Leetcode Guide: When to Start Practicing LeetCode Easy Problems

If you aim to improve your competitive programming skills or prepare for coding interviews, especially for MAANG companies, you’re likely familiar with LeetCode. With its ever-growing pool of questions, it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. You might be asking yourself:

• Should I dive into LeetCode problems right away?

• Which problems should I solve first?

• When is the right time to solve LeetCode easy problems?

While these are all valid questions, a well-thought-out strategy is key to effectively practicing LeetCode problems. It’s logical to start with easy problems, because these foundational challenges help build problem-solving skills and boost confidence.

In this LeetCode guide, we’ll explore the ideal time to start solving LeetCode easy problems, along with strategies and resources to maximize your preparation. We’ll begin by discussing the importance of mastering the basics before diving into LeetCode. Next, we’ll cover the role of easy problems in building a strong foundation, followed by guidance on when you should start practicing them. You’ll also find practical tips on approaching these problems, common mistakes to avoid, and a conclusion to tie it all together. Finally, we’ll look at the next steps you can take once you’ve mastered the easy problems to continue advancing your coding skills.

Mastering the basics before LeetCode#

Before you consider solving LeetCode problems, it’s important to ensure your programming fundamentals are solid; otherwise, you may find yourself stuck more often. A common mistake among novice programmers is jumping into LeetCode without revisiting the basics. This often leads to confusion and frustration, causing many to give up before truly trying.

To set yourself up for success and prevent these common pitfalls, focus on mastering the following fundamentals:

• Grasp of a programming language: Select a programming language of your choice and become comfortable with its syntax, data types, control flow, and basic functions. Additionally, familiarize yourself with commonly used built-in methods for arrays, strings, and other data structures. These built-in methods, such as sorting arrays, searching within strings, or manipulating lists, can save you time and effort during interviews. Knowing when and how to use these methods effectively can be a game-changer, enabling you to write cleaner and more efficient code. For a quick revision, refer to the Programming Fundamentals 101 cheat sheet.

• Data structures: Understand data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and hash tables. Learn how they work, when to use them, and their time and space complexities.
  For a quick refresher or revision of key concepts, use the following cheat sheets:

  •  Data Structures 101: A concise overview of basic data structures and their operations.

  •  Data Structures 201: An advanced guide to more complex data structures and their uses.

  • Big O Notation for Coding Interviews: Quickly recall the time and space complexities of various algorithms and data structures.

• Algorithms: Familiarize yourself with fundamental algorithms, including sorting, searching, recursion, and basic problem-solving techniques. Read the blog on Top Data Structures and Algorithms Every Developer Must Know for a concise overview.

If you’re unsure about any of these concepts, it's better to stop and revisit the fundamentals before diving into LeetCode practice. Rushing ahead without a solid foundation can lead to frustration, so take the time to strengthen your understanding.

The role of LeetCode easy problems#

Starting with LeetCode easy problems is a strategic approach that sets a solid foundation for more complex challenges. These initial problems help you get accustomed to the platform, build confidence, and strengthen your core programming skills. Let’s explore why beginning with easy problems is beneficial for your coding journey:

• Foundational skills: Easy problems are designed to test and reinforce fundamental programming concepts. They often involve basic operations such as loops, conditions, and data structures.

• Warm-up for harder problems: Engaging with easy problems serves as a warm-up exercise, preparing you for more challenging tasks. These problems lay the groundwork for medium and hard problems by helping you become familiar with various questions and problem-solving techniques.

• Confidence building: Successfully solving easy problems boosts your confidence and provides a sense of accomplishment. This positive reinforcement is necessary for maintaining motivation and readiness as you progress to more difficult problems.

• Learning problem-solving approaches: Even simple problems require you to break down a task, think logically, and devise a solution. This practice is invaluable as it helps you develop and improve your problem-solving approach.

• Pattern recognition: All LeetCode problems can often be mapped onto core coding patterns, which serve as blueprints for solving related problems. Regular practice helps keep your problem-solving skills sharp, but focusing on learning and applying the 26 key patterns to easy problems can significantly enhance your abilities. The image below shows the 26 core coding patterns designed by the MAANG hiring managers.

Grokking Coding Interview Patterns is a popular course offered by Educative in six programming languages. It covers 26 key coding patterns in detail, along with problems that can be effectively solved using these patterns.

When should you start?#

Knowing when to start practicing LeetCode easy problems can make all the difference in your coding preparation. Starting too early can lead to frustration while starting too late might cause you to miss out on important coding skills. Here’s a guide to help you determine the right time to solve these problems based on your current skill level and experience.

• After mastering the basics: Once you’ve covered programming fundamentals through coursework or self-study, it’s a good time to begin with LeetCode’s easy problems. These problems will reinforce your understanding of basic syntax, loops, conditions, data structures, and algorithms, ensuring you have solid foundational knowledge.

• If you’re new to coding: For those just starting with programming, jumping straight into medium or hard problems can be overwhelming. Begin with easy problems when you feel confident with basic syntax and simple algorithms. This gradual approach helps you build your skills step by step, reducing the likelihood of getting discouraged.

• Hands-on practice with LeetCode easy problems: Understanding concepts in theory is an essential first step, but true mastery comes from application. Theory alone can give you the knowledge, but developing the intuition needed to solve problems effectively without practice is challenging. LeetCode easy problems provide the perfect bridge between learning and doing. Solving these problems allows you to internalize concepts, learn how they work in real scenarios, and develop the problem-solving muscle required to solve more complex challenges.

• If you’re familiar with coding but new to interviews: Even if you have coding experience but haven’t encountered coding interviews before, starting with easy problems is a wise move. It allows you to get accustomed to the format and types of questions typically asked in interviews, providing a smoother transition into more challenging problems.

• Ongoing practice for long-term success: It’s beneficial to stay engaged with LeetCode by regularly practicing easy problems, even if you’re not actively preparing for an interview. This habit keeps your skills sharp and makes it easier to solve medium and hard problems when the time for an interview arrives. Consistent practice ensures that you remain familiar with the platform, reducing the learning curve and helping you transition smoothly when you switch jobs.

How to start with LeetCode easy problems#

Starting with LeetCode easy problems is a strategic way to build your problem-solving skills and confidence. To make the most of this approach, follow these steps to effectively integrate easy problems into your coding practice routine:

• Set daily goals
  To build a habit and make consistent progress, dedicate 20–30 minutes daily to solve 2–3 easy problems. Setting daily goals ensures you regularly engage with basic concepts, reinforcing your understanding and improving your problem-solving skills.

• Choose the right problems
  Select problems that align with your current knowledge and skill level. Start with problems that cover fundamental concepts and gradually move to slightly more challenging ones as you become more comfortable.

• Track your progress
  Use tools like LeetCode’s progress tracker or create a spreadsheet to monitor your improvements. Tracking the problems you’ve solved and noting areas for improvement helps you stay motivated and identify patterns in your learning.

Common mistakes to avoid#

When starting with LeetCode easy problems, it’s important to avoid these common pitfalls to make the most of your practice:

• Rushing to the hard problems
  Avoid jumping straight into complex problems without mastering the basics. Building a strong foundation with easy problems ensures that you fully understand fundamental concepts, which is important for tackling more challenging tasks effectively.

• Skipping the problem analysis
  Take the time to thoroughly analyze each problem before jumping into coding. Understanding the problem requirements and constraints is key to developing a correct and efficient solution. Skipping this step can lead to unnecessary errors and inefficient code.

• Ignoring patterns
  Don’t overlook the importance of recognizing and mastering common coding patterns that frequently appear in easy problems. Identifying these patterns helps you apply proven strategies to solve problems and prepares you for similar challenges in the future.

By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll ensure a more productive and effective practice routine and set yourself up for success as you progress through LeetCode problems.

What’s next?#

After mastering LeetCode easy problems, it’s time to take your skills to the next level and enhance your coding journey. Here’s how to continue your growth:

• Move to medium and hard problems: Progress to more challenging LeetCode problems to enhance problem-solving skills and tackle complex scenarios. This step will help you apply and expand your knowledge.

• Practice coding with a pattern-based approach: Engage in practice focusing on pattern-based approaches. This method not only helps with solving LeetCode problems but also reinforces effective strategies for various challenges.

• Explore popular interview questions: Educative offers various study plans in multiple programming languages to cater to a wide audience with diverse needs. Consider exploring these lists for focused preparation:

  • Educative-99: A collection of 99 LeetCode problems covering 26 coding patterns.

  • Blind-75: A curated list of 75 high-frequency interview questions.

  • Grind 75: An evolution of Blind 75, offering a more personalized and dynamic approach.

  • Company-specific preparation: Educative offers specific company preparation guides that cover popular questions asked by companies such as Apple, Google, LinkedIn, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, and Oracle.

• Build small projects: Apply your knowledge by working on small projects. This practical experience will deepen your understanding and give you valuable hands-on skills in real-world scenarios.

• Simulate mock interviews: Gain real-world interview experience through mock interviews. Platforms like Educative offer a range of AI-powered mock interviews, allowing you to practice with various coding patterns. You can also tailor your preparation for companies like Meta, Apple, and Netflix. You can see a list of a few AI-powered interviewers available at Educative:

• Embrace continuous learning: Stay updated with industry trends and new technologies. Staying updated with industry developments helps keep your skills current and sharp.

Happy coding!