Why Do I Blank Out When Trying to Solve Coding Problems?

One strategy I suggest is to think about how you, as a person, would approach solving the problem. For the palindrome task, break it down into tiny, manageable steps. Remember, problem-solving improves with practice, so keep solving challenges! Think of it like going to the gym—repetition is key! Whenever you complete a problem, start fresh each time and try it again from scratch to reinforce your understanding.

When tackling these types of coding problems, a good approach is to work through a simple example on paper first. Take the word "DAD" and analyze why it's a palindrome step by step. Write down your thought process. Creating a general set of procedures based on your examples will make it easier to code later. Don't forget to think about edge cases like an empty string!

Practice is crucial! Make sure you fully understand the problem before diving into coding. Try writing out the steps on paper—this helps clarify your thoughts. For palindromes, you need to compare the original word with its reversed version. Consider using a loop to reverse the string and then check for equality. The more you practice, the easier it will get!

When I struggle with a coding problem, I break it down by writing comments that outline the required steps. This helps me visualize the flow before coding it out. I'll often start with broad steps and then refine them into more specific actions as I implement the code. This can sometimes morph into its own method, helping me structure my approach better.