Dataford
Interview QuestionsInterview GuidesExperiencesCoaching
New
Pricing
Get started
Dataford
Popular roles
Software EngineerData AnalystData ScientistData EngineerBusiness AnalystAI EngineerMachine Learning EngineerProduct Manager
Browse
Browse All RolesEvery role hub, from analyst to MLBrowse All CompaniesCompany-specific interview loopsAll Interview GuidesThe full guide library
Top questions by role
Software EngineerData AnalystData ScientistData EngineerBusiness AnalystAI EngineerMachine Learning EngineerProduct Manager
Top questions by skill
SQLPythonStatisticsMachine LearningA/B TestingSystem DesignGenerative AIProduct SenseMetricsBehavioral
Browse all questions →Try a mock interview
Experiences
Practice
Mock InterviewsTimed interview simulations with feedbackCoaching1:1 coaching with people at your target companiesSuccess PathYour 6-week structured planModulesCurated lessons by topicWebinarsTalks from ex-Big Tech data leadsPlaygroundA free-form scratch editor
Learn
BlogInterview strategy and career adviceTech Job Market ReportHiring trends across data and AI rolesFor UniversitiesDataford for career centersAbout DatafordWho we are and how we build
Pricing
Build my plan
Column Traversal of a Binary Tree
00:00
5 left

Column Traversal of a Binary Tree

MediumPython

Problem

Given a binary tree (not BST), print the column traversal from leftmost to rightmost column, top node first within a column. Asked in the onsite coding stage. from 7335359

Represent each node as { "val": number, "left": node|null, "right": node|null }. Implement def vertical_order(root):, returning a list of columns, where each column is a list of node values. Group nodes by horizontal distance from the root, with left child at distance -1 and right child at distance +1. Use breadth-first traversal so nodes appear top to bottom.

Example: 1 with left 2 and right 3 returns [[2], [1], [3]]. An empty tree returns [].

Constraints

  • The tree contains 0 to 10^5 nodes.
  • Each node value is an integer.
  • The input is a valid binary tree represented by nested node dictionaries.
  • A node has keys val, left, and right.

Function Signature

def vertical_order(root):
Interviewer

Your question is Column Traversal of a Binary Tree. Start with the requirements in the Question tab.

Run and submit as often as you like. When you're ready, talk me through your approach or go straight to the code.

You need to log in / sign up to run or submit.
CodePython 3
Sign up free to run your codeLog inLn 2
Run your code to see test output here.