Create Target Array in the Given Order
A easy-tier problem at 86% community acceptance, tagged with Array, Simulation. Reported in interviews at Visa and 0 others.
Create Target Array in the Given Order is an easy array simulation problem with an 86% acceptance rate, asked by Visa. You're given two arrays: index and nums. You need to build a target array by inserting each nums[i] at position index[i] in the target array, shifting elements as needed. It's straightforward on paper but the implementation details matter. If you blank on array insertion mechanics or Python list methods during your live OA, StealthCoder surfaces a clean solution in seconds, invisible to the proctor.
Companies that ask "Create Target Array in the Given Order"
Create Target Array in the Given Order is the kind of problem that decides whether you pass. StealthCoder reads the problem on screen and surfaces a working solution in under 2 seconds. Invisible to screen share. The proctor sees nothing. Built by an Amazon engineer who used it to pass JPMorgan's OA and system design loop.
Get StealthCoderThe trick here isn't algorithmic complexity, it's understanding how insertion works. Most candidates either overthink it by writing manual shift logic or underthink it by forgetting that inserting at position i shifts everything to the right. The straightforward approach: iterate through the index and nums arrays in parallel, inserting nums[i] at position index[i] in the target array. Python's list.insert() handles the shifting for you. The gotcha is off-by-one errors or confusing the order of operations. Because acceptance is high, interviewers likely test your grasp of basic list operations rather than optimization. If you hit this during assessment and freeze on insertion syntax, StealthCoder runs invisibly and gives you working code.
Pattern tags
You know the problem.
Make sure you actually pass it.
Create Target Array in the Given Order recycles across companies for a reason. It's easy-tier, and most candidates blank under the timer. StealthCoder is the hedge: an AI overlay invisible during screen share. It reads the problem and surfaces a working solution in under 2 seconds. Built by an Amazon engineer who used it to pass JPMorgan's OA and system design loop. Works on HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and Karat.
Create Target Array in the Given Order interview FAQ
Is this actually asked at real companies or just LeetCode filler?+
Visa has asked it. At 86% acceptance and easy difficulty, it's a screening warm-up, not a blocker. Companies use it to verify you can code basic array operations cleanly without overthinking. It's a signal of competence, not a puzzle.
What's the trick everyone misses?+
Forgetting that insert shifts elements right. If you manually build a target array, insertion order matters. Write it naively first: loop through indices and nums in order, insert at the given position each time. Don't optimize prematurely. Most failures come from off-by-one errors or reversing the index-nums pairing.
Should I use an array simulation or a different data structure?+
Array simulation is the point. The problem name says it: you're simulating the insertion process. Other structures like linked lists avoid shifting costs but add complexity. Stick with a simple list and use the built-in insert method. That's the expected approach.
How long should this take to code in an interview?+
Three to five minutes if you know list insertion. The logic is one loop and one insertion per iteration. If you're taking longer, you're either second-guessing the method or manually implementing insert from scratch, which is unnecessary and error-prone.
Will I see this on harder interview rounds?+
Unlikely. At 86% acceptance and easy difficulty, this is a round-one or screening filter. It tests whether you can code accurately and read a spec carefully. Harder rounds move to dynamic programming, graphs, or optimization problems.
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