73+ real-life interview questions for development & coding roles 

Unsure about which questions will truly assess whether a candidate possesses the required skills? Envision having a collection of authentic questions posed by experienced hiring managers in the field of development.

In this guide, we’ve compiled a comprehensive set of practical interview questions tailored specifically for various development roles. Whether you’re recruiting for a Software Engineer, Software Developer, Java Developer, Full Stack Developer, or any other development position, we’ve got you covered with questions that align with the specific demands of the role.

Real-life software engineer interview questions

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications, applying coding expertise and problem-solving skills. They collaborate within Agile processes, understand API communication, utilize data structures, and optimize code performance.

Here are 25 interview questions from real hiring managers with sample answers for each:

1. What has your experience been like as part of an agile software development process, if any?

Assessing the candidate’s familiarity with Agile development methodologies and their experience working within Agile teams.

Sample answer:

” I have extensive experience in Agile software development, having worked in cross-functional teams with methodologies like Scrum and Kanban. This approach promotes collaboration, adaptability, and iterative development, ensuring efficient project delivery.”

2. How would you explain APIs to non-technical stakeholders?

Evaluating the candidate’s ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

Sample answer: 

“I would describe APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) as bridges that enable different software systems to communicate and share data effectively. They act like menus in a restaurant, allowing users (or software) to request and receive specific services or information.”

3. How familiar are you with object-oriented programming (OOP)?

Gauging the candidate’s proficiency in object-oriented programming concepts.

Sample answer:

“I’m highly proficient in object-oriented programming (OOP) principles, which include the creation and manipulation of objects, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. OOP is fundamental in designing efficient and maintainable software.”

4. Please explain big-O notation in the simplest terms. When is the last time you applied big-O to your code?

Testing the candidate’s understanding of big-O notation and its relevance in code optimization.

Sample answer: 

“Big-O notation is a way to describe how the performance of an algorithm scales as input size grows. It simplifies complex analysis into something like “linear” or “constant” time. I applied it recently when optimizing a search algorithm for a large dataset to ensure efficient execution.”

5. Pick two data structures and compare and contrast them.

Assessing the candidate’s knowledge of different data structures and their ability to analyze and compare them.

Sample answer: 

“Let’s compare arrays and linked lists. Arrays offer constant-time access but have fixed sizes, while linked lists provide dynamic sizing but slower access times due to traversal. Arrays are ideal for random access, while linked lists excel in insertion and deletion operations.”

6. Why are hash tables important?

Evaluating the candidate’s understanding of the significance of hash tables in data storage and retrieval.

Sample answer: 

“Hash tables are crucial for efficient data retrieval. They use key-value pairs and a hashing function to provide constant-time average complexity for operations like insertions, deletions, and searches, making them vital in various data processing applications.”

7. Configuring https can be important for a site’s security, SEO, etc. What is the difference between https communication and http communication?

Testing the candidate’s knowledge of HTTPS and its importance in web security and performance.

Sample answer: 

“HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts communication between a user’s browser and a website, ensuring data privacy and security. In contrast, HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) lacks encryption, making data vulnerable to interception. HTTPS is essential for securing sensitive information and improving SEO rankings.”

8. What are some differences between SQL and NoSQL?

Assessing the candidate’s knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases and their ability to highlight key distinctions.

Sample answer: 

“SQL databases are relational, with structured schemas, suitable for structured data and complex queries. NoSQL databases are non-relational, schema-less, and flexible, ideal for unstructured or semi-structured data, providing high scalability.”

9. If computers are based on 0’s and 1’s how are they able to store entire sentences of language text?

Exploring the candidate’s understanding of binary representation and how it stores textual data.

Sample answer: 

“Computers store text by assigning numerical values to characters using character encoding schemes like ASCII or Unicode. Each character is represented by a unique combination of 0s and 1s, allowing computers to store and process text data efficiently.”

10. If you had to build a cube-shaped building to fit every person on earth, and every family got one cube-shaped apartment, how many apartments would you need and how wide, tall, and deep would the cube need to be?

Testing the candidate’s problem-solving abilities and mathematical reasoning.

Sample answer: 

“To fit every person on earth (approximately 7.9 billion) into cube-shaped apartments with each family having one unit, we would need 7.9 billion apartments. Assuming each apartment has a standard size, the cube would need to be wide, tall, and deep, each side measuring approximately 40 meters (131 feet) to accommodate one family.”

11. Which linters do you use?

Inquiring about the candidate’s use of code linters for code quality and style checks.

Sample answer: 

“I regularly use popular linters like ESLint for JavaScript code and Pylint for Python. These linters help enforce coding standards, catch potential issues, and maintain code consistency within projects.”

12. Which IDEs do you use?

Exploring the candidate’s familiarity with Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) for software development.

Sample answer: 

“I primarily use Visual Studio Code as my go-to IDE due to its versatility, extensive extensions, and strong community support. Additionally, I’m proficient in using JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA for Java development when required.”

13. What was the last set of unit tests and end2end tests you wrote? What were their strengths and weaknesses?

Assessing the candidate’s experience with writing and evaluating unit and end-to-end tests.

Sample answer: 

“In my last project, I wrote unit tests for a critical authentication module and end-to-end tests for the entire user registration process. The strengths of these tests were their coverage, ensuring functionality across various scenarios. However, their weakness was the need for continuous updates as the codebase evolved.”

14. Describe your pet peeves with respect to coding practices within a specific file. It can be about any language or framework (i.e. Python, JS, Django, Express, etc).

Identifying the candidate’s attention to detail and coding best practices.

Sample answer: 

“One pet peeve I have is inconsistent code formatting within files. It’s essential for code readability and maintainability that a consistent style guide, such as PEP 8 for Python, is followed throughout the codebase. Inconsistencies can lead to confusion and hinder collaboration among developers.”

15. Explain a time when you had to make a critical decision during production. What happened? How did you manage it?

Evaluating the candidate’s problem-solving abilities and decision-making under pressure.

Sample answer: 

“Once, during a production deployment, a critical database migration failed, causing temporary data loss. I had to make a quick decision to roll back the changes to ensure data integrity. Afterward, we identified the root cause, implemented a fix, and conducted thorough testing before reattempting the migration, which was successful.”

16. What is a complex operation you did in the command line that you can remember right now?

Assessing the candidate’s familiarity with command-line operations and their ability to recall complex tasks.

Sample answer: 

“I recently executed a complex command-line operation involving the deployment of a Docker container with multiple services, network configurations, and environment variables. It required precise command chaining and parameter tuning for optimal performance.”

17. What do you think is important to remember when designing database tables?

Exploring the candidate’s knowledge of database design principles and best practices.

Sample answer: 

“When designing database tables, it’s crucial to consider data normalization to eliminate redundancy, establish relationships between tables using appropriate keys, and optimize indexing for efficient queries. Additionally, understanding the anticipated workload and access patterns is vital for optimal table design.”

18. Do you prefer writing template code (i.e. HTML, CSS, etc.) or logic code (JS, Python, etc.)? Why?

Determining the candidate’s coding preferences and their reasons behind them.

Sample answer: 

“I enjoy writing both template code and logic code, but if I had to choose, I’d lean toward logic code. I find the problem-solving and algorithmic aspects of logic coding more intellectually stimulating, and it allows me to create functional and dynamic applications.”

19. What is your strategy for online remote work and responsiveness that sets you apart from other engineers?

Assessing the candidate’s remote work strategies and communication skills.

Sample answer: 

“My strategy for remote work involves maintaining proactive communication channels with team members, promptly responding to messages and emails, and ensuring that I’m readily available during agreed-upon work hours. This approach fosters collaboration and ensures that project timelines are met consistently.”

20. How do you stay current with the latest technology?

Exploring the candidate’s commitment to staying updated with evolving technologies and industry trends.

Sample answer: 

“To stay current, I regularly read tech blogs, research papers, and attend webinars and conferences. I also engage in online communities and participate in open-source projects to gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies.”

21. What is your most successful engineering project?

Encouraging the candidate to showcase their achievements and highlight a successful project.

Sample answer: 

“One of my most successful engineering projects was developing a real-time data analytics platform for a large e-commerce website. This platform significantly improved their decision-making processes by providing valuable insights into user behavior and product performance, resulting in a substantial increase in sales and user engagement.”

22. Find the Lowest Common Ancestor (LCA) of two nodes in a binary tree.

Evaluating the candidate’s problem-solving skills by presenting a technical challenge related to binary trees.

Sample answer: 

“To find the Lowest Common Ancestor (LCA) of two nodes in a binary tree, we can use a recursive algorithm. Starting from the root node, we traverse the tree, checking if the nodes are on opposite subtrees. If they are, the current node is the LCA. If not, we continue the search in the appropriate subtree until we find the LCA. This algorithm ensures an efficient way to determine the LCA of any two nodes in a binary tree.”

23. If there are two strings, both of which contain a number larger than 32bit, how do you add them and return the result as a string?

Testing the candidate’s ability to handle large numbers as strings and perform arithmetic operations on them.

Sample answer: 

“To add two strings containing numbers larger than 32-bit, I would convert them to appropriate data structures (e.g., BigInteger in Java or BigNumber in JavaScript). Then, I’d perform the addition operation and return the result as a string.”

24. How long does it take to send a signal from one computer to all the other computers?

“Exploring the candidate’s understanding of network communication and signal propagation.”

Sample answer: 

The time it takes to send a signal from one computer to all other computers depends on factors like network latency, bandwidth, and the number of computers. In ideal conditions, it can be nearly instantaneous within a local network, while over the internet, it varies due to routing and network congestion.

25. What would you do if Amazon.com is loading slowly?

Assessing the candidate’s approach to troubleshooting and resolving website performance issues.

Sample answer: 

“If Amazon.com is loading slowly, I would first check my own internet connection and device to rule out local issues. Then, I might use online tools to test the website’s response time and look for reported outages or performance problems. If the issue persists, I’d reach out to Amazon’s technical support or check their official status page for updates on any ongoing incidents.”

Real-life software developer interview questions

Software Developers are responsible for creating, testing, and maintaining software applications. They work with programming languages, collaborate on projects, and ensure code quality.

These 5 interview questions are among the most popular by real hiring managers: 

1. Name a programming language you like and one that you don’t like. What makes the good language syntactically better than the bad one?

Assessing the candidate’s language preferences and understanding of syntax.

Sample answer: 

“I like Python for its readability and simplicity. In contrast, I find Perl less appealing due to its complex syntax, which can make code harder to maintain.”

2. Name a site, application, or piece of software that has a great UX. Explain why you think its UX is great.

Evaluating the candidate’s appreciation for user experience design.

Sample answer: 

“I believe Airbnb’s website has a great UX. Its intuitive search, visually appealing listings, and transparent booking process create a seamless and enjoyable user journey.”

3. Describe a program you built that learned something from raw data. How did you manage to make the raw data useful? What algorithm did you use to learn from data?

Assessing the candidate’s experience with machine learning or data-driven projects.

Sample answer: 

“I developed a recommendation system that learned user preferences from raw clickstream data. Data preprocessing, feature engineering, and implementing a collaborative filtering algorithm made the raw data useful for generating accurate recommendations.”

4. What project management tools have you used in your current or former roles?

Exploring the candidate’s familiarity with project management tools.

Sample answer: 

“In my previous role, we used tools like Jira and Trello for agile project management, Asana for task tracking, and Slack for team communication.”

5. What is important to look for when checking a coworker’s code?

Evaluating the candidate’s code review criteria.

Sample answer: 

“When reviewing a coworker’s code, I prioritize code readability, adherence to coding standards, error handling, and performance optimization. Clear documentation and meaningful variable names are also crucial.”

Here are two different plans of a hiring process that big companies have used in the past.

In the first hiring process, candidates can expect an initial round comprising a phone interview and resume-based assessment. Following this, some candidates may be given a take-home coding assignment after the phone interview. 

The second round involves multiple sessions, encompassing coding assessments, in-depth questions based on the candidate’s resume, and potentially system design evaluations depending on the role’s level.

Conversely, the second recruitment process unfolds with a first round featuring a 45-minute whiteboard coding session where candidates tackle two problems. 

The second round comprises 4-5 45-minute sessions, including two coding sessions with two problems each, 1-2 system/product design sessions, and a round of behavioral questions. 

This comprehensive evaluation structure aims to assess candidates’ technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and their capacity for system and product design, along with evaluating their behavioral fit within the company culture.

Real-life developer interview questions

Developers create and maintain software applications. They organize code, collaborate on projects, and exhibit commitment to tasks and learning.

Here are the first three interview questions chosen by real hiring managers. For more interview questions for this role click here. 

1. How do you organize your class modules and assets?

Assessing the candidate’s approach to code organization.

Sample answer: 

“I follow a modular structure, grouping related classes and assets into directories. I use version control and naming conventions for clarity and easy maintenance.”

2. What is your strategy for punctuality and following through on commitments?

Exploring the candidate’s work ethic and reliability.

Sample answer: 

“I prioritize punctuality and meeting commitments by setting realistic goals, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and maintaining a detailed calendar. Clear communication is essential to address any potential delays.”

3. Describe the last job or project where you were faced with a new language, framework, or library that you didn’t know. How did you react to the situation under time and work pressure? What obstacles did you face? Did you finish the project?

Assessing the candidate’s adaptability and problem-solving skills.

Sample answer: 

“In my previous project, I had to learn a new JavaScript framework under tight deadlines. I stayed calm, used online resources, and sought help from colleagues. Despite initial challenges, I completed the project successfully.”

Real-life Java Developer interview questions

Java Developers specialize in programming using the Java language. They create, maintain, and troubleshoot Java-based applications, focusing on key language concepts and principles.

Here are the 2 most popular interview questions among real hiring managers:

1. Explain public static void main(String args).

Assessing the candidate’s understanding of the main method in Java.

Sample answer:

“public static void main(String args) is the entry point for a Java program. ‘public’ means it’s accessible from anywhere, ‘static’ allows it to run without creating an instance, ‘void’ indicates it doesn’t return a value, and ‘String args’ is an array of command-line arguments.”

2. Why is Java not a 100% object-oriented language?

Evaluating the candidate’s knowledge of Java’s object-oriented nature.

Sample answer:

“Java is not entirely object-oriented because it supports primitive data types like int and char, which are not objects. Additionally, it uses static methods and variables that belong to classes, not instances, breaking pure OOP principles.”

Real-life full stack developer interview questions

Full Stack Developers are proficient in both front-end and back-end web development. They work on creating interactive web applications, managing databases, and ensuring seamless user experiences.

Here are the first three interview questions chosen by real hiring managers. For more interview questions for this role click here. 

1. Explain JDK (Java Development Kit), JRE (Java Runtime Environment), and JVM (Java Virtual Machine).

Assessing the candidate’s knowledge of key Java components.

Sample answer: 

“JDK includes tools for Java development, JRE provides the runtime environment for Java applications, and JVM is an execution engine that runs Java bytecode. Together, they enable Java software development and execution.”

2. What is your favorite language and why?

Understanding the candidate’s language preferences and their reasoning.

Sample answer: 

“My favorite language is Python due to its simplicity, readability, and versatility. It’s great for rapid development, and its extensive libraries make it suitable for various applications.”

3. How do you keep up with the new industry trends?

Evaluating the candidate’s commitment to staying updated in the dynamic field of web development.

Sample answer: 

“I stay current by following tech blogs, participating in online coding communities, attending conferences, and regularly exploring new technologies and frameworks. Continuous learning is crucial in this field.”

Real-life .NET developer interview questions

.NET Developers specialize in using the .NET framework for building software applications. They work with various programming languages like C#, F#, and VB.NET to create web, desktop, and mobile applications.

Here are 3 interview questions from real hiring managers with sample answers for each:

1. How does the .NET framework work?

Assessing the candidate’s knowledge of the .NET framework’s functionality.

Sample answer: 

“The .NET framework is a software platform that provides a range of services, including a runtime environment for executing applications, libraries for common functions, and tools for development. It uses a common language runtime (CLR) to execute code written in different languages.”

2. What is an EXE and a DLL?

Description: Evaluating the candidate’s understanding of executable and dynamic link library files.

Sample answer: 

“An EXE (Executable) file contains a standalone program that can be executed independently. A DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file contains code and data that multiple programs can use simultaneously, promoting code reuse and modularity.”

3. What is a JIT?

Testing the candidate’s familiarity with Just-In-Time compilation.

Sample answer: 

“JIT stands for Just-In-Time compilation. It’s a component of the .NET runtime that converts Intermediate Language (IL) code into native machine code during runtime, improving application performance.”

Real-life backend engineer interview questions

Backend Engineers focus on developing the server-side logic and databases that power web applications and services.

1. What does REST stand for?

Assessing the candidate’s knowledge of REST architecture.

Sample answer: 

“REST stands for Representational State Transfer. It’s an architectural style for designing networked applications, emphasizing simplicity, scalability, and statelessness. RESTful APIs use HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE to interact with resources.”

2. What do you understand by NoSQL databases?

Evaluating the candidate’s understanding of NoSQL databases.

Sample answer: 

“NoSQL databases are a category of databases that provide a flexible, schema-less data model. They are designed to handle large volumes of unstructured or semi-structured data efficiently. Examples include MongoDB, Cassandra, and Redis.”

3. What is SQL injection?

Testing the candidate’s knowledge of security vulnerabilities.

Sample answer: 

“SQL injection is a malicious technique where an attacker injects SQL code into a web application’s input fields. If not properly sanitized, this code can manipulate the database, potentially exposing sensitive data or compromising the application’s security.”

Real-life iOS developer interview questions

iOS Developers specialize in creating applications for Apple’s iOS operating system, primarily for iPhone and iPad.

Eager to find out 3 interview questions that will assist you in choosing the right candidate?

1. Explain the architecture of iOS.

Assessing the candidate’s knowledge of iOS architecture.

Sample answer:
“iOS follows a layered architecture consisting of four main layers: Cocoa Touch (UI layer), Media layer, Core Services layer, and Core OS layer. The UI layer manages the user interface, the Media layer handles multimedia, the Core Services layer provides essential services, and the Core OS layer is the kernel and low-level services.”

2. What do you mean by property in iOS?

Testing the candidate’s understanding of iOS development terminology.

Sample answer: 

“In iOS, a property is an attribute associated with a class that allows you to encapsulate the access to an object’s variables. It’s often used to define getter and setter methods for instance variables.”

3. Can you explain the difference between atomic and nonatomic properties?

Evaluating the candidate’s understanding of property attributes in iOS.

Sample answer: 

“In iOS, ‘atomic’ and ‘nonatomic’ are property attributes that determine how multiple threads can access the property. ‘Atomic’ ensures thread safety by locking the property during access, while ‘nonatomic’ doesn’t provide such guarantees but is faster.”

Real-life frontend developer interview questions

Frontend Developers specialize in creating the user interface and user experience of web applications, focusing on the client-side of web development.

Here are 20 interview questions from real hiring managers with sample answers for each:

1. What is the ‘this’ keyword in JavaScript, and how does it work?

Assessing the candidate’s understanding of the ‘this’ keyword in JavaScript.

Sample answer: 

“The ‘this’ keyword refers to the current execution context in JavaScript. Its value is determined by how and where a function is called. It can point to the global object, the object that calls the function, or be explicitly bound to a specific context.”

2. Can you explain the differences between ‘let’, ‘const’, and ‘var’ in JavaScript?

Evaluating the candidate’s knowledge of variable declarations in JavaScript.

Sample answer: 

“‘let’ and ‘const’ are block-scoped variables introduced in ES6, while ‘var’ is function-scoped. ‘const’ is used for constant values that cannot be reassigned, ‘let’ allows reassignment, and ‘var’ has a broader scope, potentially causing hoisting issues.”

3. What is the difference between ‘==’ and ‘===’ in JavaScript?

Testing the candidate’s understanding of equality operators in JavaScript.

Sample answer: 

“‘==’ checks for loose equality, allowing type coercion, while ‘===’ checks for strict equality, requiring both value and type to match. For example, ‘5 == ‘5’ would be true, but ‘5 === ‘5’ is false.”

4. How can you access HTML elements using JavaScript?

Assessing the candidate’s knowledge of DOM manipulation.

Sample answer: 

“You can access HTML elements using JavaScript by selecting them with methods like ‘getElementById,’ ‘querySelector,’ or ‘getElementsByClassName’ and then manipulating their properties and content.”

5. What options are available in JavaScript for storing data?

Evaluating the candidate’s knowledge of data storage mechanisms in JavaScript.

Sample answer: 

“JavaScript offers various data storage options like variables, arrays, objects, local storage, session storage, and cookies, each suitable for different use cases and data persistence requirements.”

6. How can you traverse the DOM with JavaScript?

Testing the candidate’s ability to navigate the Document Object Model (DOM) using JavaScript.

Sample answer: 

“DOM traversal in JavaScript involves using methods like ‘parentNode,’ ‘nextSibling,’ ‘previousSibling,’ and ‘childNodes’ to move between HTML elements and access their properties.”

7. Can you explain what functional programming is in JavaScript?

Assessing the candidate’s understanding of functional programming concepts in JavaScript.

Sample answer: 

“Functional programming in JavaScript involves treating functions as first-class citizens, using higher-order functions, and avoiding side effects. It emphasizes immutability and pure functions for more predictable code.”

8. What is the CSS box model?

Testing the candidate’s knowledge of CSS fundamentals.

Sample answer: 

“The CSS box model defines how elements on a web page are structured. It consists of content, padding, border, and margin, and it determines how elements are sized and spaced.”

9. Can you name different CSS selectors and explain how they work?

Evaluating the candidate’s familiarity with CSS selectors.

Sample answer: 

“CSS selectors like class selectors (.class), ID selectors (#id), element selectors (div), descendant selectors (div p), and pseudo-selectors (:hover) are used to target and style specific HTML elements.”

10. If there are two conflicting CSS selectors, which one takes precedence? Can you provide a coding example to illustrate this?

Assessing the candidate’s understanding of CSS specificity and the cascade.

Sample answer: 

“CSS specificity determines which selector takes precedence. Inline styles have the highest specificity, followed by IDs, classes, and element selectors. !important declarations also override others. For example, if we have conflicting styles for an element, the one with higher specificity wins.”

11. What are Pseudo-Elements in CSS?

Testing the candidate’s knowledge of CSS pseudo-elements.

Sample answer: 

“Pseudo-elements in CSS are used to style parts of an element’s content. Examples include ‘::before’ and ‘::after,’ which allow you to insert content before or after an element’s content and style it separately.”

12. Can you explain what flexbox is and how it is used in CSS?

Evaluating the candidate’s knowledge of CSS flexbox layout.

Sample answer: 

“Flexbox is a CSS layout model that simplifies the alignment and distribution of space among elements in a container. It’s used to create flexible and responsive layouts, making it easier to design complex structures like navigation menus or grids.”

13. What does semantic HTML mean?

Assessing the candidate’s understanding of semantic HTML and its importance.

Sample answer: 

“Semantic HTML refers to using HTML elements that convey the meaning and structure of content. It improves accessibility and search engine optimization by providing context and semantics to elements like headings, lists, and

14. What is web accessibility and why is it important?

Testing the candidate’s knowledge of web accessibility principles.

Sample answer: 

“Web accessibility ensures that websites and web applications are usable by people with disabilities. It’s crucial for inclusivity, compliance with legal requirements like WCAG, and providing a positive user experience for all users, regardless of their abilities.”

15. What is the difference between a tag and an attribute in HTML?

Evaluating the candidate’s understanding of HTML fundamentals.

Sample answer: 

“In HTML, a tag is an element used to define the structure and content of a webpage, such as <p> for paragraphs. An attribute, on the other hand, provides additional information or settings for a tag, like ‘class’ or ‘src’ in <img>.”

16. Are you familiar with how to push, pop, shift, and unshift elements in arrays?

Assessing the candidate’s knowledge of array manipulation in JavaScript.

Sample answer: 

“Yes, in JavaScript, ‘push’ adds elements to the end of an array, ‘pop’ removes the last element, ‘shift’ removes the first element, and ‘unshift’ adds elements to the beginning of an array. These methods are essential for modifying arrays.”

17. Do you know how to use map, reduce, and filter methods on arrays?

Evaluating the candidate’s proficiency in using array methods in JavaScript.

Sample answer: 

“Certainly, ‘map’ applies a function to each element, ‘reduce’ reduces an array to a single value using an accumulator function, and ‘filter’ creates a new array with elements that pass a given condition. These methods are powerful for array transformations.”

18. What sorting algorithms do you use in JavaScript and why?

Testing the candidate’s knowledge of sorting algorithms and their use cases.

Sample answer: 

“JavaScript has a built-in ‘sort’ method that uses a variation of the QuickSort algorithm. It’s efficient for most cases. For more complex scenarios, ‘merge sort’ or ‘heap sort’ may be considered, depending on the data size and distribution.”

19. What is the difference between unit tests and end-to-end tests in web development?

Assessing the candidate’s understanding of testing concepts in web development.

Sample answer: 

“Unit tests focus on testing individual components or functions in isolation to ensure they work as expected. End-to-end tests, on the other hand, simulate user interactions across the entire application to validate its behavior as a whole.”

20. What tools do you use for debugging web applications?

Evaluating the candidate’s familiarity with debugging tools and techniques.

Sample answer: 

“I use browser developer tools like Chrome DevTools for inspecting and debugging front-end code. For back-end debugging, I rely on logging and tools like Node.js’s built-in ‘debugger.’ I also use testing frameworks like Jest and tools like Postman for API testing.”

Real-life web developer interview questions

Web Developers specialize in creating and maintaining web applications, leveraging programming languages, frameworks, and design principles. They ensure responsive, user-friendly websites, collaborate in agile teams, and continuously enhance their coding skills to deliver outstanding digital experiences.

These 5 questions are among the most popular by real hiring managers:

1. What is the difference between black box and white box testing?

Assessing the candidate’s understanding of software testing methodologies.

Sample answer: 

“Black box testing focuses on examining software functionality without considering internal code structures. White box testing involves inspecting code and internal logic. While black box is user-oriented, white box is developer-oriented.”

2. A coding assignment from previous Microsoft interviews: “You have a list of N+1 integers between 1 and N. you know there’s at least one duplicate, maybe more. ex. N=3, your list might be 3,1,1,3…. or it might be 1,3,2,2… Print out a number that appears in the list more than once.”

Evaluating the candidate’s problem-solving and coding skills.

Sample answer: 

(Code Sample)

python

Copy code

def findDuplicate(nums):

    seen = set()

    for num in nums:

        if num in seen:

            return num

        seen.add(num)

    return -1

3. Do you have experience with agile methodologies?

Assessing the candidate’s familiarity with agile software development processes.

Sample answer: 

“Yes, I have experience working in agile environments, including Scrum and Kanban. I’m accustomed to iterative development, user stories, sprint planning, and regular stand-up meetings.”

4. What languages do you work (code) with? Which one are you strongest in? Which one are you weakest in?

Understanding the candidate’s programming language proficiency.

Sample answer: 

“I work with languages like JavaScript, Python, and Java. My strongest language is JavaScript, given my extensive front-end development experience. While I’m proficient in Python and Java, I consider Python my weaker language.”

5. What got you into coding?

Exploring the candidate’s motivation and passion for coding.

Sample answer: 

“My interest in coding sparked during my high school programming classes. I was captivated by the ability to create software that solves real-world problems. Since then, my passion for coding has only grown, driving me to pursue a career in web development.”

Real-life android developer interview questions

Android Developers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining Android applications. They work with Java or Kotlin to create user-friendly, efficient, and visually appealing mobile apps, ensuring compatibility with various Android devices and versions.

This questions is the most suggested by real hiring managers: 

1. What is your strategy for online remote work and responsiveness that sets you apart from other engineers?

Inquiring about the candidate’s approach to remote work and communication in a distributed team.

Sample answer: 

“My strategy for online remote work involves proactive communication, frequent updates, and adherence to deadlines. I make use of collaboration tools like Slack and Zoom to stay connected with team members. Additionally, I prioritize time management and maintain a dedicated workspace to ensure productivity, ultimately contributing to the team’s success.”

Feel empowered as you step into interviews armed with these questions, ready to make informed hiring decisions.

Consider this resource a valuable asset for identifying top talent. Take the next leap in your hiring journey, balancing confidence with precision.