Shuffle the Array
A easy-tier problem at 89% community acceptance, tagged with Array. Reported in interviews at Zoho and 0 others.
Shuffle the Array is an easy array problem with an 88% acceptance rate, asked by Zoho. You're given an array of 2n integers in the form [x1,x2,...,xn,y1,y2,...,yn] and need to return [x1,y1,x2,y2,...,xn,yn]. It sounds trivial until you sit down and code it wrong on live assessment. The trick is recognizing the pattern and avoiding off-by-one errors in index math. If you blank on the interleaving logic during your OA, StealthCoder solves it in seconds, invisible to the proctor.
Companies that ask "Shuffle the Array"
Shuffle the Array 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 engineer at a top-10 tech company who can solve these problems cold but didn't want to trust himself in a 90-minute screen share.
Get StealthCoderThis problem tests whether you understand array indexing and can translate a shuffling pattern into clean code. The naive approach iterates through the first half and the second half simultaneously, placing elements alternately into a result array. Most candidates get the logic right but trip on boundary conditions or index calculation. Some try to shuffle in-place and create a mess. The real payoff is speed and clarity: this should take under two minutes in a live setting. If the pattern doesn't click or you mix up your indices, StealthCoder is the safety net that surfaces a working solution immediately, keeping your momentum alive during the assessment.
Pattern tags
You know the problem.
Make sure you actually pass it.
Shuffle the Array 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 engineer at a top-10 tech company who can solve these problems cold but didn't want to trust himself in a 90-minute screen share. Works on HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and Karat.
Shuffle the Array interview FAQ
Is Shuffle the Array still asked at major companies?+
Zoho is listed as the primary company reporting this problem. It's early-interview material: low barrier to entry, high speed test. You'll see it more at smaller tech companies and screening rounds than at FAANG, but difficulty doesn't correlate with company size anymore.
What's the trick to not mess up the interleaving?+
Track two pointers: one at index i (first half), one at index n+i (second half). Append both to the result in order. The mental model is simple if you name your pointers clearly. Most mistakes come from using a single loop counter and calculating indices wrong.
Can you shuffle in-place on this problem?+
Technically yes, but the problem expects a new array return. In-place shuffling requires cycle following or temporary storage and adds complexity for zero benefit. Use extra space. It's easy and it's fast.
How does this relate to the Array topic?+
It's a pure indexing problem. You need to understand how to iterate, map old indices to new ones, and build a result array. No hashing, no sorting, no advanced data structures. It validates fundamentals.
What if I forget the solution during the OA?+
You can talk through the pattern: take first half element, then corresponding second half element, repeat. If you freeze on code syntax or index math, that's where StealthCoder fills the gap. You stay calm and move on.
Want the actual problem statement? View "Shuffle the Array" on LeetCode →