Google Interview Prep: Longest Common Prefix (Don't Ignore Edge Cases!)

FREE LeetCode Patterns Cheatsheet (15 patterns that unlock 95% of problems)
👉https://bit.ly/leetcode-patterns-chea...

-----

Master the Longest Common Prefix: Google Interview Prep

Struggling with string manipulation questions? In this video, we break down the *Longest Common Prefix* problem—a classic "Easy" difficulty challenge frequently asked during **Google coding interviews**.

🚀 What You’ll Learn:

*Problem Decoding:* We walk through the logic of finding the longest string that serves as a prefix for an entire array of strings.
*Step-by-Step Algorithm:* Watch a detailed trace of the "Two-Pointer" approach (one for words, one for characters) to see exactly how the logic handles different string lengths.
*Edge Case Mastery:* Learn why "empty arrays" and "empty strings" can break your code and how to implement a quick fix to ensure 100% test case pass rates.
*Pattern Recognition:* Discover why learning patterns (like Two-Pointers) is more effective than memorizing specific LeetCode solutions.

🛠️ Key Concepts Covered:

String arrays & indexing
Nested loops vs. `while(true)` logic
Efficiency and constraints (handling up to 10^6 characters)
Interview communication and whiteboarding techniques

*Ready to level up your technical interview skills?* Hit play to master this fundamental string problem and start thinking like a Google engineer.

---

*Enjoyed the breakdown?*
👍 *Like* the video and *Subscribe* for more interview pattern tutorials!
📌 *Resources:* Check the pinned comment for a free *LeetCode Patterns Cheat Sheet* and more interview prep resources.

#GoogleInterview #CodingInterview #LeetCode #DataStructures #Algorithms #LongestCommonPrefix #SoftwareEngineer #techinterviewprep

0:00 - Problem Overview & Google Context
1:04 - Understanding Constraints
2:01 - Step-by-Step Algorithm Walkthrough
7:15 - Don't miss this! Edge Cases & Bug Fixes
10:45 - Why Patterns Beat Memorization