Convert Binary Number in a Linked List to Integer
A easy-tier problem at 81% community acceptance, tagged with Linked List, Math. Reported in interviews at Workday and 3 others.
You're handed a linked list where each node holds a binary digit (0 or 1), and you need to return the integer it represents. Workday, Roblox, MathWorks, and Salesforce have all asked this. It's easy by rating, but the acceptance rate of 81% means one in five candidates mishandles the conversion or forgets the linked list traversal pattern. The trick isn't hard once you see it, but if you blank on the approach during the live assessment, StealthCoder solves it invisible to the proctor.
Companies that ask "Convert Binary Number in a Linked List to Integer"
Convert Binary Number in a Linked List to Integer is the kind of problem that decides whether you pass. StealthCoder reads the problem on screen and surfaces a working solution in under 2 seconds. Invisible to screen share. The proctor sees nothing. Built by a senior engineer who knows the OA is theater. This is the script.
Get StealthCoderThe pattern is straightforward: walk the linked list left to right, treating each node value as a bit. For each node, shift your accumulated result left and OR in the current bit. Mathematically it's just binary to decimal conversion, but many candidates over-complicate it by trying to reverse the list first or building a string. The mistake is usually reversing direction or mishandling the bit shift operation. If you haven't drilled linked list traversal with bit manipulation recently, this is where you blank during screen share. StealthCoder is the hedge: it reads the problem, sees the binary pattern, and surfaces the shift-and-OR solution in seconds, letting you paste and move forward.
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Convert Binary Number in a Linked List to Integer recycles across companies for a reason. It's easy-tier, and most candidates blank under the timer. StealthCoder is the hedge: an AI overlay invisible during screen share. It reads the problem and surfaces a working solution in under 2 seconds. Built by a senior engineer who knows the OA is theater. This is the script. Works on HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and Karat.
Convert Binary Number in a Linked List to Integer interview FAQ
Do I need to reverse the linked list first?+
No. Walk the list head to tail as-is. Each node contributes a bit position from most significant to least significant. Just shift left and add the bit. Reversing wastes time and introduces off-by-one errors. The straightforward traversal works.
What's the fastest way to convert the bits?+
Bit shift and OR. For each node, do result = (result << 1) | node.val. This is O(n) time, O(1) space. String building and repeated multiplication both work but are slower and more error-prone in live coding.
Is this still asked at Workday and Salesforce?+
Yes. Both companies are in the reported data. It's an easy warm-up on their assessments, so expect it as a tee-up problem before harder linked list questions. Don't lose points here.
What's the trick I'm missing if I get a wrong answer?+
Off-by-one in bit positioning or forgetting to shift before adding the next bit. Also watch for null pointer errors if you assume the list is non-empty. Trace a 3-node example by hand first.
How does this relate to Linked List and Math topics?+
It combines both: Linked List is the traversal structure, Math is the binary conversion logic. You need to understand bits and bit shifting to avoid hand-rolling decimal conversion from scratch during the OA.
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