Interview Questions on OOPS using Java

1. Why do we need to use OOPs?

OOPs needs to be used for:

1. making programming clearer and problem-solving more concise

2. reusing code with the help of inheritance

3. reducing redundancy

4. encapsulation

5. data hiding

6. the division into subproblems

7. program flexibility using polymorphism

2. What is multiple inheritance?

Multiple inheritance is a feature in object-oriented programming where a class inherits

from more than one parent class. This means the child class can access the properties and
methods of all the parent classes.

3. Give an example of encapsulation.

Encapsulation is the process of hiding the internal details (data) of a class and only
exposing necessary parts through methods. It helps in data hiding and protecting the
integrity of the object. In Java, we achieve encapsulation by:

 Declaring fields (variables) as private.

 Providing public getter and setter methods to access and update the private fields.

4. What is the difference between overloading and overriding?

 Aspect Overloading Overriding
Having multiple methods in the same Redefining a method in the child
class with the same name but class that already exists in the
Definition
different parameters (different parent class with the same
method signatures). signature.
To change or enhance the
To perform similar operations with
Purpose behavior of a method from the
different types/number of inputs.
parent class.
In inheritance (parent-child
Where it occurs Within the same class
classes)
Must be exactly the same (same
Must be different (different number or
Method signature method name, parameters, and
types of parameters).
return type).
Can be different (in methods with Must be same or covariant
Return type
different parameters). (subtype).

Cannot have a more restrictive

Access modifier No restriction (can be anything).
modifier than the parent method.

Compile-time/
Checked at compile-time Checked at runtime
Runtime
5. Define protected access modifier.
A protected access modifier is accessible by own class and accessible by derived class but
not accessible by the world.

6. What is the function of a super keyword?

The super keyword is used to forward a constructor’s call to a constructor in the superclass.
It invokes the overridden method that allows access to these methods and the superclass’s
hidden members.

7. What is compile time polymorphism?

When a polymorphic call is made, and the compiler knows which function is to be called;
this is known as compile-time polymorphism. The features like function default arguments,
overloading, and templates in C++ support compile-time polymorphism.

8. How can you call a base class method without creating an instance?
It is possible to call the base class without instantiation if it’s a static method and some other
subclass has inherited the base class.

9. One of the key OOPs interview questions could be to give a real-life example of data
abstraction.
While driving a car, you know that on pressing the accelerator, the speed will increase.
However, you do not know precisely how it happens. This is an example of data abstraction
as the implementation details are concealed from the driver.

10. What is the purpose of ‘this’ keyword?

To refer to the current object of a class, this keyword is used. It is used as a pointer that
differentiates between the global object and the current object by referring to the current
one.

11. What is meant by the term OOPs?

OOPs stands for Object-Oriented Programming, a programming paradigm that utilizes
objects to represent and manipulate data. OOPs aspects are based on the concept of
objects, which have properties and methods, and the interactions between them.

12. What are some major Object Oriented Programming languages?

Major object-oriented programming languages include Java, C++, Python, C#, and Ruby.

13. What are some other programming paradigms other than OOPs?
Other programming paradigms include:

 Functional Programming: This emphasizes using functions and immutable data to

solve problems.

 Procedural Programming: This emphasizes breaking a program into small procedures

or functions to improve readability and maintainability.

 Logic Programming: This emphasizes using logic and mathematical notation to

represent and manipulate data.

 Event-driven Programming: This emphasizes handling events, and the control flow is
based on the events.

14. What is meant by structured programming?

Structured programming is a programming paradigm that emphasizes breaking down a
program into smaller, modular code units, such as functions and procedures, to improve
readability and maintainability.

15. What are the main features of OOPs?

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)'s main features are Encapsulation, Inheritance,
Polymorphism and Abstraction.

16. What are some advantages of using OOPs?

Some advantages of object-oriented programming include improved code organization,
reusability, and maintainability, as well as the ability to model real-world concepts and
encapsulate data and behavior.

17. Why are OOPs so popular?

OOPs is so popular because it allows developers to organize and structure their code to
reflect real-world objects and their interactions, making it more intuitive and easier to
understand.

Advanced OOPS Interview Questions

1. Explain the concept of inheritance with a real-life example.

The parent class is a logical concept, such as a vehicle is a base class that defines the
common properties shared by all vehicles. However, child classes are a more specific type
of class such as truck, bus, car, etc. Inheritance allows subclasses to inherit common
attributes of a vehicle and define specific attributes and methods to their own.

2. How is a structure different from a class?

A structure is a user-defined collection of variables having different data types. However, it is
not possible to instantiate a structure or inherit from it. Thus, it’s not an OOPs concept.

3. What is an abstract function?

An abstract function is a function declared only in the base class. It is redefined in the
subclass as it does not contain any definition in the base class.

4. Name three operators that can’t be overloaded.

  “::” Scope resolution operator

 “. *” Pointer to member operator

 “.” dot or Member access operator

5. How is encapsulation different from data abstraction?

Data abstraction refers to the ability to hide unwanted information. At the same time,
encapsulation refers to hiding data as well as the method together.

6. Are there any limitations of inheritance? If yes, then what?

Yes. The limitations of inheritance are:

1. Increased execution effort and time

2. Tight coupling of parent and child class

3. Requires correct implementation

4. Requires jumping between different classes

7. Define virtual functions.

The functions that help achieve runtime polymorphism are a part of functions present in the
parent class and overridden by a subclass.

8. List down the limitations of Object-Oriented programming.

 1. It requires intensive testing

2. Not apt for minor problems

3. It requires good planning

4. It takes more time to solve problems

5. Problems need to be thought in term of objects

9. What is the difference between a base class and a superclass?

The base class is the root class- the most generalized class. At the same time, the superclass
is the immediate parent class from which the other class inherits.

10. What is the access modifier for methods inside an interface?

All the methods inside an interface are public by default, and no other modifier can be
specified.

11. What is a class?

A class defines a template for creating objects; the objects created from a class are known as
instances of that class. A class also defines the interface for interacting with objects of that
class, specifying which methods can be called and what parameters they take.

12. What is an object?

In object-oriented programming, an object is an instance of a class. It is a self-contained unit
of code and data with its properties and methods. An object is a specific instance of a class
and can be created at runtime.

13. What is encapsulation?

Encapsulation is a mechanism for hiding the internal details of an object from the outside
world. It is one of the fundamental principles of object-oriented programming, along with
inheritance and polymorphism. Encapsulation is achieved by using access modifiers (such as
"public" or "private") to restrict access to the members of a class.

14. What is polymorphism?

Polymorphism is a concept in object-oriented programming that allows objects of different
classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. The basic idea behind
polymorphism is that a single function or method can be written to operate on multiple
things.

There are two types of polymorphism:

1. Compile-time polymorphism (also known as static polymorphism) is achieved

through function or operator overloading.

2. Runtime polymorphism (also known as dynamic polymorphism) is achieved through

function overriding.

15. How does C++ support polymorphism?

C++ supports polymorphism through a feature called virtual functions. A virtual function is a
member function declared virtual in the base class and can be overridden in derived classes.
When a virtual function is called through a base class pointer or reference, the program will
determine at runtime which version of the function to call based on the actual type of the
object being pointed to or referenced.

16. What is abstraction?

Abstraction is a process of hiding the implementation details of a class or an object and
showing only the necessary information to the users. It is a technique of displaying only the
essential features of an object and hiding the background details, which helps to reduce
complexity and increase efficiency.

17. How much memory does a class occupy?

The amount of memory a class occupies in C++ depends on the size of its data members and
any base class it inherits from.

The size of a class is the sum of the dimensions of all its data members. For example, a class
with an int data member and a double data member would occupy 8 bytes on a system with
4-byte ints and 8-byte doubles.

18. Is it always necessary to create objects from class?

No, it is not always necessary to create objects from a class. A class can be used to define a
blueprint for creating things, but it is not required to create an object from a class to use its
methods or access its properties.

19. What is a constructor?

A constructor is a special member function of a class that is automatically called when an
object is created. It is used to initialize the object's state and allocate any resources it needs.
Constructors have the same name as the class and do not have a return type.

20. What are the various types of constructors in C++?

In C++, several types of constructors include default constructor, parameterized constructor,
copy constructor, and move constructors.

21. What is a copy constructor?

A copy constructor is a special constructor that is used to create a new object as a copy of an
existing object. It takes a reference to an object of the same class as its argument and
creates a new object with the same state as the original object.

22. What is a destructor?

A destructor is a special member function of a class that is automatically called when an
object of the class goes out of scope or is deleted. It is used to release any resources that the
object was holding and perform any other necessary cleanup. Destructors have the same
name as the class with a tilde (~) prefix and do not have any return type.

23. What are the various types of inheritance?

In C++, there are several inheritance types including single, multiple, multi-level, hierarchical,
and hybrid inheritances.

24. What is a subclass?

A subclass is a class derived from another, known as the superclass. The subclass inherits the
properties and methods of the superclass and can also have its properties and methods.

25. Define a superclass?

A superclass is a class used as the base class for one or more derived classes. A superclass
defines properties and methods shared by all of its derived classes.

26. What is an interface?

An interface is a collection of pure virtual functions that define a contract for a class to
implement. It is a way to achieve abstraction in C++.

27. What is meant by static polymorphism?

Static polymorphism, also known as compile-time polymorphism, is a form of polymorphism
in which the type of an object is determined at compile-time. It is achieved through function
overloading and operator overloading.

28. What is meant by dynamic polymorphism?

Dynamic polymorphism, also known as runtime polymorphism, is a form of polymorphism in
which the type of an object is determined at runtime. It is achieved through function
overriding.

29. What is an abstract class?

An abstract class is a class that cannot be instantiated, and it is usually used as a base class
for other classes. An abstract class contains at least one pure virtual function.

30. How is an abstract class different from an interface?

An abstract class can contain concrete and pure virtual functions, while an interface can only
contain pure virtual parts.

31. What are access specifiers, and what is their significance?

Access specifiers are keywords in object-oriented programming languages that determine
the level of access to a class, method, or variable.

The significance of access specifiers is to control the visibility and accessibility of class
members, preventing unintended modification and promoting encapsulation.

32. What is an exception?

An exception is an abnormal event or error that occurs during the execution of a program,
which can disrupt the normal flow of the program.

33. What is meant by exception handling?

Exception handling refers to catching and managing exceptions that occur during the
execution of a program. It handles runtime errors and unexpected conditions, allowing the
program to continue running instead of crashing.

34. What is meant by garbage collection in the OOPs world?

Garbage collection is a feature in object-oriented programming languages that automatically
frees up a program's memory that is no longer being used.

35. Can we run a Java application without implementing the OOPs concept?
No, Java is an object-oriented programming language, and the core concepts of OOPs, such
as classes, objects, and inheritance, are fundamental to the language.

36. Basic Difference Between Functions and Procedures

 Function Procedure
Aspect
(Method with Return Value) (Method without Return Value)
A function is a method that A procedure is a method that performs a
Definition performs a task and returns a task without returning any value (void
value to the caller. method).
Returns a value (using return Does not return a value (return type is
Return Value
keyword). void).
Used when you want to execute a
Used when you want to compute
Purpose process, like printing, updating, or
and return a result.
performing steps.
Can return int, String, double,
Keyword Used Uses the keyword void.
etc.

37. What is difference between Is-A and Has-A relationship?

 Key Difference Between Is-A and Has-A

Feature Is-A Relationship Has-A Relationship

Composition/
Concept Inheritance
Aggregation
"This class is a
"This class has a
Meaning specialized type of
reference to that class"
that class"
Example Dog is an Animal Car has an Engine
class Dog extends class Car { Engine
Code Animal engine; }