YouTube Channels

YouTube has two categories of value in DSA learning: channels where watching is the main learning activity, and channels where watching is the last resort after you’ve already attempted. The second category is more valuable and harder to use correctly. The rule for every channel below: attempt the problem or read the theory section first. Then watch. Never watch first.

Channels are assessed for upload recency as of July 2026. Channels with no uploads in 12+ months are flagged.

Tier 1 — Primary Learning Channels

NeetCode

  • URL: youtube.com/@NeetCode

  • Upload frequency: Weekly (confirmed active Jan 2026+)

  • Subscribers: 500k+ (2026)

  • What they cover: LeetCode problem explanations (primarily Medium/Hard), pattern walkthroughs, system design, NeetCode 150 and NeetCode All problems

  • Style: Clean, whiteboard + code, Java and Python. Explanations build from brute force → optimized. This is not surface-level.

  • Phase alignment: Phases 1–5

  • Community verdict (r/learnprogramming, 2025-2026): Consistent consensus as best free LeetCode explanation channel. Repeatedly cited when people ask “which channel for LeetCode?” The answer is almost always NeetCode first.

  • How to use: After a 25-minute honest attempt on a problem, watch the NeetCode video. Do not watch passively — pause when he writes code and write it yourself first. Then compare.

  • Verdict: PRIMARY for Phase 1–5. Required.

Striver / TakeUForward

  • URL: youtube.com/@takeUforward

  • Upload frequency: Regular (confirmed active 2025-2026)

  • Subscribers: 600k+ (2026)

  • What they cover: Full DSA curriculum (Striver A2Z sheet), interview-focused, DP playlist (50+ videos), graphs playlist, trees playlist

  • Style: Hindi/English mix (primarily Hindi with English code and terminology). Slower paced, very thorough. Raj Vikramaditya (Striver) is ex-Google.

  • Phase alignment: Phases 0–4

  • Community verdict (r/developersIndia, r/Btechtards): The default recommendation for Indian learners. A2Z sheet + Striver’s DP playlist combination is cited as “best free DP resource” repeatedly. More beginner-friendly than NeetCode.

  • How to use: Watch videos for Phase 0–1 before attempting (Striver’s A2Z is designed as a curriculum, so watch-then-solve is appropriate). For DP playlist in Phase 4, watch once, then reattempt problems without rewatching.

  • Verdict: PRIMARY for Phase 0–1 (A2Z curriculum). PRIMARY for Phase 4 (DP playlist). Required.

Tier 2 — Strong Supplements

Abdul Bari

  • URL: youtube.com/@abdul_bari (search “Abdul Bari algorithms” if URL changes)

  • Upload frequency: Sporadic — last significant upload batch was 2021-2023. New uploads rare as of 2024-2026. The existing content is still valuable.

  • What they cover: Algorithm theory — sorting, greedy, DP, graph algorithms. University-curriculum style. Very strong mathematical intuition building.

  • Style: Lecture format, whiteboard, English. Slower paced. Best for understanding WHY an algorithm works, not just how to implement it.

  • Phase alignment: Phases 0–2 for theory foundation

  • Community verdict: Consistently praised for conceptual clarity. r/learnprogramming regularly recommends for “I don’t understand recursion / DP” type questions. The Udemy course (~$15 on sale) is a reformatted version of the YouTube content.

  • Warning: Channel is not actively uploading new content. Use existing content only. Do not expect new videos.

  • Verdict: SUPPLEMENT for Phases 0–2. Use for specific concept clarification. Not for primary learning.

William Fiset

  • URL: youtube.com/@WilliamFiset-videos

  • Upload frequency: Sporadic — active 2020-2023, limited new uploads 2024-2026. Existing content remains excellent.

  • What they cover: Graph theory (the best free graph algorithm series available), data structures. Code in Java.

  • Style: Animated visualizations + code. The graph theory playlist is the most thorough visual explanation of Dijkstra, BFS, DFS, Floyd-Warshall, Tarjan’s SCC, network flow available for free.

  • Phase alignment: Phase 3 (graphs)

  • Community verdict: “William Fiset graph playlist is the gold standard for learning graph algorithms” — consistent verdict on r/competitiveprogramming and LeetCode Discuss threads about graph resources.

  • Warning: New uploads are infrequent. Use the existing playlist.

  • Verdict: SUPPLEMENT for Phase 3 (graphs). Pull in when CP-Algorithms.com explanation isn’t clicking visually.

Errichto

  • URL: youtube.com/@Errichto

  • Upload frequency: Active (2025-2026 confirmed)

  • What they cover: Competitive programming — contest walkthroughs, Codeforces editorial explanations, algorithmic thinking, CP psychology

  • Style: Live coding style. Raw. Errichto is a red-rated CF user (elite tier). Explanations are direct and technical, not hand-holdy.

  • Phase alignment: Phases 3–6

  • Community verdict (r/competitiveprogramming): Highly regarded for CP-specific content. Less useful for interview prep, excellent for CF competitive mindset.

  • How to use: Watch Errichto solve CF problems you’ve already attempted. His narration of his own thinking process (“first I see this constraint, that tells me…”) is the most valuable part.

  • Verdict: SUPPLEMENT for Phase 3+. Specifically valuable for Codeforces track.

Colin Galen

  • URL: youtube.com/@ColinGalen

  • Upload frequency: Active (2025-2026)

  • What they cover: CP meta-skills — how to practice, mental models, competitive psychology, “how to get better at CP” content

  • Style: Reflective, longer form. Less code-heavy, more process-heavy.

  • Phase alignment: All phases, but most useful in Phase 3+ when you’re doing real contests and encountering psychological barriers (TLE frustration, giving up after 10 min on a Hard).

  • Community verdict: Niche but highly valued by serious CP practitioners. r/competitiveprogramming regularly links his “how to get better at competitive programming” videos.

  • Verdict: SUPPLEMENT for mindset. Watch 1–2 videos per month once you start CF contests.

Tier 3 — Specific Use Cases

Kartik Arora

  • URL: youtube.com/@kartik_arora (search “Kartik Arora DSA” — India-based)

  • Upload frequency: Active (India-based, 2025-2026)

  • What they cover: DSA and CP, strong on trees and graphs, India-focused

  • Style: Hindi/English, clear explanations

  • Phase alignment: Phases 1–3

  • Community verdict (r/developersIndia): Recommended as an alternative to Striver for some topics. Less comprehensive than Striver’s full curriculum but individual explanations are solid.

  • Verdict: SUPPLEMENT if Striver’s explanation for a specific topic isn’t working.

Back to Back SWE

  • URL: youtube.com/@BackToBackSWE

  • Upload frequency: Largely inactive post-2022. No significant new content 2024-2026. Channel still exists, content still watchable.

  • What they cover: LeetCode interview problems, FAANG preparation, data structure fundamentals

  • Community verdict: Was highly rated 2019-2021. Community has moved on to NeetCode. Not recommended as primary resource in 2026.

  • Verdict: SKIP. NeetCode covers the same ground with newer content and better production. Use only if you need a second explanation of a specific pre-2022 problem.

Channels Flagged as Dead or Low-Quality

Channel

Status

Notes

CS Dojo

Dead — no uploads since 2021. 1.8M subs but content is stale.

Don’t use.

Nick White

Largely inactive — sporadic uploads 2023+, primarily older content.

Skip for new content.

Kevin Naughton Jr

Inactive — last meaningful uploads 2020.

Skip.

Tushar Roy

Inactive — DP explanations were strong 2015-2018 but no new content.

Use only for specific DP problems if all else fails.

The Correct Watching Pattern

This is important enough to state explicitly:

1. Read the problem
2. Attempt for 25 minutes (set a timer)
3. If solved: watch channel video anyway to check if your approach is optimal
4. If stuck: watch first 30 seconds of the video to get the hint/approach direction
5. Pause video. Attempt again for 10 minutes with the approach hint.
6. If still stuck: watch full explanation
7. CLOSE the video. Code the solution from scratch without looking.
8. Log the pattern in your problem log.

Watching a video all the way through and then copying the code produces the feeling of learning without the reality of it.

Navigation: ← 01_online_communities.md | → 03_blogs_and_newsletters.md