Used by thousands of developers who passed their interviews

How to Solve Shift Distance Between Two Strings Problem

Master the Shift Distance Between Two Strings LeetCode problem with undetectable real-time assistance. Get instant solutions and explanations during your coding interviews.

Phantom Code generates complete solutions and debugging hints that you can use while explaining your approach, so you stay calm and in control.

undetectable

real-time

works on major platforms

Start Free for Windows

Medium#3361

LeetCode Problem

Shift Distance Between Two Strings

You are given two strings s and t of the same length, and two integer arrays nextCost and previousCost. In one operation, you can pick any index i of s, and perform either one of the following actions: The shift distance is the minimum total cost of operations required to transform s into t. Return the shift distance from s to t.

ArrayStringPrefix Sum

Phantom Code will help you solve this problem in real-time during your interview

Get instant solutions, explanations, and code generation

Problem Breakdown

Understanding the Shift Distance Between Two Strings Problem

Let's break down this LeetCode problem and understand what makes it challenging in interview settings.

Problem Statement

MediumProblem #3361

LeetCode

Shift Distance Between Two Strings

How Phantom Code Helps

Get real-time assistance for Shift Distance Between Two Strings problems during coding interviews. Phantom Code provides instant solutions and explanations.

Examples

# Example 1

Input

s = "abab", t = "baba", nextCost = [100,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], previousCost = [1,100,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]

Output

# Example 2

Input

s = "leet", t = "code", nextCost = [1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1], previousCost = [1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]

Output

Constraints

1 <= s.length == t.length <= 105

s and t consist only of lowercase English letters.

nextCost.length == previousCost.length == 26

0 <= nextCost[i], previousCost[i] <= 109

How Phantom Code Helps with LeetCode Problems

Reinforce undetectability, platform compatibility, and real-time assistance to remove any doubt.

1000+

developers use Phantom Code

and growing every day

95%

success rate

of users pass their interviews

100%

undetectable

native desktop architecture

Real-time

assistance

instant solutions during interviews

See Phantom Code in Action

Watch how Phantom Code helps solve LeetCode problems during live interviews

Start Interview

⌘I

Online Round

⌘O

Hide⌘B

Interview

Listening

Think

Solve Shift Distance Between Two Strings — You are given two strings s and t of the same length, and two integer arrays nex...

Here's the optimal approach using Array:

def solve(input):

# Optimal O(n) solution

return result

Time: O(n) | Space: O(n)

Start Over ⌘G

Think & Crack ⌘↵

Undetectability Checklist

Run compatibility test before interviews

Use recommended Zoom version settings

Enable advanced screen capture options

Verify native desktop architecture

Test with screen recording software

Platform Compatibility

Zoom

Supported

Google Meet

Supported

HackerRank

Supported

CodeSignal

Supported

CoderPad

Supported

Teams

Supported

User results and traction

Thousands of developers use Phantom Code. Social proof signals that this approach helps real candidates land offers across a range of companies.

Undetectability and technical details

Our native desktop architecture avoids common detection vectors used by browser extensions. We provide a clear checklist so you can run basic checks and confirm the app will be invisible.

Platform compatibility and limitations

We work with Zoom, HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad and other web-based platforms. Check the compatibility note and request a browser link if a specific desktop app is unsupported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about solving Shift Distance Between Two Strings and using Phantom Code during coding interviews.

How does Phantom Code help me solve coding problems like Shift Distance Between Two Strings during interviews?

Phantom Code generates complete solutions instantly with proper complexity analysis, letting you focus on explaining your approach and demonstrating problem-solving skills rather than getting stuck on implementation details during high-pressure situations.

What if the interviewer asks follow-up questions or modifications to problems like Shift Distance Between Two Strings?

Phantom Code adapts in real-time. Screenshot the modified problem or use audio mode to capture the interviewer's follow-up, and get an updated solution within seconds — including edge cases and optimizations.

Can Phantom Code help me communicate my solution for problems like Shift Distance Between Two Strings?

Yes. Phantom Code provides step-by-step approach explanations with 3 progressive thoughts, so you can walk through your solution naturally. It also provides time and space complexity analysis to discuss trade-offs.

How does Phantom Code assist with different programming languages for Shift Distance Between Two Strings type problems?

Phantom Code supports 11 programming languages including Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Rust, Ruby, Swift, Kotlin, and C#. Set your preferred language and get idiomatic solutions.

What coding mistakes does Phantom Code help me avoid during Shift Distance Between Two Strings interviews?

Phantom Code catches common mistakes like off-by-one errors, missing edge cases, incorrect base conditions, and suboptimal approaches. It provides clean, well-structured code that handles all edge cases.

Is Phantom Code detectable when solving problems like Shift Distance Between Two Strings during live interviews?

No. Phantom Code runs as an invisible desktop overlay that doesn't appear in screen shares, recordings, or proctoring software. It works with Zoom, HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and all major platforms.

How does Phantom Code help when I'm struggling with Shift Distance Between Two Strings style questions under pressure?

The AI provides structured guidance: first the approach (what algorithm/data structure to use and why), then the implementation with clean code, and finally complexity analysis. This helps you think clearly even under pressure.

Does Phantom Code work for the coding platforms used in Shift Distance Between Two Strings interviews?

Yes. Phantom Code works with all major coding platforms including LeetCode, HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, HackerEarth, and any browser-based coding environment.

₹999/month. Zero Detection Cases.

The only AI interview tool with an undetectable desktop overlay, real-time audio listening, and personalized AI responses.