Introduction

Python is a popular programming language that is widely used in various industries, such as finance, healthcare, and tech. If you're preparing for a Python job interview, it's important to familiarize yourself with some common Python interview questions.

In this blog post, we will go over 10 common Python interview questions and provide examples of how to answer them.

What is Python and why is it important?

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language that is widely used for web development, data analysis, and scientific computing. It is known for its simplicity, readability, and flexibility, which makes it a great language for beginners and experienced programmers alike.

How do you define a function in Python?

To define a function in Python, you use the def keyword followed by the function name and a set of parentheses that may include parameters. For example:

def greet(name):
  print("Hello, " + name)

greet("John")  # Output: "Hello, John"

How do you handle exceptions in Python?

To handle exceptions in Python, you can use a try-except block. The try block contains the code that may throw an exception, and the except block contains the code that will handle the exception. For example:

try:
  x = 5 / 0
except ZeroDivisionError:
  print("Division by zero is not allowed.")

How do you read and write files in Python?

To read and write files in Python, you can use the built-in open() function. To open a file for reading, you can use the following code:

with open("file.txt", "r") as f:
  content = f.read()
  print(content)

To open a file for writing, you can use the following code:

with open("file.txt", "w") as f:
  f.write("Hello, world!")

What is a dictionary in Python?

A dictionary in Python is an unordered collection of key-value pairs. It is used to store data in a key-value format, where the keys are unique and the values can be of any data type. You can create a dictionary in Python using curly braces {} and colons to separate keys and values. For example:

person = {
  "name": "John",
  "age": 30,
  "city": "New York"
}

print(person["name"])  # Output: "John"

How do you sort a list in Python?

To sort a list in Python, you can use the built-in sorted() function. This function returns a new sorted list, without modifying the original list. For example:

numbers = [3, 1, 4, 2]
sorted_numbers = sorted(numbers)
print(sorted_numbers)  # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]

You can also use the list.sort() method to sort a list in place. For example:

numbers = [3, 1, 4, 2]
numbers.sort()
print(numbers)  # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]

How do you create a class in Python?

To create a class in Python, you use the class keyword followed by the class name and a colon. The class definition should be indented and should contain a constructor method, which is a special method that is called when an object of the class is created. The constructor method is defined using the init() method. For example:

class Person:
  def __init__(self, name, age):
    self.name = name
    self.age = age

p = Person("John", 30)
print(p.name)  # Output: "John"
print(p.age)  # Output: 30

How do you inherit from a class in Python?

To inherit from a class in Python, you use the class keyword followed by the name of the new class and the name of the base class in parentheses. The new class will inherit all the attributes and methods of the base class. For example:

class Person:
  def __init__(self, name, age):
    self.name = name
    self.age = age

class Employee(Person):
  def __init__(self, name, age, salary):
    super().__init__(name, age)
    self.salary = salary

e = Employee("John", 30, 1000)
print(e.name)  # Output: "John"
print(e.age)  # Output: 30
print(e.salary)  # Output: 1000

What is a lambda function in Python?

A lambda function in Python is a small anonymous function that is defined without a name. It is often used as an argument to higher-order functions, such as map(), filter(), and reduce(). You can define a lambda function using the lambda keyword followed by a set of parentheses that contain one or more arguments and a single expression. For example:

double = lambda x: x * 2
print(double(5))  # Output: 10

What is a generator in Python?

A generator in Python is a function that returns an iterator object that yields a sequence of values one at a time, instead of returning a whole list of values at once. You can create a generator in Python by using the yield keyword in a function definition. For example:

def count_up_to(max):
  count = 1
  while count <= max:
    yield count
    count += 1

for number in count_up_to(5):
  print(number)  # Output: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

These are just a few examples of common Python interview questions that you may encounter during a job interview. By familiarizing yourself with these questions and practicing your answers, you can increase your chances of impressing your interviewer and getting the job.