Why Simplicity Doesn't Equal Efficiency: Lessons from LeetCode's Merge Sorted Array

In an AI-powered era where code can be generated instantly, understanding the gap between naive and optimized solutions becomes essential. This article reveals how a seemingly simple approach—combining arrays and sorting—carries a hidden O((m+n)log(m+n)) time complexity that impacts real-world performance. For developers aiming to stay ahead, learning to identify and optimize such inefficiencies is the key differentiator between those who use AI as a tool and those who truly understand what lies beneath the surface.