SQL Coding Problem

CodingOpenAILast reported November 2025Medium Frequency
Reported
4× across candidate reports
First seen
March 2025
Last reported
November 2025
Reported outcome
mixed

Problem Overview

A multi-part SQL coding problem. Based on reports, it involves implementing database-like query operations in code, covering: (1) GET and SET operations, (2) WHERE clause filtering, and (3) ORDER BY sorting. Only string-type values are involved. The problem is reportedly well-known on…

  • 2 candidate-reported follow-ups — the exact probes interviewers asked, with the trigger for each
  • The rest of the problem statement — full requirements, constraints, and edge cases
  • Approach and trade-offs — what passing candidates did, and the mistakes that sink people
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Verified Source
Every question is reconstructed from multiple independent candidate reports. Verbatim follow-ups, not invented ones.
Codex Fact-Checked
Technical claims, formulas, and scale numbers are reviewed against primary sources.
Interviewer Follow-ups
The exact follow-ups reported by candidates, with the trigger that prompts each one — plus the mistakes that sink people.
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