Massed Practice
Massed practice is a learning technique where study or practice sessions are concentrated into a single, extended period without breaks, as opposed to spaced practice which distributes sessions over time. It is often used in skill acquisition, such as in sports, music, or coding, to build muscle memory or rapid proficiency through intensive repetition. However, it can lead to faster initial gains but may result in poorer long-term retention compared to spaced practice.
Developers should use massed practice when preparing for time-sensitive events like coding interviews, hackathons, or mastering a new technology quickly under deadline pressure. It is effective for building immediate fluency in syntax or algorithms through focused, uninterrupted practice sessions. However, for long-term skill retention and deep understanding, spaced practice is generally recommended to avoid burnout and enhance memory consolidation.