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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
easyShared Pointer BasicseasyFixed Capacity Stack StringeasyBinary Header CasteasyFree-List Memory PooleasyStruct Layout InspectoreasyLegacy Resource ManagementeasyPlacement New in BuffereasyStack-Allocated Fixed ArraymediumNUMA-Node-Pinned Buffer Allocation (Portable Simulation)mediumAligned Memory Allocator for AVX-512mediumImplementing Move SemanticsmediumCustom STL AllocatormediumHuge Page AllocatormediumRAII Scope Exit Cleanup GuardmediumWeak Pointer CachemediumLinear Memory ArenamediumCache-Aligned Atomic CountersmediumCache-Line Aligned Market Data StructmediumPMR Pool AllocatormediumMemory-Mapped File AllocatormediumLow Latency Memory WarmuphardZero-Copy FlatBuffer Order Parsing via reinterpret_casthardLow-Latency Tagged UnionhardStatic Polymorphism with CRTPhardIntrusive Smart PointerhardChained PMR ResourceshardSmall String Optimization (SSO)hardGC-Free Object Graph via Region AllocatorhardThread-Local Arena Allocator (jemalloc Arena Pattern)hardFixed-Size Slab Allocator (PMR)hardFlyweight Symbol PoolhardVirtual Address Space Warmup (Portable Pre-fault Simulation)hardType-Erased SBO Callable (std::function Replacement)hardReference-Counted Object PoolhardSmall Vector Optimizationvery hardCompacting Memory Allocator
View all 36 memory optimization questionsRelated topics