How do I handle edge cases in competitive programming?
Think of extreme inputs (empty arrays, single element, large values) and test your code against them.
Handling edge cases is a crucial part of competitive programming. Edge cases are inputs that are at the extreme ends of what’s allowed by the problem constraints, such as empty arrays, arrays with one element, maximum or minimum input sizes, or values that approach the limits of the data type. To avoid unexpected errors, always test your solution with edge cases in mind. Consider the boundary conditions and think about how your algorithm behaves with unusual or extreme inputs. Testing edge cases can help you avoid common pitfalls and improve the robustness of your solution.