This is a very common tech test as it demonstrates a candidate's knowledge of basic data structures.
Also known as noughts and crosses
The rules of tic tac toe are as follows:
There are two players in the game (X and O) Players take turns until the game is over A player can claim a field if it is not already taken A turn ends when a player claims a field A player wins if they claim all the fields in a row, column or diagonal A game is over if a player wins A game is over when all fields are taken Build the business logic for a game of tic tac toe. It should be easy to implement a working game of tic tac toe by combining your code with any user interface, whether web or command line.
The game is played on a grid of 3 by 3 squares, creating 9 squares in total. Therefore, each game will consist of a maximum of 9 moves.
| Input | Process | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Player 1 chooses O and places it in a square | The program updates to include the O placed by player 1 | The program shows the grid |
| Player 2 places X in an empty square | The program updates to include this move | The program shows the grid with the O and the X |
| Players 1 and 2 continue placing their markers | The program continues to update | The program stores and shows the outcome of each move |
| A marker creates an unbroken row, column or diagonal | The program stops the game and the player with the winning marker wins | The program stops and says the at player_ has won |
| Or, all of the squares are filled with markers, and none of the markers create an unbroken line of three | The program stops the game | The program responds that it is a draw |
Player 1 and 2 A grid of 3 by 3 squares Data kept in memory and updated with each move
- The program must take inputs from two players.
- Each player has a single marker, an X or a O.
- The program creates a grid comprised of 3 by 3 squares.
- The program asks each player to place their marker in an empty square, with one marker per input.
- The game ends when a marker creates an unbroken line of 3, or all of the sqaures are filled. Program responds with Player_ has won or it is a draw. Extra: if there is time, create a class that keeps each players score from each game, and allows them to choose their own name, i.e they play 3 games, John: 2, Amy: 1.
- The players do not input the correct marker.
- The players places the marker in a square that already contains a marker.
- Player doesn't make a move.
- Ask player to input correct marker.
- Ask player to place their marker in an empty square.
- Program doesn't remember a previous move.
- In the event where all of the places are filled and there is not a winner, a tie will be declared and the program will end
