Transform array to sorted array

Last updated: May 6, 2026

Quick Overview

Given an unsorted array of integers, write a function to transform it into a sorted array in ascending order. The function should take the array as input and return a new array containing the same integers sorted. Ensure that your solution is efficient and handles edge cases, such as empty arrays or arrays with duplicate values.

Vercel
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Vercel
May 6, 2026
Software Engineer
Technical Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Medium

101

6

2,983 solved


Given an unsorted array of integers, write a function to transform it into a sorted array in ascending order. The function should take the array as input and return a new array containing the same integers sorted. Ensure that your solution is efficient and handles edge cases, such as empty arrays or arrays with duplicate values.

This coding problem is frequently asked during Technical Screen at Vercel. The interviewer is testing your ability to translate a problem into clean, working code while discussing time and space complexity. Vercel expects candidates to write production-quality code, not just solve the puzzle.

What the Interviewer Expects
  • Recognize the underlying problem pattern (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS, etc.)
  • Discuss multiple approaches and trade-offs before coding
  • Implement an optimal solution with clean, production-quality code
  • Handle all edge cases including boundary conditions and invalid input
  • Optimize both time and space complexity with clear justification
  • Test your solution systematically with well-chosen examples
Key Topics to Cover
Binary search and divide and conquer
Hash maps and frequency counting
Common algorithm patterns (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS)
Sorting and searching
Time and space complexity analysis
How to Approach This
  1. Clarify input constraints and edge cases before writing code.
  2. Walk through your approach verbally and confirm with the interviewer before coding.
  3. Start with a brute force solution, then optimize. Mention time and space complexity.
  4. Test your solution with examples, including edge cases like empty input or duplicates.
  5. Consider common patterns: sliding window, two pointers, hash map, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming.
Possible Follow-up Questions
  • How would you test this solution thoroughly?
  • How would you parallelize this solution?
  • How would your solution change if the input was sorted?
  • How would you modify your solution to handle streaming input?
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Sample Answer
Problem Analysis

The problem at hand is to sort an unsorted array of integers in ascending order. The most straightforward approach is to use a sorting algorithm. Given that sorting is a well-defined problem, we can l...

Approach
  1. Input Validation: Check if the input array is empty. If it is, return an empty array immediately.
  2. Sorting: Use Python's built-in sorted() function to sort the array. This function is e...

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