IT Coding Job Interview Questions & Answers
Q1: What is the difference between a compiled and an interpreted language?
A1: Compiled languages (e.g., C, C++) are converted into machine code before execution, which
makes them faster. Interpreted languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript) are executed line-by-line by an
interpreter, which provides flexibility but can be slower.
Q2: Explain the concept of Big-O notation.
A2: Big-O notation describes the upper bound of an algorithm’s runtime in terms of input size. It
helps analyze algorithm efficiency, e.g., O(1) constant time, O(n) linear time, O(log n) logarithmic
time.
Q3: What is the difference between stack and queue?
A3: Stack follows LIFO (Last In, First Out), meaning the last element added is removed first. Queue
follows FIFO (First In, First Out), meaning the first element added is removed first.
Q4: What are the main principles of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)?
A4: The four main principles are Encapsulation, Abstraction, Inheritance, and Polymorphism.
Q5: What is the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases?
A5: SQL databases are relational and use structured schemas (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL). NoSQL
databases are non-relational, flexible, and can handle unstructured data (e.g., MongoDB,
Cassandra).
Q6: What is multithreading and why is it useful?
A6: Multithreading allows concurrent execution of multiple threads within a process. It improves
performance by utilizing CPU cores efficiently, especially for I/O-bound operations.
Q7: Explain the concept of REST APIs.
A7: REST (Representational State Transfer) APIs follow stateless client-server communication over
HTTP. They use standard methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE for resource manipulation.
Q8: What is the difference between Git merge and Git rebase?
A8: Git merge combines changes from one branch into another, preserving history. Git rebase
re-applies commits from one branch on top of another, creating a linear history.
Q9: What are common coding principles to follow for clean code?
A9: Use meaningful names, keep functions small, follow DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself), write tests,
use comments only where necessary, and maintain consistent formatting.
Q10: How would you optimize a slow SQL query?
A10: Strategies include adding proper indexes, avoiding SELECT *, analyzing execution plans,
optimizing joins, and denormalizing when necessary.
End of Interview Questions & Answers
