Recursion for Coding Interviews in Python

The ultimate recursion guide! Master basics, solve real-world problems, and get interview-ready in hours with FAANG engineers’ proven strategies.

Intermediate

58 Lessons

Certificate of Completion

The ultimate recursion guide! Master basics, solve real-world problems, and get interview-ready in hours with FAANG engineers’ proven strategies.

AI-POWERED

Mock Interview

Explanations

AI-POWERED

Mock Interview

Explanations

This course includes

37 Playgrounds

15 Challenges

6 Quizzes

This course includes

37 Playgrounds

15 Challenges

6 Quizzes

Course Overview

If you’ve ever struggled with solving coding problems using recursion, or if you need to brush up your recursion skills for an interview, this course is for you! We will start with the basics of recursion before we practice solving actual coding problems. You’ll have access to detailed explanations and visualizations for each problem to help you along the way. By the time you have completed this course, you’ll be able to use all the concepts of recursion to solve complex, real-world problems. We hope that ...Show More

Course Content

Recursion Fundamentals

Get familiar with recursion, memory usage, direct vs. indirect calls, and recursive problem-solving.

Who Should Take This Course?

What is Recursion?

Recursion and Memory Visualization

Direct Vs. Indirect Recursion

When to Use Recursion?

Understanding a Recursive Problem

Test Your Knowledge 1

Iteration Vs. Recursion

Walk through iteration vs recursion, conversion techniques, and practical challenges in coding.

Overview of Iterative Functions

Differences Between Iterative and Recursive Functions

Converting Iterative Code to Recursive Code

Count Vowels in a String

Challenge 1: Compute Square of a Number

Solution Review: Compute the Square of a Number

Challenge 2: Search First Occurrence of a Number

Solution Review: Search First Occurrence of a Number

Challenge 3: Corresponding Fibonacci Number

Solution Review: Corresponding Fibonacci Number

Test Your Knowledge 2

Recursion with Numbers

Break apart key recursion concepts, solving numbers and challenges like GCD, Pascal's Triangle, and conversions.

The Power of a Number

Sum of Integers from 1 to n

Modulus

Challenge 1: Find the Greatest Common Divisor

Solution Review: Find the Greatest Common Divisor

Challenge 2: Pascal's Triangle

Solution Review: Pascal's Triangle

Challenge 3: Convert Decimal Number to Binary Number

Solution Review: Convert Decimal Number to Binary Number

Test Your Knowledge 3

Recursion with Strings

Break down complex ideas using recursion to manipulate and analyze strings.

Remove Tabs in a String

Remove All Adjacent Duplicates from a String

Merge Two Sorted Strings Lexicographically

Challenge 1: Length of a String

Solution Review: Length of a String

Challenge 2: Sum of Digits in a String

Solution Review: Sum of Digits in a String

Challenge 3: Check for a Palindrome

Solution Review: Check for a Palindrome

Test Your Knowledge 4

Recursion with Arrays

Take a closer look at recursive solutions for arrays in counting, inverting, replacing, and sorting tasks.

Count All Occurrences of a Number

Invert an Array

Replace All Negative Numbers with Zero

Challenge 1: Average of Numbers

Solution Review: Average of Numbers

Challenge 2: Balance Parenthesis

Solution Review: Balance Parenthesis

Challenge 3: Sort an Array

Solution Review: Sort an Array

Test Your Knowledge 5

Recursion with Data Structures

9 Lessons

Explore recursion in reversing linked lists, depth-first traversal, and stack and graph manipulations.

Conclusion

1 Lesson

Learn how to improve problem-solving through recursion and practice across languages.

Part of the Python Interview Prep Path

Ace the Python Coding Interview

Stand out from the crowd. Cover everything you need to know to crack your coding interviews in Python.

7 Modules

Trusted by 1.4 million developers working at companies

Anthony Walker

@_webarchitect_

Evan Dunbar

ML Engineer

Carlos Matias La Borde

Software Developer

Souvik Kundu

Front-end Developer

Vinay Krishnaiah

Software Developer

Eric Downs

Musician/Entrepeneur

Kenan Eyvazov

DevOps Engineer

Souvik Kundu

Front-end Developer

Eric Downs

Musician/Entrepeneur

Anthony Walker

@_webarchitect_

Evan Dunbar

ML Engineer

Hands-on Learning Powered by AI

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Instant Code Feedback

Evaluate and debug your code with the click of a button. Get real-time feedback on test cases, including time and space complexity of your solutions.

AI-Powered Mock Interviews

Put your skills to the test in a simulated interview setting. Receive personalized feedback based on your performance. Available in Premium & Premium Plus plans.

Adaptive Learning

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Explain with AI

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AI Code Mentor

AI Code Mentor helps you quickly identify errors in your code, learn from your mistakes, and nudge you in the right direction — just like a 1:1 tutor!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is recursion in Python, and how is it used in coding interviews?

Recursion in Python involves a function calling to solve smaller instances of the same problem. It is often used in coding interviews to test problem-solving skills.

Why is recursion important for coding interviews?

Recursion tests your ability to break down complex problems and use algorithms, skills important for technical interviews.

How do I prepare for recursion questions in Python coding interviews?

Practice problems like factorials, Fibonacci, and tree traversals using recursion in Python to enhance your understanding.

Is recursion commonly used in Python technical interviews?

Yes, recursion is often featured in Python interviews, especially in problems involving data structures like trees and graphs.

Should I use recursion or iteration in Python interviews?

While recursion is powerful, depending on the problem’s efficiency and complexity, interviewers may expect both recursion and iterative solutions.