Meta Coding Interview: Complete 2026 Guide (Process, Questions, Tips)

Meta (formerly Facebook) has one of the most competitive hiring processes in tech. The coding interviews are fast-paced, and you're expected to solve 2 problems in 45 minutes.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Meta's 2026 interview process.

TL;DR: Meta Interview Overview

Timeline: 4-6 weeks from application to offer

New in 2026: AI-enabled coding round (approved AI tools available)

The Interview Process

Stage 1: Recruiter Call (30 minutes)

What happens:

• Discuss your background and experience
• Why Meta? Why this role?
• Timeline and next steps

Tips:

• Have your "Tell me about yourself" ready (2 minutes)
• Research the specific team/role
• Prepare thoughtful questions

Stage 2: Technical Screen (45 minutes)

What happens:

• 1-2 LeetCode-style coding problems
• Live coding on CoderPad
• Must solve 2 mediums in 45 minutes

What they evaluate:

• Problem-solving speed
• Code quality
• Communication
• How you handle edge cases

Pace expectation: ~20-22 minutes per problem

Stage 3: Virtual Onsite (4 rounds)

Typical structure:

What Questions to Expect

Coding Questions

Meta asks LeetCode medium to medium-hard questions. Common topics:

Meta favorites:

• Binary Tree Right Side View
• Lowest Common Ancestor
• Valid Palindrome II
• Merge Intervals
• Clone Graph
• Word Break

System Design Questions (E4+)

For E4 (senior) and above:

• Design Instagram Feed
• Design Messenger
• Design Facebook Events
• Design a Photo Sharing System

What they evaluate:

• Scalability thinking
• Trade-off analysis
• Component architecture
• How you handle ambiguity

Behavioral Questions

Meta evaluates 5 key areas:

1. Resolving Conflict — How do you handle disagreements?
2. Continuous Growth — How do you learn and improve?
3. Embracing Ambiguity — How do you handle uncertainty?
4. Driving Results — How do you deliver impact?
5. Communicating Effectively — How clearly do you explain things?

Common questions:

• Tell me about yourself
• Why Meta?
• Tell me about a challenging project
• How do you handle conflict?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

AI-Enabled Coding Round (New in 2026)

Meta introduced AI-enabled coding rounds in 2025.

What it is:

• Live coding environment (like CoderPad) with integrated AI chat
• Approved AI tools available within the environment
• Still timed—must solve problems efficiently

What it tests:

• How effectively you use AI
• Whether you can verify AI's correctness
• Your fundamental CS knowledge (you must know when AI is wrong)

Key advice:

• AI won't solve everything—you need strong foundations
• Know how to guide AI with good prompts
• Always verify AI suggestions before submitting

How to Prepare

Coding Preparation (4-6 weeks)

Resources:

• LeetCode Meta tag — Practice actual Meta questions
• NeetCode 150 — Core patterns
• LeetCopilot — Hints when stuck

Speed Practice (Critical!)

Meta expects 2 problems in 45 minutes. Practice:

• Solving mediums in 20-25 minutes
• Coding without excessive debugging
• Explaining while coding

System Design Preparation (E4+)

Resources:

• ByteByteGo
• Educative's Grokking System Design

Behavioral Preparation

Prepare 5-6 STAR stories covering:

• A challenging project
• A conflict you resolved
• A time you embraced ambiguity
• A time you drove results
• A failure and what you learned

Interview Day Tips

For Coding Rounds:

1. Clarify — Ask about inputs, edge cases
2. Talk through — Explain your approach first
3. Code quickly — You have ~20 min per problem
4. Test — Trace through with examples
5. Optimize — Discuss complexity

Meta-Specific Tips:

• Speed matters—practice fast coding
• Communication is key—talk constantly
• Don't get stuck—move on if one approach isn't working
• Be ready for the AI-enabled round

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Meta Engineering Levels

FAQ

How hard are Meta interviews?
Challenging—expect medium to medium-hard LeetCode problems at a fast pace.

Do I need to solve both problems?
Ideally yes. Solving both with working code is expected.

What language should I use?
Python is most common. Use what you're fastest in.

What's the AI-enabled round?
New in 2025-2026—you can use approved AI tools during coding, but must verify correctness.

What's the acceptance rate?
Roughly 10-15% of those who reach onsite receive offers.

Conclusion

Meta's interview is fast-paced and intense. Success requires:

1. Speed — Solve 2 mediums in 45 minutes
2. Communication — Talk through everything
3. Fundamentals — Strong DS&A knowledge
4. Practice — LeetCode Meta tag + mock interviews

Use LeetCopilot for practice, but remember—in the real interview, you'll need to perform under pressure.

Good luck!