Top 40 Computer Science Interview Questions and Answers
Matthew Martin
Here are computer science interview questions for fresher as well as experienced candidates to get your dream job.
Basic Computer Science Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers
1) What is the computer system?
A computer system is a combination of memory, CPU, peripheral devices that are connected to it, and OS (Operating System).
2) List out components of a computer system
The components of a computer system are:
- CPU (Central Processing Unit) including control unit and arithmetic logic unit
- Memory like primary and secondary
- Input and output devices like keyboard mouse, printer scanner, etc.
3) What is a microprocessor?
A microprocessor is an integrated circuit having all the functionality of a central processing unit of a PC.
4) List out some computer processors
Computer processors are: 1) Intel Core i9, 2) Intel Core i5, 3) Intel Core i7, 4) AMD Ryzen 7, and 5) AMD Ryzen 5.
5) List out some popular operating system
Some popular operating systems are Microsoft Windows, OSX, and Linux.
6) What Is A Super-class?
A super class is the basis of all the classes. The object of the rest of the class has all the characteristics related to the superclass.
7) Explain class variable
Variables represent a memory of class, which it shares with each and every instance.
8) What is SDLC?
SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle is a process that produces quality software products in less time. The stages involve by SDLC are: 1) planning, 2) design, 4) construction, 5) testing, and 6) deployment.
9) Explain the meaning of file.
A file is a named location that stores information or data permanently. It is always stored in the storage device using a file name with primary and secondary name, which is separated by a “.”(DOT).
10) What is a programming language?
A programming language is a collection of grammar rules for giving instructions to computer or computing devices in order to perform achieve task.
11) What is Integrated Development Environment?
An IDE is a GUI-based software program. It is designed to help programmers build applications with all the needed programs and libraries.
12) Explain the framework
The framework is a platform for making software applications. It provides the basis on which developers can build programs for a specific platform. For example, a framework may include predetermined classes as well as functions. It can be used to process inputs, manage hardware, and interact with system software.
13) What is an Interface?
The interface is similar to a class in Java, but it is a collection of abstract methods. A class can have more than one interface.
14) What is a class?
A class is a blueprint for creating objects. A class contains methods and variables which are a class instance.
15) Distinguish between constructor and method abstract class and interface
The difference between class and interface is:
| Abstract class | Interface |
|---|---|
| Abstract class does not support inheritance. | The interface supports multiple inheritances. |
| An abstract class would contain constructor. | The interface does not contain a constructor. |
| An abstract class is declared using the “Abstract” keyword. | The interface is declared using the “interface” keyword. |
| It can be used with all access modifiers. | It can be used with only public access modifier. |
16) What is an abstract class?
A class having an abstract keyword is called an abstract class.
17) What is an array?
An array is a container that keeps a specific number of similar data types.
18) What is a constructor?
A constructor is a method that is used to create a class object.
19) Define Cin and Cout
Cin and Cout are objects used for input and output files, respectively.
20) What is the difference between C and C++?
The difference between C and C++ is:
| C | C++ |
|---|---|
| It is a Procedural Oriented language. | It is an Object-Oriented Programming language. |
| C language follows Top-Down programming approach | C++ follows a bottom-up programming approach. |
| The file extension of a C program is .c | The file extension of a c+ + program language is.cpp |
| In the C programming language, a big program code is divided into small pieces, which is called functions. | In the C++ programming language, a big program code is divided into Objects and Classes. |
| Structure in C does not provide the feature of function declaration. | Structure in C++ provides the feature of declaring a function as a member function of the structure. |
Computer Science Interview Questions for Experienced
21) List the types of constructors
There are two types of the constructor: 1) parameterized constructor and 2) default constructor.
22) What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence or machine intelligence is a common term that is used to build smart machines capable of performing tasks. The main aim of AI is to solve problems in a way that are better and faster.
23) What is machine learning?
Machine Learning is a system that can learn from an excellent example through self-improvement and without being explicitly coded by a programmer.
24) What is deep learning?
Deep learning is computer software that mimics the network of neurons in a brain. It is a subset of machine learning and is called deep learning because it makes use of deep neural networks.
25) List out different OOPS principles?
The basic OOPS principle are: 1) encapsulation, 2) abstraction, 3) inheritance and 4) polymorphism.
26) Explain the various type of access modifiers
There are four types of access modifiers:
- Private: Visible to a particular class
- Public: Visible to the world
- Protected: Visible to specific package as well as subclass
27) What is the difference between compiler and interpreter?
The difference between compiler and interpreter is:
| Compiler | Interpreter |
|---|---|
| Compiled code run faster. | Interpreted code run slower. |
| Generates output program (in the form of exe), which can be run independently from the original program. | Do not generate an output program. So the programmer evaluates the source program at every time during execution. |
| The target program executes independently and does not require the compiler in the memory. | The interpreter exists in the memory during interpretation. |
| Difficult to implement as compilers cannot predict what happens at turn time. | It is best suited for the program and development environment. |
| It takes an entire program as an input. | It takes a single line of coding as an input. |
| Display all errors after compilation, all at the same time. | Displays all errors of each line one by one. |
28) What is a programming language?
A programming language is a collection of grammar rules to instruct computers or computing devices to perform tasks.
29) What is inheritance?
Inheritance is an object-oriented programming concept in which one class derives the properties of the rest of the classes.
30) Distinguish between constructor and method
The difference between constructor and method is:
| Constructor | Method |
|---|---|
| Constructor is used for initializing the instance of any class. | Method is used to perform some operation or function. |
| It does not have any return type | It has a return type. |
| The constructor name must be the same as a class name. | The name of the method can be the same or different as per need. |
| It calls automatically when you create a class object. | You need to call the method explicitly. |
| There is a default constructor which is provided by the compiler. | There is no method provided by the compiler. |
31) What is bye stream?
Byte stream is most usually used to perform input and output for Unicode having 8 bits.
32) What do you mean by destructor?
Destructor is a class member function that deletes or destructs an object.
33) List out Layers of OSI Model
Layers of OSI models are: 1) Physical, 2) Application, 3) Presentation, 4) Session, 5) Transport, 6) Network, and 6) Data Link Layer.
34) What is s the primary difference between process and thread?
Process is called as a program which is in execution. Thread is a segment of a process, so; a process can have more than one thread.
35) Explain primary memory
Primary memory, RAM is the main memory of a computer which can be directly accessed by the Central Processing Unit (CPU). It stores temporary information until the process finishes its execution.
36) What is the internet?
The internet is a global network of a computer that offers a wide range of information and communication facility. It involves interconnected networks, using a communication protocol.
37) What is the World Wide Web (WWW)?
WWW or World Wide Web is a method of accessing information using internet media.
38) What is an Algorithm?
An algorithm is a rule or step-by-step process that must be followed in order to solve a particular problem.
39) What is the operating system?
An Operating system (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between the end-user and computer hardware. Every computer must have at least one OS to run other programs.
40) What is cryptography?
Cryptography is the study of techniques that hide the real meaning of information. It transforms this information into a format that cannot be read by humans and vice versa.
These interview questions will also help in your viva(orals)