# Coding interviews Coding interviews focus on testing your ability to write good code. Some companies like Google, Facebook, Uber, Lyft, Twitter, and DeepMind focus a lot on algorithms and data structures in this interview. Our general recommendations: * We recommend learning about or brushing up your knowledge on data structures and algorithms in the following order: [Common data structures and algorithms](/guides/common-data-structures-and-algorithms.md). * Consider getting the latest edition of the [Cracking the Coding Interview by Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell](https://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Coding-Interview-Programming-Questions/dp/0984782850). The book may look big in its printed version, but we think it is written in a friendly way and most of the book is just code with solutions to problems. Here is a secret - you can skip them and just read the theory part. For problem-solving see recommendations in other sections. * Consider buying a small whiteboard. This can help you with mock interviews before onsite interviews and will set you apart from others in case you will have a video interview rather than a phone interview. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.outtalent.com/guides/passing-interviews/coding-interviews.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.