Hot100: Combination Sum (Backtracking / Pruning ACERS Guide)

Subtitle / Summary Combination Sum is the first Hot100 backtracking problem that really mixes three ideas at once: combination-style search, a running target, and safe pruning after sorting. The point is not to jump straight to the template, but to build it step by step from the problem itself. Reading time: 14-16 min Tags: Hot100, backtracking, combination sum, pruning SEO keywords: Combination Sum, backtracking, pruning, remain, DFS Meta description: Learn LeetCode 39 by building the solution from scratch, using path, remain, repeated candidate reuse, and sorted pruning. A — Algorithm Problem Restatement Given an array of distinct integers candidates and a target integer target, return a list of all unique combinations of candidates where the chosen numbers sum to target. ...

April 8, 2026 · 13 min · map[name:Jeanphilo]