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Maximize unique characters from a word list

Last updated: Mar 29, 2026

Quick Overview

This question evaluates algorithmic problem-solving skills focused on combinatorial subset selection and character-uniqueness constraints in strings, within the Coding & Algorithms domain.

  • medium
  • Meta
  • Coding & Algorithms
  • Machine Learning Engineer

Maximize unique characters from a word list

Company: Meta

Role: Machine Learning Engineer

Category: Coding & Algorithms

Difficulty: medium

Interview Round: Onsite

## Maximize Unique Characters From a Word List You are given a list of strings `words`. You may select **any subset** of these strings (each string used at most once) and concatenate them in any order. A concatenation is **valid** if **no character appears more than once** in the final concatenated string. ### Task Return the **maximum possible length** of a valid concatenation. ### Input/Output - Input: `words: List[str]` - Output: `int` = maximum valid concatenation length ### Constraints (reasonable interview assumptions) - `1 <= len(words) <= 20` - Each word contains only lowercase English letters `a-z` - `1 <= len(word) <= 26` ### Examples - `words = ["un","iq","ue"]` → `4` ("uniq" or "ique") - `words = ["aa","bc"]` → `2` (skip "aa", take "bc")

Quick Answer: This question evaluates algorithmic problem-solving skills focused on combinatorial subset selection and character-uniqueness constraints in strings, within the Coding & Algorithms domain.

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Feb 12, 2026, 12:00 AM
Machine Learning Engineer
Onsite
Coding & Algorithms
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Maximize Unique Characters From a Word List

You are given a list of strings words. You may select any subset of these strings (each string used at most once) and concatenate them in any order.

A concatenation is valid if no character appears more than once in the final concatenated string.

Task

Return the maximum possible length of a valid concatenation.

Input/Output

  • Input: words: List[str]
  • Output: int = maximum valid concatenation length

Constraints (reasonable interview assumptions)

  • 1 <= len(words) <= 20
  • Each word contains only lowercase English letters a-z
  • 1 <= len(word) <= 26

Examples

  • words = ["un","iq","ue"] → 4 ("uniq" or "ique")
  • words = ["aa","bc"] → 2 (skip "aa", take "bc")

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