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How do efficient attention variants (sparse, sliding-window, linear) make long context feasible?

Full attention is O(n^2), so long context needs cheaper attention. The signal is naming the families (sparse, sliding-window, linear), what each gives up, and why FlashAttention is not one of them.

Updated Aug 2026 · Grounded in real Applied AI Engineer interview loops and written to a senior-engineer editorial bar.

Full attention is O(n^2), so long context needs cheaper attention. The signal is naming the families (sparse, sliding-window, linear), what each gives up, and why FlashAttention is not one of them.

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