Best Books for GATE in CSE

Algorithms & Data Structures

Algorithms:

Analysis, Asymptotic notation, Notions of space and time complexity, Worst and average case
analysis;

Design: Greedy approach, Dynamic programming, Divide-and-conquer;

Tree and graph traversals, Connected components, Spanning trees, Shortest paths;

Hashing, Sorting, Searching.

Asymptotic analysis (best, worst, average cases) of time and space, upper and lower bounds,
Basic concepts of complexity classes P, NP, NP-hard, NP-complete.

Data Structures:

Abstract data types, Arrays, Stacks, Queues

Linked Lists

Trees, Binary search trees, Binary heaps.

Book

Introduction to Algorithms
C.L.R.S

Fundamentals of Computer
Algorithms
Rajasekaran, Sahni, Horowitz

Description
Cormen covers entire GATE syllabus (and much more) in Algorithms as
well as Data Structures. Language is simple for most part but some
mathematics is required to understand the analysis parts. (This book is
only for learning algorithms and theory of data structures and there is no
sample programs given in it)
This book is Mini version of Cormens book, this cover almost everything
with short discussions, which is written in Cormen with more pages.
Use this book along with NPTEL lecture of Professor Naveen Garg.
Actually if you see prof Gargs Nptel upon DS you will find slides are
taken from this book. Slides are available online in the following link:

http://ww3.algorithmdesign.net/handouts/
Design & Analysis of Computer
Algorithms
Another classic book for algorithms.
Aho, Hopcroft, Ullman

Databases

ER-model, Relational model (relational algebra, tuple calculus)

Database design (integrity constraints, normal forms)

Query languages (SQL)

File structures (sequential files, indexing, B and B+ trees)

Transactions and concurrency control

Book

Database Systems
Elmasri, Navathe
Database Systems
Connolly, Begg
Database Management
Systems
Raghu Ramakrishnan
Database System
Widom, Ullman, Garcia-Molina
Database System Concepts
Silberschatz

Description
Covers entire GATE syllabus and especially good for file structures and
normalization

Covers entire GATE syllabus and is easy to understand.

Another very good book especially for Transaction management and

Normalization.

Another very good book.

Very good book but English is bit high standard

Compiler Design

Lexical analysis, Parsing

Syntax directed translation, Runtime environments

Intermediate and target code generation, Basics of code optimization.

Book
Compilers : Principles,
Techniques, & Tools
Aho, Sethi, Ulman, Lam

Description
One and only book. If you find the explanations tough, start looking at
the given examples, they are easy to follow

Operating Systems

Processes, Threads, Inter-process communication

Concurrency, Synchronization

Deadlock

CPU scheduling

Memory management and virtual memory

File systems, I/O systems, Protection and security.

Book

Operating System Concepts

Silberschatz, Galvin
Modern Operating Systems
Tanenbaum

Description
Very good for learning theory in OS. English is good to understand.
Writing style is pretty easy and fun. Enough for GATE
The Book, but if you read Galvin it is ok, read Tanenbaum for more
Knowledge. It contains great number of problems. Also includes some of
theory that is not included in Galvins book.

Theory of Computation

Regular languages and finite automata

Context free languages and Push-down automata

Recursively enumerable sets and Turing machines

Undecidability.
Book

An Introduction To Formal
Languages And Automata

Description

Most recommended one for GATE

Peter Linz
Introduction to Theory of

Sipser is a quick and comprehensive guide. It is recommended to be read

Computation

after you have grip on the subject.

Sipser
Introduction To Computer
Theory
Cohen
Introduction to Automata
Theory, Languages, and
Computation

Cohen can be read if very good detailed analysis is required. SPOON

FEEDING !

In most colleges you will find this book as a Main book , but believe me
within Cohen or Linz, if you read any one of them , Enough!

Hopcroft

CO & Architecture

Machine instructions and addressing modes

ALU and data-path, CPU control design

Memory interface, I/O interface (Interrupt and DMA mode)

Instruction pipelining

Cache and main memory, Secondary storage.

Book

Computer Organization

Description

Vranesic, Zaky, Hamacher

Most recommended one and cache memory and pipelines are described
well.

Computer Organization and

Architecture : Designing for
Performance

Another good book.

Stallings

Computer Systems: A
Programmers perspective

This is a really good book in perspective of architecture as a simple view

of how the actual hardware is organized is given. Apart from the classical
confusing diagrams, this book has simple ones which are quite clear in its
meaning. The explanation for pipeline execution and hazards are really
good. This book is no longer in print, but you can get its pdf by clicking in
the link provided. Highly recommended if you have time as this covers
many of the other CS subjects as well.

Computer Networks

ISO/OSI stack, LAN technologies (Ethernet, Token ring)

Flow and error control techniques, Routing algorithms, Congestion control

TCP/UDP and sockets, IP(v4), Application layer protocols (icmp, dns, smtp, pop, ftp, http)

Basic concepts of hubs, switches, gateways, and routers

Network security basic concepts of public key and private key cryptography, digital signature,
firewalls
Book

Computer Networks
Peterson, Davie
Data Communication &
Networks

Description
Most recommended for GATE

Good book with Basics clear

Forouzan
Computer Networks
Tanenbaum, Wetherall

One cannot neglect the amazing book by Tanenbaum. It contains

everything in a very well written way. It is amusing and it deals with
issues in a manner you want to do. If you are starting the subject, go
with it. It is not recommended for last time reading. Keep making good
notes if you read his book.

Computer Networking: A TopKurose is best for Almost all fundamental concept with clear figure and
Down Approach
very understandable manners
Kurose

Programming & Data Structures

Programming:

Programming in C

Functions, Recursion

Parameter passing, Scope, Binding

Data Structures:

Abstract data types, Arrays, Stacks, Queues

Linked Lists

Trees, Binary search trees, Binary heaps.

Book

Description

No comments- This is the best. To really understand the working of C,

The C Programming Language you must read this book. If you find this book tough, that means you
have to correct your concepts by talking to knowledgeable people. Many
Kernighan, Ritchie
local books, skips difficult to digest concepts and make easy to read
books- but to get everything you have to follow this book.
Data Structures Using C
Aaron M. Tenenbaum
Parameter Passing
University of Washington

Recommended for data structure concepts. Most of the data structure

concepts are covered in Cormen, but for those finding data structure
problems difficult to do can use this book
This pdf describes parameter passing mechanisms in detail

Digital Logic

Logic functions, Minimization

Design and synthesis of combinational and sequential circuits

Number representation and computer arithmetic (fixed and floating point)

Book

Digital Logic & Computer

Design

Description

No Comment One and only

Morris Mano

Information Systems and Software Engineering

Information gathering, requirement and feasibility analysis data flow diagrams

Process specifications, input/output design, process life cycle

Planning and managing the project, design, coding

Testing, implementation, maintenance.

Book

Software Engineering
Pressman

Description
Just see the GATE topics from this bible.

Web technologies

HTML, XML

Basic concepts of client-server computing

Book

Web Technologies Basics

Telerik Academy

Description
This presentation is enough for GATE.

Engineering Mathematics
Mathematical Logic

Propositional Logic

First Order Logic

Book

Description

Mathematical Introduction to Buy only if needed. The GATE topic is only till first order logic and these
Logic
questions can be solved just by practicing previous year papers. But
NEVER ignore this topic.
Enderton

Combinatory & Probability

Combinatory

Permutations, Combinations

Counting, Summation

Generating functions, recurrence relations, asymptotes

Probability

Conditional Probability

Mean, Median, Mode and Standard Deviation

Random Variables

Distributions; uniform, normal, exponential, Poisson, Binomial.

Book
A First Course in Probability
Ross

Description
Sheldon rosss book (1st course in Probability) is undoubtedly very good.
But you have to read this book very deeply page by page.

Set Theory & Algebra

Sets, Relations, Functions

Groups

Partial Orders, Lattice

Boolean Algebra
Book

Description

Discrete Mathematics and Its

Applications with
Combinatorics and Graph
Best book for Discrete Mathematics. Even covers Graph Theory.
Theory
Rosen

Graph Theory

Connectivity, spanning trees

Cut vertices & edges

Covering, matching, independent sets

Coloring, Planarity, Isomorphism

Book

Introduction to Graph Theory

Douglas B. West
Graph Theory With
Applications To Engineering
And Computer Science
Deo

Description
First 4 chapters are important for GATE

Good and concise books. If you have followed this book during
bachelors, then it is enough for GATE.

Linear Algebra

Algebra of matrices, determinants

Systems of linear equations

Eigen values and Eigen vectors

Book

Higher Engineering
Mathematics
Grewal
Linear Algebra and its
Applications

Description
Grewal's book is sufficient for Linear Algebra in GATE (it is needed for
other mathematical subjects)

This is the best book for Linear algebra

Gilbert Strang

Numerical Methods & Calculus

Numerical Methods

LU decomposition for systems of linear equations

Numerical solutions of non-linear algebraic equations by Secant, Bisection and Newton-Raphson

Methods

Numerical integration by trapezoidal and Simpsons rules

Calculus

Limit, Continuity & differentiability

Mean value theorems

Theorems of integral calculus, evaluation of definite & improper integrals

Partial derivatives, Total derivatives, maxima & minima

Book

Higher Engineering
Mathematics

Description

Enough for GATE

Grewal
Calculus
Gilbert Strang

If you have time, go through the book and videos in this link.

General Aptitude
Numerical Ability

Numerical computation

Numerical estimation

Numerical reasoning and data interpretation

Book

Quantitative Aptitude For

Competitive Examinations
Aggarwal

Description
Those having good aptitude skills can do without this book. But do
refresh the problems in progression, cost-selling price etc. Questions in
aptitude are easy but scoring in this topic is very important to the final
GATE score.

Verbal Ability

English grammar, sentence completion

Verbal analogies, word groups

Instructions, critical reasoning and verbal deduction

Book

Description

A Modern Approach to Verbal

If your English is good enough no need to buy this book. But I
Reasoning
recommend giving a little importance to this topic.
Aggarwal