Computer Science Interview Questions

Contents
Technical Questions........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Basic Algorithms and Data Structures................................................................................................................................3
2. Problem-Solving and Coding................................................................................................................................................. 5
3. Sorting and Searching Algorithms.......................................................................................................................................7
4. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)................................................................................................................................9
5. Databases:................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
6. Operating Systems:................................................................................................................................................................ 12
7. Networking and Web Technologies:................................................................................................................................14
8. Version Control:...................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Mathematics...................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
2. Discrete Mathematics:..........................................................................................................................................................17
2. Logic and Boolean Algebra:.................................................................................................................................................19
3. Set Theory:................................................................................................................................................................................ 21
4. Number Theory and Algorithms:...................................................................................................................................... 22
5. Probability and Statistics:.................................................................................................................................................... 24
6. Combinatorics:........................................................................................................................................................................ 25
7. Logic in Programming:.......................................................................................................................................................... 26
Conceptual Questions:................................................................................................................................................................... 27
1. Software Development Lifecycle:.....................................................................................................................................27
2. Theoretical Computer Science:..........................................................................................................................................28
3. Artificial Intelligence:............................................................................................................................................................ 30
Behavioural Questions:.................................................................................................................................................................. 32
1. Personal Motivation and Problem Solving:...................................................................................................................32
2. Teamwork and Collaboration:........................................................................................................................................... 33
3. Time Management and Adaptability:..............................................................................................................................33
Ethical and Current Trends in Computer Science:................................................................................................................34
1. Ethics:......................................................................................................................................................................................... 34
2. Emerging Technologies:....................................................................................................................................................... 34
Logical problems............................................................................................................................................................................ 35
1. The Three Light Bulbs Puzzle..........................................................................................................................................35
2. The Two Doors Puzzle........................................................................................................................................................35

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

3. The 100 Hats Puzzle............................................................................................................................................................ 36

4. The Four 9’s Puzzle..............................................................................................................................................................36
5. The River Crossing Puzzle................................................................................................................................................ 37
6. The Five Pirates Puzzle...................................................................................................................................................... 37
7. The 100 Prisoners and Hats Puzzle..............................................................................................................................38
8. The Seven Dwarfs Puzzle.................................................................................................................................................. 38
9. The Age Riddle....................................................................................................................................................................... 39
10. The Coin Puzzle.................................................................................................................................................................. 39
11. The 2 Brothers Puzzle......................................................................................................................................................40
12. The River Crossing Puzzle with a Fox, Chicken, and Grain..............................................................................40
13. The Missing Dollar Puzzle..............................................................................................................................................41
14. The Two Eggs Puzzle........................................................................................................................................................41
15. The Clock Puzzle.................................................................................................................................................................42
16. The Monty Hall Problem.................................................................................................................................................42

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

Technical Questions

1. Basic Algorithms and Data Structures

What is the difference between an array and a linked list? When would you use one over the other?

Explain the concept of time complexity and space complexity. Can you give an example of an algorithm
with O(n) complexity?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

What are hash tables? How do they work? What are some common use cases?

What is the difference between a stack and a queue? Can you provide an example of each in real-world
scenarios?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

2. Problem-Solving and Coding

Write a function that reverses a string.

Given an array of integers, write a program to find the two numbers that add up to a target sum.

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

Implement a function that checks whether a string is a palindrome.

How would you find the largest sum of any contiguous subarray within an array? (Hint: Kadane’s
algorithm)

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

3. Sorting and Searching Algorithms

Can you explain how the quicksort algorithm works? What are its advantages and disadvantages
compared to merge sort?

How does binary search work, and what are its time complexity and space complexity?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

Implement a function that performs a binary search on a sorted array.

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

4. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

What are the four main principles of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)? Explain each.

What is inheritance in OOP? Can you give an example?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

What is polymorphism, and why is it important in OOP?

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5. Databases:

What is normalisation in database design? Can you explain the different normal forms?

What is the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases? When would you use one over the other?

 When to use SQL:

 When to use NoSQL:

 How would you design a database schema for a library system?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

6. Operating Systems:

What is the difference between a process and a thread?

Explain what deadlock is and how it can be prevented in an operating system.

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

What are the advantages and disadvantages of multitasking and multi-threading?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

7. Networking and Web Technologies:

What is the OSI model, and can you explain the layers?

How do HTTP and HTTPS differ? What is SSL/TLS?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

Explain the concept of DNS and how it works in the context of the internet.

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

8. Version Control:

What is Git, and how do you use it for version control?

How would you resolve a merge conflict in Git?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

Mathematics

2. Discrete Mathematics:

What is a graph, and how is it used in computer science?

What is the difference between a directed and an undirected graph?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

What is a tree in graph theory, and how is it different from a graph?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

2. Logic and Boolean Algebra:

Can you explain the concept of Boolean algebra and how it is used in computer science?

What is the difference between the AND and OR logical operators?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

What is a truth table, and how is it used in logic?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

3. Set Theory:

What is the concept of a set-in mathematics, and how is it applied in computer science?

What is the difference between a union and an intersection of sets?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

4. Number Theory and Algorithms:

What is the importance of prime numbers in computer science?

Can you explain the Euclidean algorithm and its application?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

What is the significance of Big-O notation in algorithm analysis?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

5. Probability and Statistics:

How is probability used in computer science?

What is a Markov Chain, and how is it applied in computer science?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

6. Combinatorics:

What is the significance of combinatorics in computer science?

What is the difference between permutations and combinations?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

7. Logic in Programming:

What is a tautology in logic, and how is it relevant in computer science?

What is the role of recursion in algorithm design?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

Conceptual Questions:

1. Software Development Lifecycle:

What is Agile software development? Can you explain its main principles and benefits?

What is the difference between unit testing, integration testing, and system testing?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

2. Theoretical Computer Science:

Can you explain what a Turing machine is and its significance in computer science?

What is Big-O notation, and why is it important to understand it?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

What is the difference between NP-complete and NP-hard problems?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

3. Artificial Intelligence:

What is the difference between supervised and unsupervised learning?

Can you explain the concept of neural networks and how they are used in deep learning?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

What are some common applications of AI in real-world systems?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

Behavioural Questions:

1. Personal Motivation and Problem Solving:

Why did you choose to study computer science?

Tell us about a time you encountered a difficult problem in your studies or a project. How did you solve
it?

How do you approach learning a new programming language or technology?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

2. Teamwork and Collaboration:

Have you worked on group projects before? How did you handle conflicts within the team?

Describe a time when you had to work with someone who had a different viewpoint or approach than
yours. How did you handle the situation?

3. Time Management and Adaptability:

How do you prioritise tasks when working on multiple projects?

Can you describe a situation where you had to learn a new skill quickly? How did you manage it?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

Ethical and Current Trends in Computer Science:

1. Ethics:

Do you think it is ethical to use personal data in AI algorithms? Why or why not?

How would you handle a situation where you discover a vulnerability in a piece of software that you are
developing?

2. Emerging Technologies:

How do you think blockchain technology will impact industries beyond cryptocurrency?

What is your opinion on the future of quantum computing?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

Logical problems

1. The Three Light Bulbs Puzzle

Question: You are in a room with three light switches. Each switch controls one of three light bulbs in the
next room. You can only enter the room with the bulbs once. How can you determine which switch controls
which bulb?

2. The Two Doors Puzzle

Question: You are at a fork in the road. One path leads to a village of truth-tellers, and the other leads to a
village of liars. You don’t know which is which, but you know that a person from the truth-teller village
always tells the truth, and a person from the liar village always lies. You meet one person from either
village. What one question can you ask them to find out which way to go?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

3. The 100 Hats Puzzle

Question: There are 100 people, each wearing a hat that is either black or white. They cannot see their own
hat, but they can see everyone else’s hats. They are told that they must each guess the colour of their own
hat. They can only speak once, and they must all guess simultaneously. If at least one person guesses
correctly, they all survive. How can they all guarantee survival?

4. The Four 9’s Puzzle

Question: Using exactly four 9’s and any arithmetic operations, can you form the number 100?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

5. The River Crossing Puzzle

Question: You have a goat, a wolf, and a cabbage, and you need to cross a river. You have a boat, but it can
only carry you and one other item at a time. If you leave the goat and the cabbage together, the goat will
eat the cabbage. If you leave the wolf and the goat together, the wolf will eat the goat. How do you get all
three across the river safely?

6. The Five Pirates Puzzle

Question: Five pirates have 100 gold coins. They need to divide the coins, and they use the following
procedure: the most senior pirate proposes how to divide the coins, and all the pirates vote. If at least half
of the pirates agree, the proposal is accepted. If not, the proposing pirate is thrown overboard, and the
next pirate proposes a division. The pirates are very clever and want to maximise their own gold. How
should the most senior pirate propose to divide the coins?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

7. The 100 Prisoners and Hats Puzzle

Question: 100 prisoners are each given a hat, which is either black or white. They are lined up so they can
only see the hats of the people in front of them. Starting with the last person in line, each prisoner must
guess the colour of their own hat. If they guess correctly, they are set free. What is the strategy that
guarantees that at least 99 prisoners are freed?

8. The Seven Dwarfs Puzzle

Question: Seven dwarfs stand in a row. The first dwarf can see the other six dwarfs’ hats, the second can
see five, and so on. They are told that each dwarf is wearing either a white or a black hat, but they don’t
know the colour of their own hat. They are asked, one by one, to say the colour of their hat. The first dwarf
to speak can see everyone else’s hats. How do they communicate their hat colour using a strategy to
ensure they all guess correctly?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

9. The Age Riddle

Question: A father is 30 years older than his son. In 6 years, the father will be three times as old as his son.
How old are they now?

10. The Coin Puzzle

Question: You have 12 coins, and one of them is either heavier or lighter than the others. Using a balance
scale, what is the fewest number of weighing you need to determine the odd coin and whether it is heavier
or lighter?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

11. The 2 Brothers Puzzle

Question: Two brothers are born on the same day of the same year. One is 4 years older than the other,
but they have the same age. How is this possible?

12. The River Crossing Puzzle with a Fox, Chicken, and Grain
Question: A farmer has a fox, a chicken, and a bag of grain. He needs to cross a river but has a boat that can
only carry himself and one other item at a time. If left alone, the fox will eat the chicken, and the chicken
will eat the grain. How can the farmer get everything across safely?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

13. The Missing Dollar Puzzle

Question: Three friends go to a hotel and rent a room for £30. Later, the hotel manager realises that they
overpaid and the room should only cost £25. The manager gives £5 to the bellboy and asks him to return it
to the guests. On his way to the room, the bellboy realises that he cannot divide the £5 evenly among the
three guests, so he gives each of them £1 and keeps £2 for himself. Now, each guest has paid £9 (totalling
£27), and the bellboy has kept £2. What happened to the missing pound?

14. The Two Eggs Puzzle

Question: You have two identical eggs. The eggs will break if dropped from too high a floor, and they won’t
break if dropped from a lower floor. The building has 100 floors, and you need to find the highest floor
from which an egg can be dropped without breaking. What is the minimum number of drops you need to
find this floor in the worst case?

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 Computer Science Interview Questions

15. The Clock Puzzle

Question: If it is 3:15, what is the angle between the hour hand and the minute hand?

16. The Monty Hall Problem

Question: You’re on a game show and presented with three doors. Behind one door is a car, and behind
the other two are goats. You choose a door. The host, who knows what’s behind the doors, opens one of
the other two doors to reveal a goat. He then asks if you want to switch to the other remaining door or
stick with your original choice. Should you switch?

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