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Coding & systems
Memory Optimization
Allocators, layout, cache behaviour
Overview
About memory optimization questions in quant interviews
Custom allocators, object pools, data layout, and the memory-model questions low-latency desks use to test whether you understand what the hardware actually does.
How to study this topic
A path that works
- 1
Start with the easy set
Warm up with the 8 easy memory optimization questions. Quick wins build pattern recognition before complexity ramps.
- 2
Drill the medium tier next
13 medium questions sit in the sweet spot where most interview questions cluster. Time yourself, then redo any you missed two days later.
- 3
Stress-test on hard problems
15 hard questions simulate the on-site round. Skip looking at solutions for at least 20 minutes, then write up your approach.
The library
All 36 memory optimization questions
easyFixed Capacity Stack StringeasyPlacement New in BuffereasyStruct Layout InspectoreasyShared Pointer BasicseasyBinary Header CasteasyFree-List Memory PooleasyStack-Allocated Fixed ArrayeasyLegacy Resource ManagementmediumCustom STL AllocatormediumHuge Page AllocatormediumWeak Pointer CachemediumLinear Memory ArenamediumPMR Pool AllocatormediumCache-Aligned Atomic CountersmediumMemory-Mapped File AllocatormediumCache-Line Aligned Market Data StructmediumAligned Memory Allocator for AVX-512mediumRAII Scope Exit Cleanup GuardmediumNUMA-Node-Pinned Buffer Allocation (Portable Simulation)mediumImplementing Move SemanticsmediumLow Latency Memory WarmuphardSmall String Optimization (SSO)hardFixed-Size Slab Allocator (PMR)hardSmall Vector OptimizationhardZero-Copy FlatBuffer Order Parsing via reinterpret_casthardLow-Latency Tagged UnionhardType-Erased SBO Callable (std::function Replacement)hardThread-Local Arena Allocator (jemalloc Arena Pattern)hardStatic Polymorphism with CRTPhardVirtual Address Space Warmup (Portable Pre-fault Simulation)hardGC-Free Object Graph via Region AllocatorhardIntrusive Smart PointerhardReference-Counted Object PoolhardChained PMR ResourceshardFlyweight Symbol Poolvery hardCompacting Memory Allocator
View all 36 memory optimization questionsRelated topics