3/12/25, 12:42 PM Python programming interview questions and answers pdf

Functions
Data Structures
Object-Oriented Programming
File Handling
Exception Handling
Advanced Topics
Concurrency and Parallelism
Regular Expressions
Networking
Web Development
Data Science and Machine Learning
Testing
Deployment
Data Structures Playlist
Other Interview Tips
Top 10 Python Interview Questions

Python basic interview questions

1. What is Python and why it is so popular?

Python is a high level, interpreted programming language known as simplicity and readability
Python is popular for web development, data analytics, artificial intelligence and automation

2. How do you comment on a single line and multiple lines in Python?

Single-line comment: # This is a comment

Multiple-line comment: ”’ This is a multi-line comment ”’ or “”” This is a multi-line comment “””

3. What is PEP 8?

PEP 8 is a style guide for Python code, providing guidelines on how to format Python code for better
readability and consistency.

4. Explain the difference between Python 2 and Python 3.

Python 3 is the latest version of Python, with improvements and new features compared to Python 2.
Python 3 is not backward compatible with Python 2.

5. How do you check the version of Python installed on your system?

Open a terminal or command prompt and type python –version or python -V.

Data Types and Operators

6. What are the primitive data types in Python?

Integers, floats, complex numbers, strings, and booleans.

7. Explain the difference between “ ==" and “ is" in Python.

“ ==" checks for equality of values, while is checks for identity (whether two variables refer to the
same object in memory).

8. How do you concatenate two strings in Python?

Strings can be concatenated using the + operator: str1 + str2 .

9. What is the difference between and and & in Python?

and is a logical operator used for boolean expressions, while & is a bitwise operator used for
performing bitwise AND operation.

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10. How do you convert a string to an integer in Python?

Use the int() function: int("123") .

Control Flow
11. Explain the if , elif , and else statements in Python.
if is used for conditional execution, elif is short for “else if,” and else is used for the
final option if none of the previous conditions are true.
12. What is a for loop and how does it work in Python?
A for loop is used for iterating over a sequence (such as a list, tuple, or string) and executing
a block of code for each element in the sequence.
13. How do you break out of a loop in Python?
You can use the break statement to exit a loop prematurely.
14. What is the purpose of the range() function in Python?
The range() function generates a sequence of numbers, commonly used for looping a
specific number of times in for loops.
15. How do you iterate over a dictionary in Python?
You can use a for loop to iterate over the keys or values of a dictionary using the keys()
or values() methods.

Functions
16. What is a function in Python?
A function is a block of reusable code that performs a specific task. It takes inputs, called
parameters, and returns an output.
17. How do you define a function in Python?
Use the def keyword followed by the function name and parameters, then a colon, and the
function body.
18. What is a default argument in Python?
A default argument is an argument that assumes a default value if a value is not provided in
the function call.
19. Explain the difference between return and print in Python.
return is used to exit a function and return a value to the caller, while print is used to
display output to the console.
20. How do you call a function recursively in Python?
A function can call itself recursively by using its own name inside its body.

Data Structures
21. What is a list in Python?
A list is a collection of elements that is ordered and mutable. Lists are defined by square
brackets [ ] .
22. How do you access elements of a list in Python?
Elements of a list can be accessed by index using square brackets: my_list[index] .
23. Explain the difference between append() and extend() methods in Python.
The append() method adds an element to the end of a list, while the extend() method
adds elements from an iterable to the end of a list.
24. What is a tuple in Python?
A tuple is a collection of elements that is ordered and immutable. Tuples are defined by
parentheses ( ) .
25. How do you unpack a tuple in Python?
You can unpack a tuple by assigning its elements to individual variables: a, b, c =
my_tuple .
26. What is a dictionary in Python?
A dictionary is a collection of key-value pairs that is unordered and mutable. Dictionaries are
defined by curly braces { } .
27. How do you access values in a dictionary in Python?
Values in a dictionary can be accessed by key using square brackets: my_dict[key] .
28. Explain the difference between keys() and values() methods in Python dictionaries.

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The keys() method returns a view object containing the keys of the dictionary, while the
values() method returns a view object containing the values of the dictionary.
29. What is a set in Python?
A set is an unordered collection of unique elements. Sets are defined by curly braces { } .
30. How do you add elements to a set in Python?
You can add elements to a set using the add() method or by using the update() method
to add elements from another set or iterable.

Object-Oriented Programming
31. What is a class in Python?
A class is a blueprint for creating objects. It defines properties (attributes) and behaviors
(methods) that all objects of the class will have.
32. How do you create an object of a class in Python?
You create an object of a class by calling the class name followed by parentheses: my_object
= MyClass() .
33. What is inheritance in Python?
Inheritance is the process by which a class can inherit attributes and methods from another
class. It promotes code reusability and establishes a hierarchical relationship between classes.
34. Explain the difference between an instance variable and a class variable in Python.
Instance variables belong to individual objects and are unique for each instance of a class.
Class variables belong to the class itself and are shared among all instances of the class.
35. What is method overriding in Python?
Method overriding occurs when a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method
that is already defined in its superclass. The subclass method overrides the superclass method.
36. What is method overloading in Python?
Python does not support method overloading in the same way as languages like Java or C++.
However, you can achieve similar functionality by using default arguments
or variable-length argument lists.
37. What is encapsulation in Python?
Encapsulation is the bundling of data (attributes) and methods that operate on the data into a
single unit, called a class. It hides the internal state of the object from the outside world.
38. What is a constructor in Python?
A constructor is a special method in a class that is automatically called when an object of the
class is created. In Python, the constructor method is named __init__() .
39. What is a destructor in Python?
A destructor is a special method in a class that is automatically called when an object is about
to be destroyed. In Python, the destructor method is named __del__() .
40. What is a module in Python?
A module is a file containing Python code. It can define functions, classes, and variables, and
can be imported and used in other Python scripts.

File Handling
41. How do you open a file in Python?
You can open a file using the open() function, specifying the file path and mode (read, write,
append, etc.).
42. What is the difference between “r”, “w”, and “a” file modes in Python?
“r” mode opens a file for reading, “w” mode opens a file for writing (creates a new file or
overwrites an existing file), and “a” mode opens a file for appending (creates a new file or
appends to an existing file).
43. How do you close a file in Python?
You can close a file using the close() method or by using a context manager ( with
statement).
44. How do you read the contents of a file in Python?
You can read the contents of a file using methods like read() , readline() , or
readlines() .
45. How do you write to a file in Python?
You can write to a file using the write() method or by using the print() function with
the file argument.

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Exception Handling
46. What is an exception in Python?
An exception is an error that occurs during the execution of a program. It disrupts the normal
flow of the program and can be handled using exception handling mechanisms.
47. How do you handle exceptions in Python?
Exceptions can be handled using try , except , else , and finally blocks. Code that
may raise an exception is placed inside the try block, and the corresponding exception
handling code is placed inside the except block.
48. What is the purpose of the finally block in Python exception handling?
The finally block is used to execute cleanup code that should be run regardless of whether
an exception occurs or not. It is often used to release resources like files or network
connections.
49. What is the difference between except Exception as e and except in Python?
except Exception as e catches and assigns the exception object to the variable e ,
allowing you to access information about the exception. except without an exception type
catches all exceptions.
50. How do you raise an exception manually in Python?
You can raise an exception manually using the raise statement followed by the exception
type and optional message.

Advanced Topics
51. What is a decorator in Python?
A decorator is a function that takes another function as an argument and extends its behavior
without modifying it explicitly. Decorators are typically used to add functionality to existing
functions.
52. How do you define a decorator in Python?
You define a decorator by creating a function that takes another function as an argument,
decorates it with additional functionality, and returns the modified function.
53. What are lambda functions in Python?
Lambda functions, also known as anonymous functions, are small, inline functions defined
using the lambda keyword. They are often used for short, one-time operations.
54. How do you use lambda functions in Python?
Lambda functions are typically used in situations where a small, anonymous function is
needed, such as when passing a function as an argument to higher-order functions like
map() , filter() , or sorted() .
55. What is the difference between map() and filter() functions in Python?
The map() function applies a given function to each item of an iterable and returns a list of
the results. The filter() function applies a given function to each item of an iterable and
returns a list of items for which the function returns True .
56. What is list comprehension in Python?
List comprehension is a concise way to create lists in Python. It consists of an expression
followed by a for clause, optionally followed by additional for or if clauses.
57. How do you use list comprehension in Python?
List comprehension syntax: [expression for item in iterable if condition] .
58. What is a generator in Python?
A generator is a special type of iterator that generates values lazily. It yields one value at a time
using the yield keyword, allowing for efficient memory usage.
59. How do you define a generator in Python?
Generators are defined using generator functions, which are regular functions that contain one
or more yield statements. When called, a generator function returns a generator object.
60. What is the purpose of the yield keyword in Python?
The yield keyword is used inside generator functions to yield values one at a time. It
suspends the function’s execution and returns a value to the caller, but retains the function’s
state, allowing it to resume where it left off.

Concurrency and Parallelism

61. What is threading in Python?

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Threading is a technique for concurrently executing multiple tasks within a single process.
Python provides a threading module for creating and managing threads.
62. How do you create a thread in Python?
You can create a thread by subclassing the threading.Thread class and implementing the
run() method, or by passing a target function to the Thread constructor.
63. What is the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in Python?
The Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) is a mutex that protects access to Python objects, preventing
multiple native threads from executing Python bytecodes simultaneously. This can limit the
performance of multi-threaded Python programs, especially on multi-core systems.
64. How can you overcome the limitations of the GIL in Python?
You can use multiprocessing instead of threading to bypass the GIL and take advantage of
multiple CPU cores. Alternatively, you can use asynchronous programming with libraries like
asyncio or twisted .
65. What is multiprocessing in Python?
Multiprocessing is a technique for parallel processing in Python, allowing multiple processes to
run concurrently and utilize multiple CPU cores. Python provides a multiprocessing
module for creating and managing processes.

Regular Expressions
66. What are regular expressions in Python?
Regular expressions are patterns used to match character combinations in strings. They
provide a powerful and flexible way to search, match, and manipulate text.
67. How do you use regular expressions in Python?
Regular expressions are supported in Python through the re module, which provides
functions for working with regular expressions, such as `re.search()

, re.match() , re.findall()`, etc.

68. What is the purpose of the re.search() function in Python?

The re.search() function searches a string for a match with a regular expression pattern
and returns the first match found, or None if no match is found.
69. What is the difference between re.match() and re.search() in Python?
re.match() searches for a match only at the beginning of the string, while re.search()
searches for a match anywhere in the string.
70. How do you use groups in regular expressions in Python?
Groups in regular expressions are defined by enclosing parts of the pattern in parentheses.
They can be accessed using the group() method of the match object.

Networking
71. What is socket programming in Python?
Socket programming is a way of connecting two nodes on a network to communicate with
each other. Python provides a socket module for creating and managing network sockets.
72. How do you create a TCP server in Python?
You can create a TCP server using the socket module by creating a socket, binding it to a
specific address and port, and then listening for incoming connections.
73. How do you create a TCP client in Python?
You can create a TCP client using the socket module by creating a socket, connecting it to a
remote address and port, and then sending and receiving data.
74. What is the difference between TCP and UDP in Python?
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a connection-oriented protocol that provides reliable,
ordered, and error-checked delivery of data. UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a connectionless
protocol that provides faster but less reliable delivery of data.
75. How do you handle timeouts in socket programming in Python?
You can set a timeout on a socket using the settimeout() method, which specifies the
maximum amount of time the socket will wait for an operation to complete before raising a
timeout exception.

Web Development
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76. What is Django?
Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean,
pragmatic design. It provides tools and features for building web applications quickly and
efficiently.
77. How do you install Django?
You can install Django using pip, the Python package manager, by running pip install
django in the terminal or command prompt.
78. What is Flask?
Flask is a lightweight Python web framework that provides tools and features for building web
applications. It is known for its simplicity and flexibility, making it ideal for small to medium-
sized projects.
79. How do you install Flask?
You can install Flask using pip, the Python package manager, by running pip install
flask in the terminal or command prompt.
80. What is a virtual environment in Python?
A virtual environment is a self-contained directory that contains a Python interpreter and all
the packages needed for a specific project. It allows you to isolate project dependencies and
avoid conflicts between different projects.

Data Science and Machine Learning

81. What is NumPy?
NumPy is a Python library for numerical computing that provides support for multi-
dimensional arrays and matrices, along with a collection of mathematical functions to operate
on these arrays.
82. How do you install NumPy?
You can install NumPy using pip, the Python package manager, by running pip install
numpy in the terminal or command prompt.
83. What is Pandas?
Pandas is a Python library for data manipulation and analysis that provides data structures like
DataFrames and Series, along with functions for reading, writing, and manipulating data.
84. How do you install Pandas?
You can install Pandas using pip, the Python package manager, by running pip install
pandas in the terminal or command prompt.
85. What is Matplotlib?
Matplotlib is a Python library for creating static, animated, and interactive visualizations. It
provides a MATLAB-like interface for creating plots and charts.
86. How do you install Matplotlib?
You can install Matplotlib using pip, the Python package manager, by running pip install
matplotlib in the terminal or command prompt.
87. What is Scikit-learn?
Scikit-learn is a Python library for machine learning that provides tools and algorithms for tasks
such as classification, regression, clustering, dimensionality reduction, and model selection.
88. How do you install Scikit-learn?
You can install Scikit-learn using pip, the Python package manager, by running pip install
scikit-learn in the terminal or command prompt.
89. What is TensorFlow?
TensorFlow is an open-source machine learning framework developed by Google that provides
tools and APIs for building and training machine learning models, including deep neural
networks.
90. How do you install TensorFlow?
You can install TensorFlow using pip, the Python package manager, by running pip install
tensorflow in the terminal or command prompt.

Testing
91. What is unit testing?
Unit testing is a software testing technique where individual units or components of a software
application are tested in isolation to ensure they work correctly.
92. What is the unittest module in Python?
The unittest module is a built-in Python module that provides a framework for writing and
running unit tests. It allows you to define test cases, test suites, and test fixtures.

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