10 Best Books For Coding Interview | 2023

Short Answer: The best book for coding interviews for most people is definitely Cracking the Coding Interview or Elements of Programming Interviews. 

Anyone that wants to be a better programmer needs to have a good foundation. A good programming book will show you the crucial tricks and tips for being a better programmer.

This will enable you to write better code and develop solutions that will be more efficient. When you are an effective programmer, you can write less code to solve the same problem.

This is made possible by using advanced algorithms and data structures that you can only pick up from reading a good programming book. Using a suitable programming book will also ensure that you are free to think in whole new ways even as you consider the problem you are facing.

For instance, if you are developing an application that will communicate with an API, you have to optimize your code to ensure that calls are made in less than a second. This means having an understanding of latency and how important it is for real-time applications.

Reliable applications are in high demand, and the best way to develop these is by getting the best foundation in textbooks. Textbooks will take you sequentially through the concepts that you need to have a firm grasp of before being confident of the code you are writing.

When you can master the basic building blocks of many software programs, you will write better code and become a better programmer. Books are therefore crucial for someone that needs to become a programmer.

Additionally, coding interviews are essential for someone who would like their career to be embedded in programming.

Cracking the coding interview means that you are well prepared for the questions you will be asked. You should also be ready for the trick questions you will likely be asked at interviews. These are meant to set the great programmers apart from the rest of the team.

When you understand the intricate details behind many code implementations and data structures often used in programming, you will be better equipped to take on real-world problems. For instance, if you are applying to become a database systems developer, understanding trees and traversing them will be required.

This is an area that the interviewer will emphasize on and when you fully understand what is required of you, the better for you. You will use trees a lot in your daily programming of business applications, and as such, an understanding of traversing and manipulating them in code will be required.

Being well prepared for a programming interview prepares you for all the random questions and practice tests that you will be taken through. As such, you will be more likely to land the job opportunity when you have prepared well enough for the interview.

Coding interview books are the best resource you can have even as you prepare to take on that momentous occasion. Knowing what to expect ensures that you have adequately brushed up on all the essential concepts and are thus ready for any eventuality.

1. Cracking the Coding Interview

If you would like to ace your interview, it pays to be well prepared. This kind of book ensures that you understand what will be expected of you and the points you should focus on.

Interviews can be tricky, and being mentally prepared is essential. Additionally, you also need to ensure that your skills match your potential employer’s expectations.

This is meant for software engineers who know how to spot a chunk of code that could have been written better with performance improvements. As you go for the programming interview, you will have to be on top form, and your performance will also be gauged.

This means being asked to write simple programs to demonstrate your understanding of programming. The book takes you through the entire process and ensures that you are well prepared for anything you will go through during the interview.

Features

• Understand the hidden details in any interview question
• Manage more extensive programs by breaking them down into smaller components
• Learn to get yourself unstuck
• 189 programming interview questions
• Solutions for each question

Topics Covered

• Data structures
• Algorithm complexity
• Techniques for preparing for the coding interview
• Tricks used during interviews to weed out excellent programmers
• The hiring process

2. Elements of Programming Interviews

A version of the book is available for Python, Java, and the C++ programming languages. The use of specific languages is intended to give you a firm grounding for the particular programming languages.

Programming interviews tend to look for specific features in a programmer, and most of the time, many interviewees fail because of some simple reasons. The book has been designed to make you more aware of what the interviewer is asking instead of the questions they pose.

Some are looking to understand your method of creating solutions, while others want to see how good you are at creating algorithms to tackle various programming problems.

The different versions of the book are intended for multiple programming languages and present the entire experience in that particular language. As such, you will be better prepared as a developer and more likely to ace the interview.

Features

• Real-world coding problems
• 250 coding problems with detailed solutions
• Common mistakes during interviews
• Case studies
• Strategies for a great interview

Topics Covered

• Coding patterns
• Problem solving
• Algorithms
• Negotiating offers
• Data structures

3. Programming Interviews Exposed

Are you looking to make your way confidently through the following interview? Preparation is often the best way to ace the discussion, and this book takes you through exactly what you need to be ready for everything.

The interview will look at different aspects of programming and coding in general. You will not know what you might be asked, but it always helps to be well prepared.

As a programmer, learning how to design the best programs and solutions that are effective and efficient is essential. The interview will always look at how to get out of a problem and be unstuck when faced with a very complex problem.

There are usually online coding contests that are organized by companies that are looking for excellent programmers. If you intend to take part in these, it is recommended that you read this book first. The book will show you what you should be expecting and how you pass these tests.

Features

• Common interview problems
• Preparing your GitHub profile
• Demonstrating your skills verbally
• How is your skill-set effective when under pressure?
• How to stand out as the best.

Topics Covered

• Fundamental data structures
• Algorithms
• Data science
• Machine learning
• Statistics

4. The Algorithm Design Manual

Algorithms are all about solving problems in the most effective way possible. They break down huge problems into components that can be solved one at a time.

The book is intended for programmers who need to create daily solutions to various problems that they face within the real world. Designing algorithms to make the best use of the computing resources that are currently available is essential and one of the primary skills that you will learn by reading this book.

Algorithms are the core of computer science, and learning the best methods to solve problems in computing is quite essential. The book is an important text to read if you want to become a better programmer and will ensure that you can develop solutions in significantly less time.

Identifying areas that can do with performance improvement in your daily programming is also essential and will be helpful in the real world when you eventually get around to writing software.

Become better at programming by writing more effective code. This is the book for someone that needs to become the best programmer.

Features

• Online support and content
• Illustrations and code in color
• Experiences from real-world applications
• 100 different problems
• Common algorithmic problems

Topics Covered

• Randomized algorithms
• Approximation algorithms
• Quantum computing
• Algorithms implementations
• Methods for designing algorithms

5. Coding Interview Questions

Coding interviews are usually intense and very demanding. They require that you are fully prepared for everything presented to you and tackle all the challenges with confidence.

For a computer scientist, this is the ultimate exam guide and will enable you to crack those tricky interviews by identifying the hidden questions behind everything you ask.

For instance, some interviewers will want to know whether you can handle the pressure that comes with some of the scenarios during programming. Can you handle the pressure and still manage to provide excellent results?

This is the book that you need to be best prepared for the interview that is ahead. Knowing the questions, you expect also means that you will be better prepared to answer them in the best way possible.

The book itself is pretty large and covers a vast amount of content, content that will be helpful for the final interview. The included explanations are also meant to help you get around the tricks and pitfalls that the interviewer will put for you to trap you.

Features

• Interview questions
• Explanations
• Trick questions
• Algorithms
• In-depth delving of the questions and problems

Topics Covered

• Linked lists
• Recursion
• Stacks
• Trees
• Heaps
• Sorting
• Searching
• Hashing
• Greedy algorithms

6. Dynamic Programming for Coding Interviews

Programming is all about solving problems in the simplest way possible. Getting rid of complexity when dealing with data structures and processing is one of the most important aspects of programming.

This book teaches you how to solve problems in the most effective way possible. Instead of your program taking ages to find the solutions to a simple problem, it should break down the problem and take advantage of architectural features of computing such as threading to simplify the answer and computation.

Dynamic programming concepts are all through the book and are designed to ensure that you are as effective as possible.

Solving problems in a fraction of the time is something many companies are looking for, and when you can demonstrate this skill, you will have set yourself up for something great.

Features

• Simple explanations
• Detailed content for clear understanding
• All the complex interview questions
• Detailed algorithm analysis
• Dynamic programming problems
• Coding interview questions

Topics Covered

• Optimal substructure
• Overlapping sub-problems
• Memoization
• Algorithmic time
• Dynamic programming methods

7. Coding Interviews: Questions, Analysis & Solutions

For programmers, interviews are not their strong suit, and they are not known to be exceptionally good with personal interaction. The primary interaction in their life is typing code and waiting for it to build on their IDE.

The other aspects of being a software engineer are primarily ignored except during interviews, where they have to be brushed up to ensure the best performance. This is the ultimate book for a programmer that has to get in shape for an interview.

It takes you through the basics of interviews and the kind of experience that you should expect. Getting ready involves adequate preparation and the right mindset for that momentous occasion.

The questions are also accompanied by the correct answers and the process that led to them. Once you understand the questions and the kind of answers you are expected to provide, you will be better prepared to tackle the most complex coding interviews.

Features

• Programming language basics
• Algorithms
• Data structures
• Writing high-quality code
• Solving complex programming problems

Topics Covered

• Soft skills needed for interviews
• Code optimization methods
• Creative problem solving
• Writing robust solutions
• How interviewers evaluate solutions

8. Daily Coding Problem

Being prepared for an interview does not have to take much of your time. Your entire day should not be put into getting ready for the interview when you can work on a single problem per day.

This is the mentality used in the design and development of this book which is intended to get you in shape for the interview. Solving a single programming problem each day prepares you for that critical coding interview and ensures that you can take on the more complicated problems.

Daily coding problems is your best companion when brushing up on core concepts in programming and ensuring that you can get yourself quickly familiar with the various problems and solutions.

It takes you through the multiple problems in programming and ensures that you have handled at least each concept of software engineering.

Features

• Huge selection of questions
• In-depth solutions
• Daily coding challenges
• Organized flow
• Clear explanations
• Coding interview questions with solutions

Topics Covered

• Linked lists
• Arrays
• Heaps
• Graphs
• Trees
• Bit manipulation

9. Cracking the Tech Career

Are you looking to make yourself the most eligible candidate for any job advertised by a technology company?

Cracking the tech career is about getting ready and knowing what is required to thrive in a highly dynamic space. As a job-seeker, several things will make you more eligible for the programming job.

When you know what will set you apart from the rest of the job applicants, you will be able to present yourself to a potential employer in the best light. Succeeding in any role requires having a unique skill-set, which is covered in the book.

Preparing a competitive and attractive resume is also detailed to ensure that you make the best impression on a potential employer. Being the ideal candidate is made a lot easier by this book, which you should not throw away.

Features

• The hiring process
• Interview questions
• Standing out from the crowd
• The ideal candidate
• Career paths in tech

Topics Covered

• Crafting the best resume
• Preparing for an interview
• Culture fit
• Roles available in tech companies
• The recruitment process
• Coding questions

10. Programming Pearls

Programming is a rare and precious art that deals with real problems. Real programs should be inspired by this book which looks at the creativity and insight derived from working on actual programming problems.

This book addresses the core programming problems, and detailed solutions enable you to traverse the problems more effectively.

Learning how to create the most effective solutions to common programming problems is much easier when working with this book. It will teach you the essential aspects of programming and the under-valued programming that people hugely ignore. Those nagging programming problems are addressed in this book.

You get to understand the importance of using specific algorithms and data structures to handle the challenges that come your way. The book has all the insight you need as a programmer and will enable you to be better prepared for a career in programming.

Features

• Hard code problems in programming
• Some effective solutions to these problems
• Clear and in-depth explanations
• Relevant content for programmers
• Useful tips for programmers

Topic Covered

• Programming and Solving Problems
• Merge sort
• Sorting algorithms
• Binary searches
• Bit vectors

FAQ

Q: Is cracking the coding interview worth it?

A: It indeed is. This is the best book for anyone that is preparing for a coding interview.

Q: What is a whiteboard coding interview?

A: This is the interview where you are asked to write or illustrate your solution on a whiteboard. You can draw a chart showing your problem-solving process or write pseudo-code to the programming problem.

Q: Can I search Google or lookup online resources during programming interviews?

A: No. There will be barely time to Google a solution. Test4geeks.com, for example, does not allow search engine use while you are doing a test.