JavaScript Interview Questions and Answers for 10 years experience
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What are the differences between `==` and `===` in JavaScript?
- Answer: `==` performs loose equality, checking for value equality after type coercion. `===` performs strict equality, checking for both value and type equality without coercion. For example, `1 == "1"` is true (loose), while `1 === "1"` is false (strict).
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Explain closures in JavaScript. Provide an example.
- Answer: A closure is a function that has access to variables from its surrounding scope, even after that scope has finished executing. Example: ```javascript function outer() { let x = 10; function inner() { console.log(x); } return inner; } let myClosure = outer(); myClosure(); // Outputs 10, even though outer has finished. ``` The `inner` function "closes over" the variable `x`.
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What is prototypal inheritance in JavaScript?
- Answer: JavaScript uses prototypal inheritance, where objects inherit properties and methods from their prototype object. Every object has a prototype, forming a prototype chain. When you access a property on an object, JavaScript searches the object itself, then its prototype, and so on until it finds the property or reaches the end of the chain (Object.prototype).
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Explain the concept of "this" in JavaScript.
- Answer: The `this` keyword refers to the object that is executing the current function. Its value depends on how the function is called (e.g., method invocation, function invocation, `call()`, `apply()`, `bind()`). Understanding `this` is crucial for writing correct object-oriented JavaScript.
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How do you handle asynchronous operations in JavaScript?
- Answer: Asynchronous operations are handled using callbacks, promises, and async/await. Callbacks are older but can lead to "callback hell." Promises provide a cleaner way to handle asynchronous operations, while async/await makes asynchronous code look and behave a bit more like synchronous code, improving readability.
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What are Promises in JavaScript? Give an example of using `then()` and `catch()`.
- Answer: Promises represent the eventual result of an asynchronous operation. They have three states: pending, fulfilled, and rejected. `then()` is used to handle the fulfilled state, and `catch()` handles the rejected state. ```javascript let myPromise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => { setTimeout(() => resolve("Success!"), 1000); }); myPromise.then(result => console.log(result)) .catch(error => console.error(error)); ```
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Explain `async` and `await`.
- Answer: `async` declares an asynchronous function that implicitly returns a Promise. `await` can only be used inside an `async` function; it pauses execution until a Promise is settled (fulfilled or rejected).
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What are some common JavaScript design patterns? Explain one in detail.
- Answer: Common patterns include Module, Singleton, Observer, Factory, and more. Let's explain the Module pattern: It encapsulates private variables and methods within a function, exposing only specific methods through a public interface. This promotes modularity and maintainability. ```javascript const myModule = (function() { let privateVar = "Hello"; function privateMethod() { console.log("This is private"); } return { publicMethod: function() { console.log(privateVar); privateMethod(); } }; })(); myModule.publicMethod(); // Outputs "Hello" and "This is private" ```
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What is event delegation?
- Answer: Event delegation is a technique where you attach an event listener to a parent element instead of individual child elements. This is more efficient, especially when dealing with a large number of dynamically added elements.
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How do you create and use a JavaScript module?
- Answer: Modern JavaScript uses ES modules (`.mjs` files or `.js` files with a module type declaration). You can `export` functions, classes, or variables from a module and `import` them into other modules. Example: `export const myVar = 10;` and `import {myVar} from './myModule.js';`
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Explain the difference between a `let`, `const`, and `var` declaration.
- Answer: `var` has function scope (or global scope if not in a function). `let` and `const` have block scope (within `{}`). `const` declares a constant whose value cannot be reassigned after initialization.
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What are some ways to debug JavaScript code?
- Answer: Use the browser's developer tools (console logging, breakpoints, stepping through code), linters (like ESLint), and debugging tools.
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Explain the concept of hoisting in JavaScript.
- Answer: Hoisting is a JavaScript mechanism where variables and function declarations are moved to the top of their scope before code execution. However, only the *declaration* is hoisted, not the *initialization*. So, while you can call a function declared later in the code, the value of a variable declared using `var` will be `undefined` before its initialization point.
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What is the difference between `null` and `undefined`?
- Answer: `null` is an assigned value that represents the intentional absence of a value. `undefined` means a variable has been declared but has not been assigned a value.
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What is JSON and how do you use it in JavaScript?
- Answer: JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format. JavaScript provides `JSON.parse()` to convert JSON strings into JavaScript objects and `JSON.stringify()` to convert JavaScript objects into JSON strings.
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What are the different ways to create an object in JavaScript?
- Answer: Object literals `{}`, Object.create(), constructor functions (classes), and factory functions.
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What are some common JavaScript libraries or frameworks you've worked with? Discuss their pros and cons.
- Answer: (This answer will vary based on experience. Mention specific libraries/frameworks like React, Angular, Vue.js, Node.js, jQuery, etc., and discuss their strengths and weaknesses in terms of performance, scalability, learning curve, community support, and suitability for different project types.)
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Explain the concept of event bubbling and event capturing.
- Answer: Event bubbling is the order in which events propagate up the DOM tree from the target element to its ancestors. Event capturing is the reverse; events propagate down the DOM tree from the window to the target element. `addEventListener` allows you to specify whether to use capturing or bubbling.
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How do you handle errors in JavaScript?
- Answer: Use `try...catch` blocks to handle exceptions, `throw` to create custom errors, and consider using error monitoring services for production applications.
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What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous programming?
- Answer: Synchronous code executes line by line in order. Asynchronous code allows other tasks to continue while waiting for I/O-bound operations (network requests, file system access) to complete.
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Explain how the JavaScript event loop works.
- Answer: The event loop constantly checks the call stack and the callback queue. When the call stack is empty, it takes the first callback from the queue and places it on the call stack for execution.
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How do you optimize JavaScript code for performance?
- Answer: Use efficient algorithms and data structures, minimize DOM manipulation, use code splitting and lazy loading, and profile your code to identify bottlenecks. Use tools like Chrome DevTools' Performance tab.
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What are Web Workers and why would you use them?
- Answer: Web Workers allow you to run JavaScript code in a separate thread, preventing blocking of the main thread and improving responsiveness. This is useful for computationally intensive tasks.
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Explain the concept of a service worker.
- Answer: Service workers are scripts that run in the background, separate from a web page, opening up possibilities for features that don't require a web page or user interaction. They are particularly useful for providing offline capabilities and push notifications.
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What are some best practices for writing clean, maintainable JavaScript code?
- Answer: Use consistent naming conventions, write well-documented code, break down complex tasks into smaller functions, follow a consistent coding style (consider using a linter), and use version control (Git).
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Describe your experience with testing JavaScript code. What frameworks have you used?
- Answer: (This answer will be specific to the candidate's experience. Mention frameworks like Jest, Mocha, Jasmine, Cypress, Selenium, etc., and discuss testing approaches like unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing.)
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Explain how you would approach building a single-page application (SPA).
- Answer: Discuss the use of a framework (React, Angular, Vue.js), routing, state management (Redux, Vuex, etc.), API calls, and considerations for performance and SEO.
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How do you handle cross-origin resource sharing (CORS) issues?
- Answer: Explain the concept of CORS and how to configure server-side headers (Access-Control-Allow-Origin) to allow requests from specific origins. Mention techniques like JSONP as a workaround.
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What is Node.js and what are some of its uses?
- Answer: Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a browser. It is used for building server-side applications, APIs, command-line tools, and more.
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What is npm (or yarn)?
- Answer: npm (Node Package Manager) and yarn are package managers for Node.js. They allow you to easily install, update, and manage JavaScript libraries and dependencies.
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Explain the concept of functional programming in JavaScript.
- Answer: Functional programming emphasizes pure functions (no side effects), immutability, and declarative style. JavaScript supports functional programming paradigms through features like higher-order functions, map, filter, reduce, and closures.
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What are some common security vulnerabilities in JavaScript and how can you mitigate them?
- Answer: Discuss cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), SQL injection, and other relevant vulnerabilities. Explain how to use input validation, output encoding, and secure coding practices to prevent them.
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What are some techniques for improving the accessibility of your JavaScript code?
- Answer: Use ARIA attributes, semantic HTML, ensure sufficient color contrast, and provide keyboard navigation. Write code that is compatible with assistive technologies.
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Explain your experience with build tools like Webpack or Parcel.
- Answer: (This will be specific to experience. Discuss bundling, module loading, code splitting, minification, and other build processes.)
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How would you handle a large JavaScript codebase?
- Answer: Discuss modularity, code organization, version control, testing, and the use of design patterns to improve maintainability and collaboration.
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What are some performance considerations when working with large datasets in JavaScript?
- Answer: Discuss efficient data structures, data pagination, lazy loading, and techniques for optimizing data processing.
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Explain your experience with different JavaScript testing methodologies (TDD, BDD, etc.).
- Answer: (This answer should reflect the candidate's experience. Discuss Test-Driven Development, Behavior-Driven Development, and their practical application.)
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How do you stay up-to-date with the latest JavaScript trends and technologies?
- Answer: Mention following blogs, attending conferences, participating in online communities, and reading relevant documentation.
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Describe a challenging JavaScript project you worked on and how you overcame the challenges.
- Answer: (This requires a specific example from the candidate's experience.)
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What are your preferred methods for code review?
- Answer: Discuss focusing on code clarity, maintainability, adherence to style guides, and identifying potential bugs or vulnerabilities.
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How do you handle conflicts in a team environment when working on JavaScript code?
- Answer: Explain how to effectively communicate, collaborate, and resolve differences through discussion and compromise.
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What are your thoughts on using TypeScript?
- Answer: (This is an opinion question; discuss the pros and cons of using TypeScript based on personal experience.)
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Explain your understanding of different JavaScript frameworks' state management solutions.
- Answer: Discuss specific state management libraries (Redux, Vuex, Zustand, etc.) and how they improve application architecture and maintainability.
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How do you optimize images for use in a web application to improve performance?
- Answer: Discuss using appropriate image formats (WebP, AVIF), compression, responsive images, and lazy loading techniques.
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What are some common performance bottlenecks in JavaScript applications, and how can you identify and address them?
- Answer: Discuss inefficient algorithms, excessive DOM manipulation, long-running tasks, and network latency. Explain using profiling tools and code optimization techniques to address these issues.
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Explain your experience with using different HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) in JavaScript applications.
- Answer: Describe the purpose of each method and how they are used to interact with APIs.
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How would you approach designing and implementing a RESTful API using Node.js?
- Answer: Discuss choosing a framework (Express.js, NestJS, etc.), designing API endpoints, handling requests and responses, and implementing error handling.
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What are your thoughts on the use of decorators in JavaScript?
- Answer: (This is an opinion question, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using decorators to enhance code structure and functionality.)
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How would you approach implementing internationalization and localization in a JavaScript application?
- Answer: Discuss using libraries or frameworks for i18n and l10n, managing translation files, and dynamically loading resources based on user preferences.
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Explain your understanding of GraphQL and its advantages over REST.
- Answer: Describe GraphQL's schema, query language, and how it allows clients to request only the data they need. Discuss advantages in terms of data fetching efficiency and reduced over-fetching.
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How do you approach versioning your JavaScript code and managing dependencies?
- Answer: Discuss using semantic versioning, managing dependencies using npm or yarn, and the importance of consistent and well-defined versions.
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Describe your experience with different state management libraries in React (Redux, Context API, Zustand, Recoil, etc.).
- Answer: Compare and contrast these libraries, discussing their strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for different project scales and complexities.
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Explain your approach to building and deploying a serverless application using Node.js and a cloud provider (AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, etc.).
- Answer: Discuss the process of defining functions, handling events, deploying to a cloud provider, and managing scaling and logging.
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