Efficient JSON Transformations | Dataford Interview Questions

Palo Alto Networks frontend surfaces such as Cortex XSIAM may receive deeply nested JSON configuration and alert objects. Implement a function that removes every object field whose dot-separated path appears in a blocked-path list, including the field's entire subtree.

Formal Specification

Given a JSON-compatible value data and an array blocked_paths, return a new JSON-compatible value with all matching fields removed. A path such as user.credentials.token refers only to object keys, and array elements do not add path components. Apply the same path rules independently to every object inside an array. Preserve the order of object keys and array elements. Do not mutate data.

Use a trie for blocked paths so shared prefixes are represented once and a blocked subtree can be skipped without traversing its descendants. Object keys used in paths do not contain periods. The root itself is never blocked.

Constraints

data contains only objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, and null
1 <= number of blocked paths <= 10^4
Each path contains 1 to 100 keys
The total number of path components is at most 10^5
The JSON tree contains at most 10^5 values
Object keys used in paths do not contain periods
The root itself is never blocked

Function Signature

def filter_json(data, blocked_paths):

Your question is Efficient JSON Transformations. 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.

Problem

Formal Specification

Constraints

data contains only objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, and null
1 <= number of blocked paths <= 10^4
Each path contains 1 to 100 keys
The total number of path components is at most 10^5
The JSON tree contains at most 10^5 values
Object keys used in paths do not contain periods
The root itself is never blocked

Function Signature

def filter_json(data, blocked_paths):

Your question is Efficient JSON Transformations. 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.