Move Zeroes
A easy-tier problem at 63% community acceptance, tagged with Array, Two Pointers. Reported in interviews at NetApp and 34 others.
Move Zeroes looks easy on the surface, and it is, but 37% of candidates still fail it in live assessments. You get an array, you move all the zeroes to the end while preserving the order of non-zero elements. NetApp, ServiceNow, eBay, and Wix ask it regularly. The trap is trying to solve it in multiple passes or using extra space when the pattern screams two-pointer in a single pass. If you freeze on the exact pointer logic during your live OA, StealthCoder surfaces the working solution invisibly, so you don't tank an easy win.
Companies that ask "Move Zeroes"
Move Zeroes 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 because the OA filter rejects engineers who'd pass the on-site. That's a broken filter. This is the workaround.
Get StealthCoderThe trick is not using a second array or filtering. You need two pointers: one tracking where the next non-zero should go, another scanning the array. When you hit a non-zero, swap it into the 'insertion' position and move both pointers. When you hit a zero, skip it. This modifies in-place, O(n) time, O(1) space. Most candidates either overthink it and write multiple passes, or they nail the logic but botch the swap logic and end up with duplicates or lost elements. Array and Two Pointers are fundamental, and this problem is the canonical 'easy' test of whether you actually understand the pattern or just got lucky. It appears across 35 companies, and the acceptance rate (63%) reflects how many people succeed by rote memory rather than true comprehension. StealthCoder is your hedge if the pattern doesn't click immediately when you see the problem statement.
Pattern tags
You know the problem.
Make sure you actually pass it.
Move Zeroes 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 because the OA filter rejects engineers who'd pass the on-site. That's a broken filter. This is the workaround. Works on HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and Karat.
Move Zeroes interview FAQ
Is Move Zeroes really asked at FAANG-tier companies?+
Yes. NetApp, eBay, ServiceNow, and Wix all report it. It's 'easy' by difficulty tag, but it filters candidates who confuse two-pointer theory with actual implementation. It appears across 35+ companies, so the odds you'll see it somewhere in a multi-OA season are high.
What's the most common mistake on this problem?+
Using extra space (a second array or list) or doing multiple passes. The problem tests whether you know the two-pointer in-place pattern. A close second: botching the swap logic and leaving duplicates or corrupting the array. Get the pointer mechanics right, and the problem solves itself.
How does Move Zeroes relate to other Two Pointer problems?+
It's the foundation. Two Pointer problems hinge on managing two independent positions in a single pass. Once you nail the pointer handshake here, you can apply the same skeleton to partition, color sort, and slower/faster pointer problems.
Can I solve it in-place without modifying the original array?+
The problem typically asks you to modify in-place. If you use extra space, you solve it, but you miss the point and lose elegance points in a live interview. The in-place two-pointer solution is O(1) space and is what the interviewer is checking for.
Why is the acceptance rate only 63% if it's marked Easy?+
Easy difficulty reflects the conceptual simplicity, not the implementation rigor. Many candidates know two-pointer in theory but freeze on pointer state management during a timed OA. Others try to brute-force with extra passes. The gap between 'easy' and 'passed' is execution.
Want the actual problem statement? View "Move Zeroes" on LeetCode →