FAANG Coding Interview Pattern: Nearest Smaller Element (Monotonic Stack)

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In this video, we solve the *Nearest Smaller Element* problem using a *monotonic stack**, a core pattern frequently tested in **FAANG coding interviews**. You’ll learn how to efficiently find the nearest smaller element to the **left* for every value in an array—step by step, with clear reasoning and no guesswork.

Perfect for *software engineers, CS students, and interview candidates**, this walkthrough explains *why the monotonic stack works, how to apply it, and what interviewers expect you to recognize.

✅ What you’ll learn:

How the Nearest Smaller Element problem is defined
Why monotonic stacks are the optimal solution
How to think about stack-based interview problems
Time and space complexity explained clearly

📌 Links in the description and pinned comment include:

A *free coding interview patterns cheat sheet* (monotonic stack included)
**Code & Conquer**, my complete coding interview prep course

If you’re preparing for **Amazon, Microsoft, or FAANG-style interviews**, this is a must-know pattern.

This problem appears in interviews at Amazon and Microsoft and is a classic monotonic stack question.

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#CodingInterview #FAANG #MonotonicStack #Algorithms #DataStructures