Beginner – Technical Questions & Answers

1. What is Python and what are its main features?

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its readability, simplicity,
and versatility. Its main features include dynamic typing, automatic memory management,
support for multiple programming paradigms (procedural, object-oriented, functional), and a
large standard library that supports everything from web development to data analysis [1] [2] .
2. How do you declare and initialize a variable in Python?
You simply assign a value to a variable name using the equals sign. For example: x = 5. Python
variables are dynamically typed, so you don’t need to declare their type explicitly [1] .
3. What is a Python function and how do you define one?
A function is a block of reusable code that performs a specific task. You define it using the def
keyword, followed by the function name and parentheses. Example:

def greet(name):
print(f"Hello, {name}!")

4. What is the difference between a list and a tuple?

A list is mutable, meaning you can change its elements after creation, while a tuple is immutable
and cannot be changed once defined. Lists use square brackets ([ ]), tuples use parentheses ((
)) [3] [4] .

5. How do you import a module in Python?

You use the import keyword followed by the module name. For example: import math. This allows
you to access functions and variables defined in that module [1] .
6. What does the if statement do in Python?
An if statement allows you to execute a block of code only if a certain condition is true. Syntax:

if x > 0:
print("Positive number")

7. What is a for loop and how is it used?

A for loop is used to iterate over a sequence (like a list or string). Example:

for item in [1, 2, 3]:

print(item)

8. What is a Python dictionary?

A dictionary is an unordered collection of key-value pairs. You create one using curly braces:
 my_dict = {'name': 'Alice', 'age': 25}

You access values by their keys: my_dict['name'] [1] .

9. What is the difference between append() and extend() for lists?
append() adds a single element to the end of a list, while extend() adds all elements from an
iterable (like another list) to the end of the list [3] .
10. What is indentation and why is it important in Python?
Indentation defines code blocks in Python. Unlike other languages that use braces, Python uses
whitespace indentation to indicate blocks, making code more readable and enforcing
consistency [1] [2] .
11. What is a Python string, and how do you concatenate two strings?
A string is a sequence of characters. You concatenate strings using the + operator:

greeting = "Hello, " + "world!"

12. What does the len() function do?

It returns the number of items in an object, such as the length of a list, tuple, or string. Example:
len("Python") returns 6 [1] .

13. How do you comment code in Python?

Single-line comments start with #. For multi-line comments, you can use triple quotes (''' or """)
though these are technically string literals, not true comments [1] .
14. What is a Python module?
A module is a file containing Python code (functions, variables, classes) that can be imported
and reused in other programs [1] .
15. What are list comprehensions?
List comprehensions provide a concise way to create lists. Example:

squares = [x*x for x in range(5)]

This creates a list of squares from 0 to 4 [4] .

16. How do you handle exceptions in Python?
You use try and except blocks. Example:

try:
result = 10 / 0
except ZeroDivisionError:
print("Cannot divide by zero.")

17. What is the purpose of the self keyword in Python classes?

self refers to the instance of the class and allows access to its attributes and methods. It’s used
as the first parameter in instance methods [3] .
18. What is PEP 8?
PEP 8 is the official style guide for Python code, emphasizing readability and consistency. Tools
like flake8 and black help enforce PEP 8 compliance [5] .
19. What is the difference between == and is operators?
== checks if values are equal, while is checks if two variables point to the same object in
memory [3] .
20. How do you read and write files in Python?
You use the open() function with appropriate mode ('r' for read, 'w' for write). Example:

with open('file.txt', 'r') as f:

content = f.read()

Beginner – Scenario-Based / Behavioral Questions & Answers

1. Describe a time you debugged a simple Python script.
I once encountered a script that wasn’t printing the expected output. I used print statements to
check variable values at different points, identified a typo in a variable name, corrected it, and
verified the fix by running the script again [6] .
2. How do you approach learning a new Python library?
I start by reading the official documentation and tutorials, then experiment with small code
snippets. I also look for community examples and try to build a mini-project to reinforce my
understanding [7] .
3. How would you explain a basic Python concept to a non-technical team member?
I use analogies and avoid jargon. For example, I’d compare a Python list to a shopping list, where
you can add, remove, or check items easily.
4. Tell me about a time you worked with others to solve a Python problem.
In a group project, we divided tasks and used GitHub for collaboration. When we faced a bug,
we discussed possible causes, tested different solutions, and resolved it together, improving
both the code and our teamwork [7] .
5. How do you ensure your code is readable to others?
I follow PEP 8 guidelines, use meaningful variable names, add comments where necessary, and
structure my code logically. I also welcome feedback during code reviews [5] .
6. What would you do if your Python script ran slower than expected?
I’d use print statements or the time module to identify bottlenecks, then optimize the slow parts,
such as using list comprehensions or built-in functions instead of manual loops [3] .
7. Describe a situation where you had to handle user input in Python.
I wrote a script that asked users for their names and greeted them. I used the input() function,
validated the input, and handled empty responses by prompting the user again.
8. How do you stay up to date with Python best practices?
I follow Python-related blogs, participate in online forums, and read the latest documentation
and PEP updates. I also practice coding regularly to reinforce new concepts [4] [7] .
9. What steps do you take before submitting your code?
I review my code for errors, run tests, check for adherence to style guidelines, and ensure that
the code is well-documented and understandable to others [5] .
10. How do you handle feedback on your Python code?
I view feedback as an opportunity to learn and improve. I listen carefully, ask clarifying questions
if needed, and apply suggestions to enhance my coding skills and code quality [7] .

Beginner – Framework-Specific Questions & Answers

1. What is Django and why would you use it?
Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean,
pragmatic design. It handles much of the complexity of web development, such as
authentication and database management, allowing you to focus on building your app [7] .
2. What is Flask and how does it differ from Django?
Flask is a lightweight, micro web framework for Python. Unlike Django, it provides the basics for
web development but leaves most decisions to the developer, offering more flexibility but
requiring more setup for larger projects [7] .
3. What is FastAPI and what are its main advantages?
FastAPI is a modern web framework for building APIs with Python. It’s known for its high
performance, automatic documentation, and support for asynchronous programming, making it
ideal for building scalable APIs.
4. How do you define a route in Flask?
You use the @app.route() decorator to map a URL to a function. Example:

@app.route('/hello')
def hello():
return "Hello, World!"

5. What is the purpose of Django’s ORM?

Django’s Object-Relational Mapper (ORM) allows you to interact with the database using Python
code instead of SQL, making database operations easier and safer.

Mid-Level – Technical Questions & Answers

1. Explain the difference between shallow copy and deep copy in Python.
A shallow copy creates a new object but references the nested objects from the original,
whereas a deep copy recursively copies all objects, including nested ones, creating independent
entities. Use copy.copy() for shallow and copy.deepcopy() for deep copies [5] .
2. What is the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) and how does it affect Python?
The GIL is a mutex that allows only one thread to execute Python bytecode at a time, which
simplifies memory management but limits multi-threading performance for CPU-bound tasks.
Multiprocessing or external libraries can help bypass the GIL for parallel computation [5] .
3. What are decorators in Python and how are they used?
Decorators are functions that modify the behavior of other functions or methods. They are
commonly used for logging, access control, and caching. Example:

def my_decorator(func):
def wrapper():
print("Before")
func()
print("After")
return wrapper

@my_decorator
def say_hello():
print("Hello!")

4. How do you manage virtual environments in Python?

You use tools like venv or virtualenv to create isolated environments for dependencies, ensuring
that projects don’t interfere with each other’s packages.
5. What is the difference between @staticmethod and @classmethod?
@staticmethod defines a method that doesn’t access class or instance data, while @classmethod
receives the class as its first argument and can modify class state.
6. How do you handle missing values in a dataset using Python?
You can use libraries like pandas to detect and handle missing values, either by removing rows
with missing data (dropna()) or filling them with default values (fillna()).
7. What is a lambda function and where would you use it?
A lambda function is an anonymous, inline function defined with the lambda keyword. It’s often
used for short, simple functions passed as arguments to higher-order functions like map() or
filter().

8. How do you serialize and deserialize objects in Python?

You use the pickle module for Python object serialization, or json for serializing to JSON format,
which is more interoperable with other languages.
9. What are Python generators and how do they differ from regular functions?
Generators use the yield keyword to return values one at a time, maintaining their state between
calls. They are more memory-efficient for large datasets compared to returning lists [5] .
10. How do you use list comprehensions with conditionals?
You can add an if condition at the end of a list comprehension. Example:

evens = [x for x in range(10) if x % 2 == 0]

Mid-Level – Scenario-Based / Behavioral Questions & Answers
1. Describe a time you optimized a slow Python function.
I profiled the function using the timeit and cProfile modules, identified inefficient loops, and
replaced them with list comprehensions and built-in functions, which improved performance
significantly.
2. How do you handle merge conflicts in a collaborative Python project?
I communicate with my team to understand the changes, use Git tools to resolve conflicts, test
the merged code, and ensure that the final version incorporates everyone’s contributions
correctly.
3. Tell me about a challenging bug you fixed in a Python application.
I encountered a memory leak caused by holding references to objects in a global list. By
analyzing memory usage and reviewing code, I refactored the logic to remove unnecessary
references, resolving the leak.
4. How do you ensure your Python code is maintainable?
I write modular code, follow naming conventions, use docstrings, and add unit tests. Regular
code reviews and refactoring also help maintain code quality.
5. Describe a situation where you had to explain a technical Python concept to a non-
technical stakeholder.
I used analogies and simple language to explain how a Python script automated a manual
process, focusing on the benefits rather than technical details.

Mid-Level – Framework-Specific Questions & Answers

1. How do you create a Django model and migrate it to the database?
You define a model as a class inheriting from models.Model, then run python manage.py
makemigrations and python manage.py migrate to apply changes to the database.

2. How do you handle form validation in Flask?

You can use Flask-WTF, which integrates WTForms for form validation, allowing you to define
validation rules and handle errors gracefully.
3. How do you implement dependency injection in FastAPI?
FastAPI uses Python type hints and the Depends function to inject dependencies into routes,
making code more modular and testable.

Senior-Level – Technical Questions & Answers

1. Explain how Python’s garbage collection works.
Python uses reference counting and a cyclic garbage collector to manage memory. When an
object’s reference count drops to zero, it’s immediately deallocated. The cyclic garbage
collector periodically detects and cleans up reference cycles.
2. How do you design a Python application for scalability?
I use modular architecture, asynchronous programming (e.g., asyncio), and leverage frameworks
like FastAPI for high-performance APIs. For heavy workloads, I use message queues (like Celery
with RabbitMQ) and horizontal scaling.
3. How do you manage dependencies in large Python projects?
I use virtual environments, dependency management tools like pipenv or poetry, and maintain a
requirements.txt or pyproject.toml file. Automated CI pipelines help ensure consistent
environments.
4. What are metaclasses in Python and when would you use them?
Metaclasses are classes of classes that define how classes behave. They’re used for advanced
use cases like enforcing coding standards, registering classes, or implementing singletons.

Senior-Level – Scenario-Based / Behavioral Questions & Answers

1. Describe a time you led a team through a major Python refactoring effort.
I coordinated with developers to identify problematic areas, set coding standards, and divided
the work. We used automated tests to ensure functionality wasn’t broken, and I facilitated code
reviews for knowledge sharing.
2. How do you approach designing a distributed Python system?
I start by identifying system requirements, choose appropriate communication protocols (e.g.,
REST, gRPC), use message queues for decoupling, and implement monitoring and logging for
observability.
3. Tell me about a time you had to make a trade-off between code readability and
performance.
In a performance-critical section, I used more complex but efficient code and documented it
thoroughly, balancing maintainability with the need for speed.

Senior-Level – Framework-Specific Questions & Answers

1. How do you scale a Django application to handle high traffic?
I use caching (e.g., Redis or Memcached), database optimization, load balancing, and
asynchronous task queues (like Celery) to handle background jobs.
2. How do you implement background tasks in FastAPI?
I integrate FastAPI with Celery or use background tasks with the BackgroundTasks utility, ensuring
that long-running operations don’t block the main application.
3. How do you structure a large Flask application for maintainability?
I use blueprints to modularize the app, follow the application factory pattern, and separate
business logic from routes.
Senior-Level – System Design Questions & Answers
1. How would you design a scalable API service in Python?
I’d use FastAPI for its async capabilities, deploy behind a load balancer, and use a database
with connection pooling. For scalability, I’d containerize the service with Docker and orchestrate
with Kubernetes.
2. How do you ensure data consistency in a distributed Python application?
I use transactions where possible, implement idempotency in APIs, and use distributed locks or
consensus algorithms for critical sections.
3. Describe your approach to logging and monitoring in a production Python system.
I use structured logging with tools like structlog or Python’s logging module, aggregate logs
with ELK stack or similar, and set up alerts for anomalies.

This collection can be expanded with additional questions and answers as needed, maintaining
this structure and increasing complexity according to experience level and scenario.
⁂

1. https://codeinstitute.net/global/blog/top-python-interview-questions-answers/
2. https://builtin.com/software-engineering-perspectives/python-interview-questions
3. https://www.w3schools.com/python/python_interview_questions.asp
4. https://resources.workable.com/python-developer-interview-questions
5. https://www.upwork.com/hire/python-developers/interview-questions/
6. https://fullscale.io/blog/top-10-python-developer-interview-questions
7. https://brainstation.io/career-guides/python-developer-interview-questions