Why does my code produce a 'segmentation fault' in competitive programming?
A segmentation fault usually happens due to out-of-bound array access or illegal memory operations. Check array indices and pointer usage carefully.
Segmentation faults in competitive programming are commonly caused by accessing memory out-of-bounds, such as when you attempt to access an index outside an array’s limits or dereference invalid pointers. To troubleshoot, ensure all array or vector accesses stay within defined bounds, especially if indices are derived from calculations or loop variables. In languages like C++, using dynamic data structures can reduce the risk of segmentation faults by avoiding manual memory management. Recursive functions can also lead to segmentation faults if they consume too much stack space; try reducing recursive depth or converting to an iterative approach. Carefully reviewing the code to identify any potentially illegal memory operations can prevent segmentation faults and improve program stability.