Python Developer Interview Playbook
Python Developer Interview Playbook
Section 1: HR & Behavioral Questions (Sample Answers)
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1. Tell me about yourself:
"I am Babul Kumar, a software developer with 1 year of experience in Python, Java, MySQL, and web technologies. I've
worked on developing scalable backend solutions and interactive web applications, and I'm passionate about writing
clean, efficient code. Currently, I'm pursuing my MCA to deepen my technical knowledge."
2. Walk me through your most recent Python project:
"At Future's Foundry, I built a Django-based inventory management system using PostgreSQL. I implemented REST
APIs, optimized database queries, and integrated an authentication system, improving response time by 30%."
3. Challenges in last project:
"We had performance bottlenecks due to large database queries. I analyzed SQL execution plans, added indexing, and
used Django's select_related to reduce query time from 3 seconds to under 1 second."
4. Staying updated:
"I follow Python Weekly, read documentation updates, and practice on LeetCode and GitHub."
5. Debugging approach:
"I start by reproducing the issue, check logs, use pdb or debug prints, isolate the bug, apply a fix, and write a test case
to prevent recurrence."
6. Teamwork example:
"In my last project, we had to deliver a feature in 3 days. I coordinated with the frontend team, split tasks, and delivered
on time."
7. Handling disagreements:
"I listen to the other person's reasoning, present my perspective with data, and if needed, involve a senior to decide."
8. Task prioritization:
"I break work into smaller tasks, prioritize based on deadlines and dependencies, and track progress using tools like Jira
or Trello."
9. Why this company:
"Your focus on scalable backend systems and use of Python frameworks aligns with my skills and interests."
10. Career goal:
"To become a senior backend developer and lead a team, while contributing to impactful projects."
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Section 2: Core Technical Questions with Answers
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Python Basics & OOP
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1. Key features of Python:
- Easy syntax, interpreted, dynamically typed, multiple paradigms (OOP, functional), large standard library.
2. List vs Tuple vs Set:
- List: Mutable, ordered, allows duplicates.
- Tuple: Immutable, ordered, allows duplicates.
- Set: Mutable, unordered, no duplicates.
3. Memory management:
- Reference counting + garbage collector for cyclic references.
4. Decorators:
Functions that wrap other functions to extend behavior without modifying them.
5. Staticmethod vs Classmethod vs Instance method:
- staticmethod: No access to self or cls.
- classmethod: Access to class via cls.
- instance method: Access to instance via self.
6. Exception handling:
try:
x=1/0
except ZeroDivisionError:
print("Cannot divide by zero")
finally:
print("Done")
7. Generators:
def gen():
yield 1
yield 2
8. GIL:
- Global Interpreter Lock allows only one thread to execute Python bytecode at a time.
9. Shallow vs Deep copy:
import copy
shallow = [Link](obj)
deep = [Link](obj)
10. Garbage collection:
- Handled by gc module, based on reference counts.
Data Structures & Algorithms
-----------------------------
11. Reverse a linked list:
class Node:
def __init__(self, val):
[Link] = val
[Link] = None
def reverse(head):
prev, curr = None, head
while curr:
nxt = [Link]
[Link] = prev
prev = curr
curr = nxt
return prev
12. First non-repeating char:
from collections import Counter
def first_unique(s):
counts = Counter(s)
for ch in s:
if counts[ch] == 1:
return ch
return None
13. Binary search recursion:
def binary_search(arr, target, low, high):
if low > high:
return -1
mid = (low + high) // 2
if arr[mid] == target:
return mid
elif arr[mid] > target:
return binary_search(arr, target, low, mid-1)
else:
return binary_search(arr, target, mid+1, high)
14. Detect cycle in linked list:
def has_cycle(head):
slow = fast = head
while fast and [Link]:
slow = [Link]
fast = [Link]
if slow == fast:
return True
return False
15. Longest substring without repeating characters:
def length_of_longest_substring(s):
seen = {}
start = max_len = 0
for i, ch in enumerate(s):
if ch in seen and seen[ch] >= start:
start = seen[ch] + 1
seen[ch] = i
max_len = max(max_len, i - start + 1)
return max_len
Frameworks
----------
16. Django MVT:
- Model: Data structure (database layer)
- View: Handles business logic
- Template: Handles UI
17. Django ORM vs raw SQL:
- ORM is more secure, easier to maintain; raw SQL can be faster for complex queries.
18. REST API in Flask:
from flask import Flask, jsonify
app = Flask(__name__)
@[Link]('/api', methods=['GET'])
def api():
return jsonify({"message": "Hello"})
if __name__ == '__main__':
[Link]()
19. Middleware in Django:
- Example: AuthenticationMiddleware handles user authentication.
20. Authentication in Django:
- Using built-in auth system with sessions or JWT for APIs.
Databases
---------
21. SQL vs NoSQL:
- SQL: Relational, structured data.
- NoSQL: Non-relational, flexible schemas.
22. Second highest salary in SQL:
SELECT MAX(salary) FROM employees WHERE salary < (SELECT MAX(salary) FROM employees);
23. Indexes:
- Improve query speed but increase write time.
24. Connect Python to MySQL:
import [Link]
conn = [Link](host="localhost", user="root", password="pass", database="testdb")
25. CRUD in Django ORM:
[Link](name="Laptop", price=1000)
[Link](id=1).update(price=1200)
[Link](id=1).delete()
Other Tools
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26. Git daily commands: clone, commit, push, pull, branch, merge.
27. pip vs pipenv: pipenv manages virtualenv + dependencies together.
28. Env vars: Use python-dotenv or [Link].
29. Unit testing: unittest or pytest.
30. Deploying Django: Use Gunicorn + Nginx.
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Section 3: Coding Round Solutions
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1. Palindrome check:
def is_palindrome(s):
return s == s[::-1]
2. Factorial recursion:
def fact(n):
return 1 if n <= 1 else n * fact(n-1)
3. Merge sorted lists without duplicates:
def merge_unique(a, b):
return sorted(set(a + b))
4. Count word frequency:
from collections import Counter
with open("[Link]") as f:
words = [Link]().split()
print(Counter(words))
5. Prime numbers in list:
def is_prime(n):
if n < 2:
return False
for i in range(2, int(n**0.5) + 1):
if n % i == 0:
return False
return True
nums = [2,3,4,5,10,11]
primes = [x for x in nums if is_prime(x)]
6. Top 3 frequent elements:
from collections import Counter
Counter(nums).most_common(3)
7. BankAccount class:
class BankAccount:
def __init__(self):
[Link] = 0
def deposit(self, amt):
[Link] += amt
def withdraw(self, amt):
if amt <= [Link]:
[Link] -= amt
def get_balance(self):
return [Link]
8. Django model example:
class Product([Link]):
name = [Link](max_length=100)
price = [Link](max_digits=10, decimal_places=2)
stock = [Link]()
9. API consume and store in DB:
import requests, sqlite3
r = [Link]("[Link]
data = [Link]()
conn = [Link]("[Link]")
c = [Link]()
[Link]("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS posts (id INT, title TEXT)")
for item in data:
[Link]("INSERT INTO posts VALUES (?, ?)", (item['id'], item['title']))
[Link]()
[Link]()
