Job Interviews: 47 Computer Science Questions

 

Job Interviews: 47 Computer Science Questions To Prepare For 

Updated May 3, 2023

Computer science roles include programming, software development and design jobs. Interviewers often prepare questions specifically for candidates interviewing in this field. Being prepared for commonly asked questions can help set you apart from other candidates when interviewing for computer science jobs.

In this article, we discuss some common computer science job interview questions and provide three example answers to help you prepare for the next step in your career.

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are not affiliated with Indeed.

20 general computer science interview questions

While knowing how to answer general interview questions is certainly important, preparing for industry-specific questions is critical to demonstrating your knowledge and understanding of computer science and ultimately securing a job. The following are common computer science questions you should consider when getting ready for a job interview in this field:

1. What is a default and conversion constructor?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of multiple inheritance? 

3. What is garbage collection, and how does it work?

4. What is a deadlock, and how can you prevent it?

5. What is the difference between a compiler and an interpreter?

6.  What is the difference between overriding and overloading? 

7. What is a character stream?

8. Can you explain the software development life cycle?

9. Can you explain the difference between statically typed and dynamically typed programming languages?

10. What is normalization and why is it important in database design?

11. Can you explain the idea behind a transaction in a database management system?

12. What is a distributed database and how does it work?

13. What is virtual memory and how does it work in an operating system?

14. Can you explain the difference between a process and a thread?

15. Can you explain the concept of responsive web design and how it works?

16. What is an index in a database and how does it work?

17. Can you explain the difference between a compiled and an interpreted language?

18. Can you explain the difference between object-oriented and functional programming?

19. Can you explain the idea behind dynamic programming?

20. Can you write the code for a binary search algorithm?

10 computer science interview questions about background and experience

Here are 10 more questions interviewers may ask you about your background and experience in computer science:

1. How do you stay current with the latest developments and trends in computer science?

2. Can you give an example of a time when you had to troubleshoot a technical issue and how you went about solving it?

3. How do you approach problem-solving in your work?

4. Can you give an example of a project where you had to work with a team and how you contributed to its success?

5. How do you handle working on multiple projects or tasks simultaneously?

6. Can you walk us through your experience with a specific programming language or technology?

7. Can you tell us about a particularly challenging project you have worked on and how you overcame any obstacles?

8. Can you give an example of how you have applied your technical skills to provide a business solution?

9. Can you tell us about a time when you had to learn new technology quickly and how you went about it?

10. Can you give an example of a time when you had to explain a complex technical concept to a non-technical audience?

14 in-depth computer science interview questions

Here are 14 more in-depth questions you may receive when interviewing for a computer science role:

1. Can you explain the time and space complexities of various data structures like arrays, linked lists, trees and graphs?

2. How would you implement a breadth-first search algorithm?

3. Can you write a code for finding the shortest path in a weighted graph?

4. Can you explain the difference between a waterfall and an agile development approach?

5. What are continuous integration and continuous delivery?

6. Can you explain the SOLID principles of object-oriented design?

7. Can you explain the difference between a monolithic and microservice architecture?

8. Can you write a SQL query to retrieve data from a database table?

9. Can you explain the difference between a primary key and a foreign key in a database table?

10. Can you explain the difference between a client-side and a server-side language?

11. What is a single-page application and how does it differ from a traditional web application?

12. Can you explain the difference between a centralized and a decentralized system?

13. Can you explain the idea behind consensus algorithms in distributed systems?

14. Can you explain the difference between load balancing and fault tolerance in distributed systems?

3 sample answers to computer science interview questions

Preparing answers to common computer science questions can help you feel confident in an interview. Here are examples of how to answer a few common computer science interview questions:

1. What is a class? What is a superclass?

Class and superclass are two commonly used terms that refer to an important component of computer programming. Interviewers may ask this question to give you the ability to express your expertise in the field.

Example: "A class is a blueprint or a template for creating objects that define the data and behavior of a particular type of entity. In object-oriented programming, classes are used to represent real-world objects and their attributes and behaviors.

A superclass is a class that serves as a parent or base class for another class, also known as a subclass. The subclass inherits all of the attributes and behaviors defined in the superclass and can add additional attributes and behaviors of its own."

2. What are primary and secondary memory?

Understanding the different types of memory that can be utilized in computer systems is a major function of computer science positions. Knowing how they work and the difference between these two types of memory is often mandatory for computer science jobs.

Interviewers may ask this question to test your basic knowledge of hardware systems. Provide a thorough answer that identifies the key differences between the concepts.

Example: "Primary memory is the main memory of a computer that can be accessed via the CPU. Semiconductor chips are the most commonly used technology for primary memory. Secondary memory is an external storage device that can be used to keep data and information permanently. Examples of secondary memory include floppy disks, hard drives and USB flash drives."

3. What is an operating system? What are the popular operating systems used today?

This is another basic question that tests your knowledge of hardware systems. Having an in-depth understanding of what an operating system is and the various operating systems most commonly used in a business setting is a fundamental part of being a computer science professional. Employers typically ask this question to ensure you have knowledge of all operating systems and especially the operating system that the team relies on for their work.