Reorder an Array according to given indices with repetition allowed

Namachila November 19, 2025

0 0 5 minutes read

Given two integer arrays arr and index of size N, the task is to create a new array by inserting the elements given in the arr array at the indices given by the index array. If a particular position occur multiple time then right shift the right-side array elements and then insert element at given index.

Note: It is given that all the indices that in the index array lie in the range [0, N).

Examples:

Input: arr = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4], index = [0, 1, 2, 2, 1]
Output: [0, 4, 1, 3, 2]
Explanation:
First we insert at 0th, 1st and 2nd index so the array will become [0, 1, 2]
Then we insert again at 2nd position and rightshift all rightside elements so array will be [0, 1, 3, 2]
Then we insert 4 at first index so final array will become: [0, 4, 1, 3, 2].

Input: arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 0], index = [0, 1, 2, 3, 0]
Output: [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

Approach (Using static array):
If we use a static array, then the given problem can be solved using the following steps:

Create a new array finalArr of size N, to store the resultant output.
For each element in the given arr array, insert it at the corresponding given index given by the index array, simply using:

finalArr[index[i]] = arr[i]

where i is the current
position during iteration

If the index is repeated, then right shift all right-side element and then finally insert at that position.

Approach (Using dynamic array):
If we use a dynamic array-like structure, like Vectors, etc; then we can simply insert the given element at the given index, without worrying about the repetition. The vector-like data structure takes care of the right shifting by itself, when it expands at each insertion.

Create a new vector vec, to store the resultant output.
For each element in the given arr array, insert it at the corresponding given index given by the index array, simply using insert() function of vector. This will insert at a particular position, and take care of repeating positions automatically.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program to reorder an Array
// according to given indices
// with repetition allowed
 
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Function that returns the
// modified vector according to indices
vector<int> createTargetArray(
    vector<int>& nums, vector<int>& index)
{
    // create an ans vector
    vector<int> ans;
 
    int n = nums.size();
 
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
 
        // insert at particular position
        // mention in index array.
        ans.insert(ans.begin() + index[i],
                   nums[i]);
 
    // finally return ans
    return ans;
}
 
// Function to reorder and
// print the given array
void reorder(
    vector<int>& arr, vector<int>& index)
{
    vector<int> ans;
    ans = createTargetArray(arr, index);
 
    // print ans vector
    for (int i = 0; i < ans.size(); i++) {
        cout << ans[i] << " ";
    }
}
 
// Driver Code
int main()
{
    vector<int> arr = { 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 };
    vector<int> index = { 0, 1, 2, 2, 1 };
 
    reorder(arr, index);
 
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to reorder an Array
// according to given indices
// with repetition allowed
import java.util.*;
 
class GFG {
 
// Function that returns the
// modified List according to indices
static List<Integer> createTargetArray(List<Integer> nums,
                                       List<Integer> index)
{
     
    // Create an ans List
    List<Integer> ans = new ArrayList<>();
 
    int n = nums.size();
 
    for(int i = 0; i < n; i++)
    {  
       // Insert at particular position
       // mention in index array
       ans.add(index.get(i), nums.get(i));
    }
     
    // Finally return ans
    return ans;
}
 
// Function to reorder and
// print the given array
static void reorder(List<Integer> arr,
                    List<Integer> index)
{
    List<Integer> ans;
    ans = createTargetArray(arr, index);
 
    // Print ans list
    for(int i = 0; i < ans.size(); i++)
    {
       System.out.print(ans.get(i) + " ");
    }
}
 
// Driver code
public static void main(String[] args)
{
 
    List<Integer> arr = Arrays.asList(0, 1, 2, 3, 4);
    List<Integer> index = Arrays.asList(0, 1, 2, 2, 1);
 
    reorder(arr, index);
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by offbeat

Python3

# Python3 program to reorder an array
# according to given indices
# with repetition allowed
 
# Function that returns the modified 
# vector according to indices
def createTargetArray(nums, index):
 
    # Create an ans vector
    ans = []
 
    n = len(nums)
    for i in range(n):
 
        # Insert at particular position
        # mention in index array.
        ans.insert(index[i], nums[i])
 
    # Finally return ans
    return ans
 
# Function to reorder and
# print the given array
def reorder(arr, index):
 
    ans = createTargetArray(arr, index)
 
    # Print ans vector
    for i in range(len(ans)):
        print(ans[i], end = " ")
 
# Driver Code
if __name__ == "__main__":
     
    arr = [ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
    index = [ 0, 1, 2, 2, 1 ]
 
    reorder(arr, index)
 
# This code is contributed by chitranayal

C#

// C# program to reorder an Array
// according to given indices
// with repetition allowed
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
 
class GFG{
 
// Function that returns the
// modified List according to indices
static List<int> createTargetArray(List<int> nums,
                                   List<int> index)
{
     
    // Create an ans List
    List<int> ans = new List<int>();
 
    int n = nums.Count;
 
    for(int i = 0; i < n; i++)
    {
         
        // Insert at particular position
        // mention in index array
        ans.Insert(index[i], nums[i]);
    }
 
    // Finally return ans
    return ans;
}
 
// Function to reorder and
// print the given array
static void reorder(List<int> arr,
                    List<int> index)
{
    List<int> ans;
    ans = createTargetArray(arr, index);
 
    // Print ans list
    for(int i = 0; i < ans.Count; i++) 
    {
        Console.Write(ans[i] + " ");
    }
}
 
// Driver code
public static void Main()
{
    List<int> arr = new List<int>{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 };
    List<int> index = new List<int>{ 0, 1, 2, 2, 1 };
 
    reorder(arr, index);
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by akhilsaini

Javascript

<script>
 
// Javascript program to reorder an Array
// according to given indices
// with repetition allowed
 
// Function that returns the
// modified vector according to indices
function createTargetArray( nums, index)
{
    // create an ans vector
    var ans = [];
 
    var n = nums.length;
 
    for (var i = 0; i < n; i++)
 
        // insert at particular position
        // mention in index array.
        ans.splice(index[i],0,
                   nums[i]);
 
    // finally return ans
    return ans;
}
 
// Function to reorder and
// print the given array
function reorder( arr, index)
{
    var ans = [];
    ans = createTargetArray(arr, index);
 
    // print ans vector
    for (var i = 0; i < ans.length; i++) {
        document.write( ans[i] + " ");
    }
}
 
// Driver Code
var arr = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ];
var index = [0, 1, 2, 2, 1 ];
reorder(arr, index);
 
</script>

Output:

0 4 1 3 2

Time complexity: O(N²), for performing insert operations in the loop.
Auxiliary space: O(N), for storing elements in the answer array.

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