Is it OK to look at the answers for LeetCode?

Looking at the answers on LeetCode or any other coding practice platform can be beneficial if done thoughtfully and strategically. Here are some guidelines and considerations to ensure that peeking at solutions helps rather than hinders your learning process:

When It's Okay to Look at Answers

1. After Attempting the Problem: It's best to attempt solving the problem on your own first. Give it a good effort, and try different approaches if your initial solution doesn't work. If you're completely stuck after a substantial effort, it's okay to look at the solution.

2. To Learn Different Approaches: After solving a problem, reviewing other solutions can provide insights into different and potentially more efficient ways to solve the same problem. This can be a great learning opportunity to discover new algorithms, data structures, or coding techniques.

3. To Understand Complex Concepts: Sometimes, problems may involve complex concepts or algorithms that you are not familiar with. In these cases, studying the solutions can help you understand these new concepts better.

How to Look at Answers Effectively

1. Understand, Don't Memorize: When you look at a solution, take the time to truly understand why it works. Memorizing the solution without understanding the underlying principles will not help you in the long run, especially in interviews where problems can vary widely.

2. Analyze the Solution: Break down the solution to understand each part of the code. Try to grasp how the solution approach addresses the problem constraints and why certain data structures or algorithms were chosen.

3. Rewrite the Solution: After studying the solution, close it and try to write the code on your own. This reinforces learning and ensures you've internalized the approach and not just copied it.

4. Reflect on Your Original Approach: Compare your original attempt with the solution. Reflect on why your approach did not work or how it could be improved. This reflection can help you avoid similar pitfalls in future problems.

5. Discuss with Peers: If possible, discuss both your approach and the solution you studied with peers or mentors. This can provide additional insights and reinforce your understanding.

Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Over-reliance on Solutions: Relying too heavily on looking up answers can stunt your problem-solving development. It's crucial to struggle through problems to some extent as this struggle helps develop deeper problem-solving skills.

2. Looking Up Answers Too Quickly: Give yourself enough time to process and tackle the problem on your own before resorting to solutions. This helps build resilience and creativity in solving problems.

Conclusion

Looking at solutions on LeetCode can be part of a healthy learning strategy if done correctly. It should be used as a tool to learn and not as a shortcut to get through problems quickly. The goal of using platforms like LeetCode is to improve your coding and problem-solving skills, preparing you for technical interviews where you won't have solutions to fall back on.