developer-roadmap/roadmaps/leetcode/content/two-pointers@NHv86YI2-MSH8BkfUsaEx.md

Two Pointers

Two pointers is the first real pattern you will learn, and it is one of the most reusable. The idea is simple: instead of checking every pair of elements with nested loops, you place one pointer at each end of a sorted structure and move them toward each other based on a condition. This brings many O(n²) problems down to O(n). Most problems here require a sorted input, so sorting is often the first step. Mastering this pattern also prepares you for fast and slow pointers, which appear in linked list problems later.

Visit the following resources to learn more:

• @article@Mastering Problem Solving: Two Pointers
• @video@Two Pointers in 7 minutes