Merge Sorted Arrays Externally | Dataford Interview Questions

Explain how you would merge sorted arrays externally (approach only, no coding).

Asked in the Codility coding interview stage. Discussed approach only.

For this coding version, implement the approach as merge_sorted_arrays(arrays). The input is a list of individually sorted integer arrays. Return one sorted array containing every value exactly once per occurrence. Treat each input array as an external sequential stream: do not concatenate all inputs and sort them. Use a min-heap to retain the current value from each non-exhausted array.

Constraints

Each input array is sorted in nondecreasing order.
0 <= len(arrays) <= 10^4
0 <= total number of values <= 10^5
-10^9 <= each value <= 10^9
Duplicate values must be preserved.

Function Signature

def merge_sorted_arrays(arrays):

Your question is Merge Sorted Arrays Externally. 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

Explain how you would merge sorted arrays externally (approach only, no coding).

Asked in the Codility coding interview stage. Discussed approach only.

Constraints

Each input array is sorted in nondecreasing order.
0 <= len(arrays) <= 10^4
0 <= total number of values <= 10^5
-10^9 <= each value <= 10^9
Duplicate values must be preserved.

Function Signature

def merge_sorted_arrays(arrays):

Your question is Merge Sorted Arrays Externally. 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.