The Link Shrinker
A medium Python mock interview question on DataDriven. Practice with AI-powered feedback, real code execution, and a hire/no-hire decision.
- Domain
- Python
- Difficulty
- medium
- Seniority
- L4
Interview Prompt
You're building the write side of a URL shortener. Given a `url` and a mutable dict `code_map`, use the first 6 hex characters of the URL's MD5 digest as its short code, save `code_map[code] = url`, and return the code. If that code is already taken by a different URL, take one more hex character until it's free (the visible tests won't force a collision).
Summary
Long addresses have aliases - you give them out, you keep the map.
How This Interview Works
- Read the vague prompt (just like a real interview)
- Ask clarifying questions to the AI interviewer
- Write your python solution with real code execution
- Get instant feedback and a hire/no-hire decision