Get Node to Remove
Reported by candidates from Flexport's online assessment. Pattern, common pitfall, and the honest play if you blank under the timer.
Flexport pulled this graph problem in February 2024, and it's testing whether you can navigate a graph structure to identify and remove a specific node. You're looking at a traversal problem dressed up as a deletion task. The trick isn't the removal itself, it's figuring out which node to target and how the graph structure changes after you do. If you blank on the approach during the live OA, StealthCoder reads the problem layout and feeds you the pattern in real time.
Pattern and pitfall
This is a graph traversal problem where you need to find a target node, then handle its removal without breaking the structure. The pattern is usually either DFS or BFS to locate the node, then careful pointer/reference management to unlink it. Common pitfall: candidates remove the node first and then can't traverse to find other dependencies. The trick is to think in two phases: find the node (traversal), then remove it (disconnection). You might need to handle bidirectional edges or cascading removals. StealthCoder acts as your safety net if you freeze on the graph mechanics during the actual assessment.
If this hits your live OA and you blank, StealthCoder solves it in seconds, invisible to the proctor.
You can drill Get Node to Remove cold, or you can hedge it. StealthCoder runs invisibly during screen share and surfaces a working solution in under 2 seconds. The proctor sees the IDE. They don't see what's behind it. Built by an Amazon engineer who would have shipped this the night before his JPMorgan OA if he'd had it.
Get StealthCoderRelated leaked OAs
This OA pattern shows up on LeetCode as delete node in a linked list. If you have time before the OA, drill that.
You've seen the question.
Make sure you actually pass Flexport's OA.
Flexport reuses patterns across OAs. Built by an Amazon engineer who would have shipped this the night before his JPMorgan OA if he'd had it. Works on HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and Karat.
Get Node to Remove FAQ
What does 'get node to remove' actually mean?+
You're likely given a graph and a target node identifier. You traverse the graph to find that node, then remove it from the structure. The removal means disconnecting all edges connected to it and ensuring the rest of the graph remains intact or is properly handled.
Is this DFS or BFS?+
Either works for finding the node. DFS is simpler to code, BFS is more intuitive for some people. The real challenge is the removal logic after you locate the node, not the traversal itself.
What's the common mistake?+
Removing the node before exploring all its edges or not handling parent pointers correctly. You also might forget that removing a node can disconnect the graph into separate components.
Do I need to return the modified graph?+
Probably. Most graph removal problems either return the modified graph structure, a list of remaining nodes, or confirm successful removal. Check the problem statement for what the expected output is.
How do I prepare in 24 hours?+
Review DFS and BFS traversal. Practice one graph removal problem on LeetCode. Focus on the two-phase approach: find, then disconnect. Know how to represent edges in both directions if needed.