How to Solve Decode the Message Problem
Master the Decode the Message LeetCode problem with undetectable real-time assistance. Get instant solutions and explanations during your coding interviews.
Interview Coder generates complete solutions and debugging hints that you can use while explaining your approach, so you stay calm and in control.
Decode the Message
You are given the strings key and message, which represent a cipher key and a secret message, respectively. The steps to decode message are as follows: Use the first appearance of all 26 lowercase Eng...
Interview Coder will help you solve this problem in real-time during your interview
✨ Get instant solutions, explanations, and code generation
Understanding the Decode the Message Problem
Let's break down this LeetCode problem and understand what makes it challenging in interview settings.
Problem Statement
You are given the strings key and message, which represent a cipher key and a secret message, respectively. The steps to decode message are as follows: Use the first appearance of all 26 lowercase English letters in key as the order of the substitution table. Align the substitution table with the regular English alphabet. Each letter in message is then substituted using the table. Spaces ' ' are transformed to themselves. For example, given key = "happy boy" (actual key would have at least one instance of each letter in the alphabet), we have the partial substitution table of ('h' -> 'a', 'a' -> 'b', 'p' -> 'c', 'y' -> 'd', 'b' -> 'e', 'o' -> 'f'). Return the decoded message.
Decode the Message
Related Topics
How Interview Coder Helps
Get real-time assistance for Decode the Message problems during coding interviews. Interview Coder provides instant solutions and explanations.
Examples
key = "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog", message = "vkbs bs t suepuv"
"this is a secret"
The diagram above shows the substitution table. It is obtained by taking the first appearance of each letter in "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog".
key = "eljuxhpwnyrdgtqkviszcfmabo", message = "zwx hnfx lqantp mnoeius ycgk vcnjrdb"
"the five boxing wizards jump quickly"
The diagram above shows the substitution table. It is obtained by taking the first appearance of each letter in "eljuxhpwnyrdgtqkviszcfmabo".
Constraints
26 <= key.length <= 2000
key consists of lowercase English letters and ' '.
key contains every letter in the English alphabet ('a' to 'z') at least once.
1 <= message.length <= 2000
message consists of lowercase English letters and ' '.
How Interview Coder Helps with Leetcode Problems
Trust anchors reduce friction for conversion. Reinforce undetectability claims, platform compatibility, user counts, and the free trial to remove perceived risk.
See Interview Coder in Action
Watch how Interview Coder helps solve LeetCode problems during live interviews
Undetectability Checklist
Platform Compatibility
User results and traction
More than 87,000 developers use Interview Coder and early launch metrics showed rapid adoption. 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 during live interviews.
Platform compatibility and limitations
We work with Zoom, HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad and other web based platforms, with a known list of app version caveats. Check the compatibility note and request a browser link if a specific desktop app is unsupported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about solving Decode the Message and using Interview Coder during coding interviews.
Interview Coder 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.
Ready to Get Started?
Download Interview Coder now and join thousands of developers who have aced their coding interviews