Python Coding Interview Questions and Answers for experienced

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100 Python Interview Questions and Answers

  1. What is the difference between a list and a tuple in Python?

    • Answer: Lists are mutable (changeable) and ordered sequences of items, while tuples are immutable (unchangeable) and ordered sequences. Lists are defined using square brackets `[]`, while tuples are defined using parentheses `()`. Lists are generally used when you need to modify the sequence, while tuples are preferred for representing fixed collections of items, often for data integrity.

  2. Explain the concept of decorators in Python.

    • Answer: Decorators are a powerful and expressive feature in Python that allows you to modify or enhance functions and methods in a clean and readable way. They are a form of metaprogramming, allowing you to wrap additional functionality around an existing function without modifying its core behavior. This is achieved using nested functions and closures. A common use case is logging, access control, or timing function execution.

  3. What are generators in Python and how do they differ from functions?

    • Answer: Generators are a special type of function that produces a sequence of values one at a time, instead of computing them all at once and returning them as a list. They use the `yield` keyword instead of `return`. This makes them memory-efficient for working with large datasets, as they only generate values when requested. Functions return a single value, while generators return an iterator.

  4. Explain the concept of closures in Python.

    • Answer: A closure is a function that remembers values in its enclosing scope even after the outer function has finished executing. This is possible because the inner function retains a reference to variables in its enclosing scope, even after the outer function has returned. Closures are fundamental to decorators and other advanced Python programming techniques.

  5. How do you handle exceptions in Python?

    • Answer: Python uses `try`, `except`, `finally`, and `else` blocks to handle exceptions. The `try` block contains code that might raise an exception. `except` blocks catch specific exceptions and handle them. The `else` block executes only if no exception is raised. The `finally` block always executes, regardless of whether an exception was raised or not, often used for cleanup operations (like closing files).

  6. What is the difference between `==` and `is` in Python?

    • Answer: `==` compares the values of two objects, while `is` compares the object identities (memory addresses). Two objects can have the same value but different identities. `is` is faster but should be used cautiously.

  7. Explain the concept of monkey patching in Python.

    • Answer: Monkey patching is a technique where you modify or extend existing code at runtime. This is often used for testing or debugging, or to adapt libraries to specific needs. It involves dynamically changing attributes of a module, class, or function. However, it can make code harder to maintain and debug if overused.

  8. What are metaclasses in Python?

    • Answer: Metaclasses control the creation of classes. They are classes whose instances are classes. They provide a powerful way to customize class creation, modify class attributes, and inject behavior before a class is fully defined. They are generally used for advanced class customization and framework development.

  9. Explain the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in Python.

    • Answer: The GIL is a mechanism in CPython (the standard Python implementation) that allows only one native thread to hold control of the Python interpreter at any one time. This limits true parallelism for CPU-bound tasks, although it does not affect I/O-bound operations. Multiprocessing is often used to overcome the limitations of the GIL for CPU-intensive tasks.

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