ItsRunTym

JAVA
70+ interview questions/answers

1. What is Java, and what are its main features?

Answer: Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language known for
its platform independence, robustness, security, and simplicity. Its main
features include:
• Platform independence
• Object-oriented
• Robust and secure
• Multithreaded
• Architecture-neutral
• Portable
2. Explain the difference between JDK, JRE, and JVM.
Answer:

JDK (Java Development JRE (Java Runtime JVM (Java Virtual

Feature Kit) Environment) Machine)

Runtime environment Abstract computing

Software development for executing Java machine for executing
Definition kit for Java development programs Java bytecode

Includes JRE, compilers, Includes libraries and Executes Java

Components and development tools JVM bytecode
 JDK (Java Development JRE (Java Runtime JVM (Java Virtual
Feature Kit) Environment) Machine)

Used for developing,

debugging, and Provides runtime
monitoring Java Used for running Java environment for Java
Usage applications applications applications

3. Describe the principles of Write Once Run Anywhere (WORA) in Java.

Answer: Write Once Run Anywhere (WORA) is a fundamental principle of Java
that ensures that compiled Java code (bytecode) can be executed on any
platform with a compatible Java Virtual Machine (JVM) without modification.
This is achieved by compiling Java source code into platform-independent
bytecode, which is then interpreted by the JVM at runtime.
4. How does memory management work in Java?
Answer: Memory management in Java is handled automatically by the Java
Virtual Machine (JVM) through a process called garbage collection. The JVM
manages memory allocation and deallocation by dynamically allocating
memory to objects created during program execution and reclaiming memory
from objects that are no longer referenced. This helps prevent memory leaks
and ensures efficient memory usage.
5. Differentiate between stack and heap memory in Java.
Answer:

Feature Stack Memory Heap Memory

Used for method frames, local Used for storing objects and
Purpose variables, method call stack dynamically allocated memory

Thread
Safety Thread-safe Not thread-safe

Size Limited in size Larger than stack memory

Feature Stack Memory Heap Memory

Short-lived (variables are destroyed Long-lived (objects persist until

Lifetime when the method completes) they are no longer referenced)

6. Explain the difference between primitive and reference data types in

Java.
Answer: Primitive data types represent basic values and are stored directly in
memory, whereas reference data types refer to objects stored on the heap and
are accessed via reference variables. Primitive data types are passed by value,
whereas reference data types are passed by reference.
7. What is the significance of the main() method in Java?
Answer: The main() method is the entry point of a Java program. It is where
the execution of the program begins. The JVM looks for the main() method
with the following signature to start the execution of the program:
public static void main(String[] args)
The args parameter allows command-line arguments to be passed to the
program.
8. List the different access specifiers in Java and their significance.
Answer: Java provides four access specifiers:
• public: Accessible from anywhere.
• protected: Accessible within the same package or subclasses.
• default (no modifier): Accessible within the same package.
• private: Accessible only within the same class.
9. Compare == and .equals() method in Java.
Answer:
• ==: Compares object references. It checks if two references point
to the same memory location.
• .equals(): Compares the actual contents of objects. It is overridden
by classes to define their own equality criteria.
 10.Explain the difference between ArrayList and LinkedList.
Answer:

Feature ArrayList LinkedList

Resizable-array Doubly linked list

Data Structure implementation implementation

Slower for insertions and Faster for insertions and

Insertion/Deletion deletions in the middle deletions in the middle

Random Access Faster random access Slower random access

Memory
Overhead Less memory overhead More memory overhead

11.What is the static keyword used for in Java?

Answer: The static keyword in Java is used to create variables and methods
that belong to the class itself rather than instances of the class. Static variables
(class variables) are shared among all instances of the class, while static
methods can be called without creating an instance of the class.
12.Define inheritance in Java with an example.
Answer: Inheritance in Java allows a class (subclass) to inherit properties and
behaviors (fields and methods) from another class (superclass). Here's an
example:
// Superclass
class Animal {
void eat() {
System.out.println("Animal is eating...");
}
}
// Subclass inheriting from Animal
class Dog extends Animal {
 void bark() {
System.out.println("Dog is barking...");
}
}
13.Explain polymorphism in Java with an example.
Answer: Polymorphism in Java allows objects of different classes to be treated
as objects of a common superclass. It enables methods to be dynamically
bound at runtime. There are two types of polymorphism in Java:
• Compile-time polymorphism: It is achieved using method overloading.
• Runtime polymorphism: It is achieved using method overriding.
Here's an example:

// Superclass
class Animal {
void sound() {
System.out.println("Animal makes a sound");
}
}
// Subclasses
class Dog extends Animal {
void sound() {
System.out.println("Dog barks");
}
}
class Cat extends Animal {
void sound() {
System.out.println("Cat meows");
 }
}
// Polymorphic method
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Animal dog = new Dog();
Animal cat = new Cat();
dog.sound(); // Output: Dog barks
cat.sound(); // Output: Cat meows
}
}
14. What is encapsulation in Java? Provide an example.
Answer:
Encapsulation in Java is the mechanism of wrapping data (variables) and code
(methods) together as a single unit (class) and restricting access to the internal
state of the object.
It is achieved by declaring the variables of a class as private and providing
public getter and setter methods to access and modify the data.
Example:

// Encapsulated class
class Person {
private String name;
public String getName() {
return name;
}
public void setName(String name) {
 this.name = name;
}
}
// Usage
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Person person = new Person();
person.setName("John");
System.out.println("Name: " + person.getName());
// Output: Name: John
}
}
15. Describe abstraction in Java and provide an example.
Answer:
Abstraction in Java is the process of hiding the implementation details and
showing only the essential features of an object.
It allows the creation of abstract classes and interfaces with abstract methods.
Abstraction is achieved using abstract classes and interfaces in Java.
Example:

// Abstract class
abstract class Shape {
abstract void draw(); // Abstract method
}
// Concrete subclasses
class Circle extends Shape {
void draw() {
 System.out.println("Drawing a circle");
}
}
class Rectangle extends Shape {
void draw() {
System.out.println("Drawing a rectangle");
}
}
// Usage
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Shape circle = new Circle();
Shape rectangle = new Rectangle();
circle.draw(); // Output: Drawing a circle
rectangle.draw(); // Output: Drawing a rectangle
}
}
16. What are abstract classes and interfaces? How do they differ?
Answer:

Feature Abstract Class Interface

Class with one or more Collection of abstract methods

Definition abstract methods and constants

Multiple Supports single inheritance Supports multiple inheritance

Inheritance and multiple inheritance through interfaces

Can have both abstract and All methods are abstract, no

Implementation concrete methods concrete implementation
Feature Abstract Class Interface

Constructor Can have constructors Cannot have constructors

Access Modifiers Can have any access modifiers All methods are implicitly public

Can have default methods in Can have default methods in

Default Methods Java 8 Java 8

17.What is the final keyword signify in Java?

Answer: The final keyword in Java is used to restrict the user from changing the
value of a variable, from extending a class, or from overriding a method. Once
a variable, method, or class is declared as final, its value or implementation
cannot be modified.
18.Differentiate between method overloading and method overriding.
Answer:

Feature Method Overloading Method Overriding

Multiple methods with the

same name but different Method in subclass with the
Definition signatures same signature as in superclass

Syntax Within the same class Between superclass and subclass

Inheritance Not dependent on inheritance Dependent on inheritance

Can have different return

Return type types Must have the same return type

Compile-time Resolved during compile-time Resolved during runtime based

resolution based on method signature on object type

java public void add(int a, int java class Animal { void sound()
b) {} java public void add(int { } } java class Dog extends
Example a, int b, int c) {} Animal { void sound() { } }
 19.Explain the try-catch block in Java with an example.
Answer: The try-catch block in Java is used for exception handling. Code that
may throw an exception is enclosed within the try block, and the potential
exceptions are caught and handled in the catch block.
Here's an example:
try { // Code that may throw an exception
int result = 10 / 0; // Division by zero
} catch (ArithmeticException e) { // Exception handling
System.out.println("Cannot divide by zero");
}
20.What is the difference between checked and unchecked exceptions?
Answer:

Feature Checked Exceptions Unchecked Exceptions

Subclass of Exception class, Subclass of RuntimeException, not

Definition checked at compile-time checked at compile-time

Must be handled using try- Can be handled but not required,

Handling catch or throws keyword typically programming errors

FileNotFoundException, NullPointerException,
Examples IOException ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException

21.How are throw and throws keywords used in Java?

Answer:
• throw: Used to explicitly throw an exception within a method or block of
code.
• throws: Used in the method signature to indicate that the method may
throw one or more exceptions, and the responsibility of handling those
exceptions is delegated to the caller method or the JVM.
22.Describe the purpose of the finally block in Java.
Answer: The finally block in Java is used to ensure that a section of code is
always executed, whether an exception is thrown or not. It is often used for
releasing resources such as closing files or database connections. The finally
block is executed after the try block (and any associated catch blocks)
regardless of whether an exception is thrown or caught.
23.Explain the use of the super keyword in Java.
Answer:
• super keyword in Java is used to refer to the immediate parent class
object.
• It is used to invoke superclass methods, access superclass variables, and
invoke superclass constructors.
• It can be used to differentiate between superclass and subclass members
with the same name.
24.What is multithreading, and how is it implemented in Java?
Answer:
• Multithreading in Java is a mechanism where multiple threads execute
simultaneously within a single process to improve application
performance.
• It allows concurrent execution of two or more parts of a program to
maximize CPU utilization.
• In Java, multithreading can be implemented by extending the Thread
class or implementing the Runnable interface.
class MyThread extends Thread {
public void run() {
for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
System.out.println("Thread: " + i);
try {
Thread.sleep(1000); // Sleep for 1 second
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
System.out.println(e);
 }
}
}
}

public class Main {

public static void main(String[] args) {
MyThread t1 = new MyThread();
MyThread t2 = new MyThread();
t1.start();
t2.start();
}
}
25.Why is synchronization important in Java?
Answer:
• Synchronization in Java is important to prevent multiple threads from
accessing shared resources concurrently, which can lead to data
inconsistency and thread interference.
• It ensures that only one thread can access a shared resource at a time,
preventing race conditions and maintaining data integrity.
• Synchronization is achieved using synchronized methods or blocks in
Java.
26.Define deadlock in Java and methods to prevent it.
Answer:
• Deadlock in Java occurs when two or more threads are blocked
indefinitely, waiting for each other to release resources that they need.
 • Deadlocks can be prevented by following practices such as avoiding
circular dependencies, using a consistent order when acquiring multiple
locks, and setting a timeout for lock acquisition.
27.What are the different ways to create threads in Java?
Answer:
• Threads in Java can be created by extending the Thread class and
overriding its run() method.
• They can also be created by implementing the Runnable interface and
passing it to a Thread object.
• Java 8 introduced the ExecutorService framework for creating and
managing threads using thread pools.
class MyRunnable implements Runnable {
public void run() {
System.out.println("MyRunnable is running");
}
}

public class Main {

public static void main(String[] args) {
Thread thread = new Thread(new MyRunnable());
thread.start();
}
}
28.Explain the purpose of the volatile keyword in Java.
Answer:
• The volatile keyword in Java is used to indicate that a variable's value
may be changed by multiple threads simultaneously.
 • It ensures that any thread reading the variable sees the most recent
value written to it by any other thread, preventing thread caching of
variables.
29.Describe generics in Java.
Answer:
Generics in Java allow types (classes and interfaces) to be parameterized
by other types. They provide compile-time type safety by allowing
classes, interfaces, and methods to operate on objects of specified types.
30.Explain the Comparable interface in Java.
Answer:
• The Comparable interface in Java is used to define the natural ordering
of objects of a class.
• It contains a single method compareTo() which compares the current
object with another object of the same type.
• Classes that implement Comparable can be sorted using methods like
Collections.sort().
Example: java // Sorting objects of type Integer using Comparable interface
Collections.sort(listOfIntegers);
31.Describe the Comparator interface in Java.
Answer:
• The Comparator interface in Java is used to define custom ordering of
objects.
• It contains a method compare() which compares two objects of the
same type.
• It allows sorting of objects based on different criteria.
Example: java // Sorting objects of type String based on length using
Comparator interface Collections.sort(listOfStrings,
Comparator.comparing(String::length));
32.What is the purpose of the toString() method in Java?
Answer:
 • The toString() method in Java is used to return a string representation of
an object.
• It is automatically called when an object is concatenated with a string or
passed to System.out.println().
• It is often overridden in classes to provide meaningful string
representations.
Example: java // Printing string representation of an object
System.out.println(obj.toString());
33.Explain the equals() method in Java.
Answer:
• The equals() method in Java is used to compare the contents of two
objects for equality.
• It is inherited from the Object class and is overridden in classes to define
custom equality criteria.
• By default, equals() compares object references for equality.
Example: java // Comparing two objects for equality boolean isEqual =
obj1.equals(obj2);
34.Describe the hashCode() method in Java.
Answer:
• The hashCode() method in Java is used to return a hash code value for
an object.
• It is used in conjunction with hashing-based collections like HashMap,
HashSet, etc.
• It is often overridden in classes that override the equals() method to
ensure consistent behavior.
Example: java // Getting the hash code of an object int hash =
obj.hashCode();
35.Differentiate between StringBuilder and StringBuffer.
Answer:
Feature StringBuilder StringBuffer

Thread Safety Not thread-safe Thread-safe

Performance Faster Slower

Synchronization Not synchronized Synchronized

Suitable for single-threaded Suitable for multi-threaded

Usage environments environments

36.Explain the difference between == and equals() method in Java.

Answer:
• == operator is used to compare object references, i.e., it checks if two
references point to the same memory location.
• equals() method is used to compare the contents of objects, i.e., it
checks if the values of two objects are equal based on the overridden
implementation.
Example: String str1 = new String("hello"); String str2 = new String("hello");

System.out.println(str1 == str2); // false (different memory locations)

System.out.println(str1.equals(str2)); // true (same content) ```
37. What is an anonymous class in Java?
Answer:
• An anonymous class in Java is a class without a name that is defined and
instantiated at the same time.
• It is typically used for one-time use where creating a separate class is not
justified.
• It is declared and instantiated in a single expression.
Example:
java Runnable r = new Runnable() {
public void run() { System.out.println("Anonymous class
implementation");
 }
};
38.Describe the static block in Java.
Answer:
• The static block in Java is a block of code enclosed within {} and
preceded by the static keyword.
• It is executed only once when the class is loaded into memory by the
JVM.
• It is often used for static initialization of class variables.
Example: java
class MyClass {
static {
System.out.println("Static block executed");
}
}
39.What are Java annotations, and how are they used?
Answer:
• Java annotations are metadata that provide data about a program but do
not directly affect the program's execution.
• They are used for adding metadata information to Java source code,
which can be processed at compile time or runtime.
• Annotations are declared using the @ symbol followed by the annotation
name.
Example: java @Override public void myMethod() { // Method
implementation }
40.Explain the purpose of the transient keyword in Java.
Answer:
 • The transient keyword in Java is used to indicate that a variable should
not be serialized during object serialization.
• It is typically used for variables that hold temporary or non-essential data
that does not need to be persisted.
Example: java class MyClass implements Serializable { private transient int
tempData; // Not serialized private int regularData; // Serialized }
41.Describe the purpose of the volatile keyword in Java.
Answer:
• The volatile keyword in Java is used to indicate that a variable's value
may be changed by multiple threads simultaneously.
• It ensures that any thread reading the variable sees the most recent
value written to it by any other thread, preventing thread caching of
variables.
Example: java class SharedResource { private volatile boolean flag; // Other
members and methods }
42.Explain the difference between static and final keywords in Java.
Answer:

Feature static Keyword final Keyword

Class-level member, shared Instance-level member, cannot be

Definition among all instances changed after initialization

Stored in method area Stored in heap or stack depending

Memory (class memory) on usage

Cannot be modified after

Modification Can be modified initialization

Initialized only once when Initialized only once at the time of

Initialization class is loaded declaration

Example static int count; final double PI = 3.14;

 43.What is the purpose of the strictfp keyword in Java?
Answer:
• The strictfp keyword in Java is used to restrict floating-point calculations
to ensure portability.
• It ensures that floating-point calculations produce the same results
across all platforms by adhering to IEEE 754 standards.
44.Explain the instanceof operator in Java.
Answer:
• The instanceof operator in Java is used to test if an object is an instance
of a particular class or interface.
• It returns true if the object is an instance of the specified class or any of
its subclasses, otherwise returns false.
45.Describe the purpose of the assert keyword in Java.
Answer:
• The assert keyword in Java is used to perform assertion checking, i.e., to
verify assumptions about the program's state.
• It throws an AssertionError if the assertion condition is false, indicating
that there is a logical error in the program.
46.What is autoboxing and unboxing in Java?
Answer:
• Autoboxing is the automatic conversion of primitive data types to their
corresponding wrapper classes.
• Unboxing is the automatic conversion of wrapper class objects to their
corresponding primitive data types.
47.Explain the purpose of the Enum class in Java.
Answer:
• The Enum class in Java is the base class for enumeration types.
 • It provides methods for working with enum constants, such as iterating
over them and converting between enum constants and their string
representations.
48.Describe the assert keyword in Java and its usage.
Answer:
• The assert keyword in Java is used for assertion checking, i.e., to verify
assumptions about the program's state.
• It throws an AssertionError if the assertion condition is false, indicating
that there is a logical error in the program.
• Assertion checking can be enabled or disabled using JVM arguments -ea
(enable assertions) and -da (disable assertions), respectively.
49.Explain the purpose of the super() constructor call in Java.
Answer:
• The super() constructor call in Java is used to invoke the constructor of
the superclass from the subclass constructor.
• It is typically used to initialize inherited fields or perform superclass
initialization tasks before subclass-specific initialization.
50.What is the purpose of the this keyword in Java?
Answer:
• The this keyword in Java is used to refer to the current instance of the
class.
• It can be used to access instance variables, invoke methods, or invoke
constructors of the current object.
• It is often used to disambiguate between instance variables and method
parameters with the same name.
51.Describe the purpose of the package keyword in Java.
Answer:
• The package keyword in Java is used to declare a Java package, which is a
group of related classes and interfaces.
 • It provides a namespace for organizing and managing classes and
interfaces, preventing naming conflicts.
• It is often the first non-comment statement in a Java source file,
indicating the package to which the class or interface belongs.
52.Explain the difference between throw and throws keywords in Java.
Answer:
• throw keyword is used to explicitly throw an exception from a method or
block of code.
• throws keyword is used in the method signature to indicate that the
method may throw one or more exceptions, and the responsibility of
handling those exceptions is delegated to the caller method or the JVM.
53.Describe the purpose of the try-with-resources statement in Java.
Answer:
• The try-with-resources statement in Java is used to automatically close
resources that implement the AutoCloseable interface.
• It ensures that the resources are closed even if an exception is thrown
during the execution of the try block.
• It simplifies resource management and reduces the likelihood of
resource leaks.
54.Explain the concept of method references in Java.
Answer:
• Method references in Java provide a shorthand notation for lambda
expressions to call a method.
• They allow you to refer to methods or constructors without invoking
them.
• They are used to improve the readability of lambda expressions and
make code more concise.
55.Describe the purpose of the default keyword in Java interfaces.
Answer:
 • The default keyword in Java interfaces is used to define default method
implementations.
• It allows interfaces to provide method implementations without
requiring implementing classes to override them.
• It enables backward compatibility by adding new methods to interfaces
without breaking existing implementations.
56.Explain the concept of functional interfaces in Java.
Answer:
• Functional interfaces in Java are interfaces that contain only one abstract
method.
• They can have any number of default or static methods, but only one
abstract method.
• Functional interfaces are used to represent lambda expressions or
method references and facilitate functional programming in Java.
57.Describe the purpose of the Stream API in Java.
Answer:
• The Stream API in Java provides a fluent and functional approach for
processing collections of data.
• It allows for declarative operations such as filter, map, reduce, and
collect on collections of objects.
• Streams enable parallel processing of data, improving performance on
multicore systems.
58.Explain the concept of lambda expressions in Java.
Answer:
• Lambda expressions in Java are anonymous functions that can be passed
as arguments to methods or stored in variables.
• They provide a concise way to express instances of single-method
interfaces (functional interfaces).
• Lambda expressions facilitate functional programming by enabling the
use of functional interfaces.
 59.What is the purpose of the Optional class in Java?
Answer:
• The Optional class in Java is used to represent an optional value, which
may or may not contain a non-null value.
• It helps to avoid NullPointerExceptions by providing a way to handle null
values more effectively.
• Optional encourages developers to explicitly handle the absence of a
value, improving code clarity and robustness.
60.Describe the purpose of the java.util.function package in Java.
Answer:
• The java.util.function package in Java provides functional interfaces to
represent lambda expressions or method references.
• It contains common functional interfaces such as Predicate, Function,
Consumer, Supplier, etc.
• These interfaces are widely used in functional programming and with
features like streams and lambda expressions.
61.Explain the concept of default methods in Java interfaces.
Answer:
• Default methods in Java interfaces are methods with a default
implementation provided within the interface itself.
• They allow interfaces to provide method implementations without
requiring implementing classes to override them.
• Default methods enable backward compatibility by adding new methods
to interfaces without breaking existing implementations.
62.What is the purpose of the static keyword in Java interfaces?
Answer:
• The static keyword in Java interfaces is used to define static methods
that can be called without an instance of the interface.
• Static methods in interfaces provide utility methods or factory methods
related to the interface's functionality.
 • They cannot be overridden by implementing classes and are not
inherited by implementing classes.
63.Explain the purpose of the java.lang.Math class in Java.
Answer:
• The java.lang.Math class in Java provides methods for performing basic
mathematical operations such as trigonometric, exponential,
logarithmic, and rounding functions.
• It is a utility class and all its methods are static, meaning they can be
called directly using the class name without creating an instance of the
class.
64.Describe the purpose of the java.util.Arrays class in Java.
Answer:
• The java.util.Arrays class in Java provides static methods for working
with arrays, such as sorting, searching, and manipulating arrays.
• It contains methods for sorting arrays using different sorting algorithms,
searching for elements in arrays, and filling arrays with specific values.
65.What is the purpose of the java.util.Collections class in Java?
Answer:
• The java.util.Collections class in Java provides utility methods for
working with collections, such as lists, sets, and maps.
• It contains methods for sorting, shuffling, searching, and synchronizing
collections, as well as creating read-only or synchronized views of
collections.
66.Explain the purpose of the java.util.Comparator interface in Java.
Answer:
• The java.util.Comparator interface in Java is used to define custom
ordering of objects.
• It contains a method compare() which compares two objects of the
same type.
 • Comparator objects are often used to sort collections of objects that do
not implement the Comparable interface or to provide alternative
sorting criteria.
67.Describe the purpose of the java.util.Iterator interface in Java.
Answer:
• The java.util.Iterator interface in Java is used to iterate over elements of
a collection sequentially.
• It provides methods for checking if there are more elements (hasNext()),
retrieving the next element (next()), and removing the current element
(remove()).
• Iterator objects are obtained from collection classes using the iterator()
method.
68.Explain the concept of a wildcard in Java generics.
Answer:
• Wildcards in Java generics are used to represent unknown types in
generic declarations.
• They allow flexibility in using generic types by enabling the declaration of
methods or classes that can operate on different types.
• Wildcards are denoted by the ? symbol and can be bounded (? extends T
or ? super T) to restrict the types allowed.
69.What is the purpose of the java.util.concurrent package in Java?
Answer:
• The java.util.concurrent package in Java provides utilities and classes for
concurrent programming.
• It contains classes for creating and managing threads, thread pools,
synchronization primitives, concurrent data structures, and utilities for
handling concurrent execution.
70.Describe the purpose of the java.util.stream package in Java.
Answer:
• The java.util.stream package in Java provides a stream-based approach
for processing collections of data.
• It introduces the concept of streams, which allow for declarative and
parallel processing of data using functional-style operations like map,
filter, reduce, and collect.
• Streams facilitate concise and expressive code for data processing tasks.