The String Shrinker
A easy Python mock interview question on DataDriven. Practice with AI-powered feedback, real code execution, and a hire/no-hire decision.
- Domain
- Python
- Difficulty
- easy
- Seniority
- L4
Interview Prompt
A storage layer keeps text compact by collapsing repeated characters: given a string `s`, return its run-length encoding, where each run becomes the character followed by its length, and a lone character keeps just itself. If the encoded form would not be shorter than `s`, return `s` unchanged.
Summary
Compress the string. Shorter wins.
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