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According to the title, let's jump straight to the point. When I started learning DSA, I was very nervous due to being influenced by an Indian YouTuber who portrayed DSA as extremely difficult and the only path to secure a job. However, we know that's not the reality. DSA is akin to mathematics; the better you grasp the concepts, the more proficient you become through practice. I have noticed many students making the same mistakes while learning DSA, and I would say it's not just about learning, but rather about practice. No matter which course you choose to learn DSA, you can only excel by practicing the questions.
The Optimal Approach: Efficiently Mastering DSA with Time and Enhanced Knowledge. First, choose a topic like linked lists and assess your confidence in it, considering the prerequisites such as OOP, loops, if-else statements, functions, and more. If you believe you have acquired everything needed to learn this topic, then start diving into it. Once you understand concepts like creating, deleting, and finding nodes, proceed to solve medium-level problems like reversing or merging two linked lists. Practice at least 5 questions to strengthen your understanding because the more you practice, the stronger your grasp of the topic becomes. Don't move ahead until you are confident in the current concept. It's advisable to solve problems using pen and paper or a blackboard, whichever you prefer. You might have heard from many experienced professionals that once you build the logic, implementing it in code becomes easier.
After completing the entire DSA curriculum, make it a habit to solve problems on a daily basis to enhance your DSA skills and always be interview-ready. Even solving 2 or 3 problems daily will significantly improve your DSA proficiency, enabling you to crack interviews at any company.
Regarding the ideal time to complete DSA, it took me 2 months with this approach, and now I live with daily problem-solving. It's not about completing DSA within a specific timeframe like 6 months or 3 months; instead, you have to practice it consistently in your daily life.
DSA is easy; you just need to adopt the right approach and practice regularly.
This is what I wanted to share with you in this blog. I know it's not much, but it's my first one, and I hope you join me on this journey.