
    // Quick sort implementation
    if (arr.length <= 1) return arr;
    
    const pivot = arr[Math.floor(arr.length / 2)];
    const left = arr.filter(x => x < pivot);
    const middle = arr.filter(x => x === pivot);
    const right = arr.filter(x => x > pivot);
    
    return [...findValue(left, target), ...middle, ...findValue(right, target)];
}
```

**What your interviewer wants to hear:**
"QuickSort has a worst-case complexity of O(n²), but its average case is O(n log n). In practice, it often performs better than algorithms with a consistent O(n log n) like MergeSort complexity due to better cache utilization and simpler operations."

## Misconception 4: "The Stack Doesn't Count for Space Complexity"

Space complexity isn't just about data structures created. Recursive calls also consume space on the call stack which adds to the space complexity of an algorithm.

```javascript
// Recursive approach
function factorialRecursive(n) {
    if (n <= 1) return 1;
    return n * factorialRecursive(n - 1);
}

// Iterative approach
function factorialIterative(n) {
    let result = 1;
    for (let i = 2; i <= n; i++) {
        result *= i;
    }
    return result;
}
```

**What your interviewer wants to hear:**
"The space complexity of the recursive approach is O(n) due to the recursive calls consuming space on the call stack. In contrast, the iterative approach has a space complexity of O(1) because it doesn't require additional as the input grows."

## Misconception 5: "O(1) Means Fast"

Constant time complexity doesn't always mean fast execution. In practice, the constant factor can have a significant impact on performance. Make sure to discuss this with your interviewer.

```javascript
function hashString(str) {
    let hash = 0;
    for (let i = 0; i < 100_000_000; i++) {  // Constant iterations, O(1)
        hash = (hash + str.charCodeAt(0)) * 31;
    }
    return hash;
}
```

**What your interviewer wants to hear:**
"While this function is O(1) because it performs a fixed number of operations regardless of input size, it's not necessarily fast. Big O notation describes how the runtime scales with input size, not the absolute performance."

## Takeaways

> • Be precise in your complexity analysis, but also demonstrate practical understanding  
> • Explain theoretical complexity but always tie it back to real-world implications  
> • Consider and discuss multiple cases (best, average, worst) when appropriate  
> • Don't forget about space complexity, including recursion stack  

Remember, interviewers are looking for nuanced understanding. Don't just state the Big O complexity - explain your reasoning and demonstrate awareness of real-world implications.



Clear up common misconceptions about Big O notation and learn how to discuss algorithmic complexity in a way that impresses your interviewer.

Learn how to avoid common Big O notation mistakes and explain algorithmic complexity for both time and space effectively in technical interviews. Clear explanations and real examples.

Common Big O Notation Misconceptions in Technical Interviews

Common Big O Misconceptions: What Your Interviewer Really Wants to Hear



The following table summarizes the time complexity of common operations on arrays. Understanding these complexities can help you write more efficient code.
The aim is to be language agnostic, but some operations may have different complexities in different languages.

```component
 { "component": "ArrayOperations" }
```

Looking for an easy summary? Checkout this [cheatsheet](/cheatsheet).

    

Discover Big O time complexity of common operations on arrays, and their impact on performance

Help for software engineers to understand the performance implications of common array operations. Details Big O notation and Time complexity of array operations like push, pop, shift, unshift, sort, filter, map, reduce

Time Complexity and Big O notation of common arrays operations like sort, push, pop, filter, reduce

Common Array Operations Time Complexity



## Distribution

By analyzing the time complexities of Leetcode solutions, we can gain insights into the most common patterns and optimize our own code accordingly.


The following chart shows the distribution of time complexities for solutions of Leetcode problems:

```component
 { "component": "ComplexityChart" }
```

## Method

• Only the optimized solutions of Leetcode problems were considered  
• Only the 6 most common time complexities were included in the analysis  
• The time complexity of 499 Leetcode problems were analyzed in total

## Observations

> • Most leetcode solutions have an optimal time complexity of O(n)  
> • An expensive time complexity of O(n²) may mean that the solution is suboptimal  
> • Don't read too much into this data, it's mostly for fun!

    

What are the most common time complexities of Leetcode problems?

An analysis of the most common time complexities of leeetcode solutions

Time Complexity Distribution of Leetcode Solutions


  
> Think nested loops always result in a O(n²) time complexity? Think again! 
  
Nested loops are often associated with a time complexity of O(n²) because the inner loop runs n times for each iteration of the outer loop.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. In this post, we will explore an example to demonstrate that this isn't always the case.


  ## Two-Pointer Technique

  ```typescript
function removeDuplicates(arr: number[]) {
    if (arr.length <= 1) return;
    
    let writePointer = 1;
    
    for (let readPointer = 1; readPointer < arr.length; readPointer++) {
        // Inner loop looks back at previous elements
        while (writePointer > 0 && arr[writePointer - 1] === arr[readPointer]) {
            writePointer--;  // Move back if we find duplicates
        }
        
        if (writePointer !== readPointer) {
            arr[writePointer] = arr[readPointer];
        }
        writePointer++;
    }
}

// Example usage:
let nums = [1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3];
removeDuplicates(nums);   // [1, 2, 3]

  ```

The function `removeDuplicates` uses the [two pointer technique](https://www.reddit.com/r/leetcode/comments/18g9383/twopointer_technique_an_indepth_guide_concepts/) to remove duplicates from a sorted array. 
The `writePointer` keeps track of the index where the next unique element can be written. 
The `readPointer` iterates through the array, and the inner while loop moves the `writePointer` back if it finds duplicates.

#### Complexity: O(n)

While the function uses nested loops, the time complexity is O(n) because each element is visited at most twice. Its worst-case time complexity is therefore O(2n) which is simplified to O(n).

## Takeaways

> • Most nested loops result in O(n²) time complexity, but there are exceptions  
> • When analyzing a nested loop, if two pointers are used, be suspicious  
> • If the pointers only move forward (or backward within limits), it's likely O(n)

    

Understanding examples of nested loops whose time complexity is not O(n²)

Blog Posts

How to Explain Big O Notation in Interviews: A Step-by-Step Guide

Common Big O Misconceptions: What Your Interviewer Really Wants to Hear

Common Array Operations Time Complexity

Time Complexity Distribution of Leetcode Solutions

Common Big O Pitfall: How Nested Loops Aren't Always O(n²)

Big O Course

Cheat Sheet

Practice App