■ Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) Roadmap
Step 1: Prerequisites
• Choose one programming language (C++, Java, or Python).
• Understand loops, functions, arrays, strings, and recursion basics.
Step 2: Time & Space Complexity
• Learn Big-O, Big-Ω, Big-Θ notations.
• Common complexities: O(1), O(log n), O(n), O(n log n), O(n²).
• Practice analyzing simple and nested loops.
Step 3: Basic Data Structures
• Arrays & Strings (searching, sorting, subarrays, sliding window).
• Linked List (singly, doubly, insert, delete, reverse).
• Stack & Queue (implementations & applications).
• Hashing (HashMap, HashSet, frequency problems).
Step 4: Advanced Data Structures
• Trees (binary tree, BST, traversals).
• Heaps & Priority Queue.
• Graphs (BFS, DFS, shortest paths).
• Tries (for strings).
• Segment Tree / Fenwick Tree (range queries).
Step 5: Algorithms
• Sorting: Quick sort, Merge sort, Heap sort.
• Searching: Binary search and applications.
• Recursion & Backtracking: N-Queens, Rat in a Maze, Sudoku Solver.
• Dynamic Programming: Fibonacci, Knapsack, LIS, LCS.
• Greedy: Activity selection, Huffman coding.
• Graph Algorithms: MST (Kruskal, Prim), shortest paths.
Step 6: Practice Platforms
• Beginner: LeetCode Easy, CodeStudio, GeeksforGeeks, HackerRank.
• Intermediate: LeetCode Medium, Codeforces, AtCoder.
• Interview Prep: InterviewBit, Striver’s DSA sheet, Babbar’s 450 questions.
Step 7: Strategy
• Pick a topic → Learn → Implement → Solve 5–10 problems.
• Increase difficulty gradually (Easy → Medium → Hard).
• Maintain notes of problem patterns.
• Daily Routine: 2 hours learning + 2 hours practice.
