15+ Common Back-End Development Interview Questions & Answers
If you’ve just graduated, polished your abilities, and applied to numerous companies for back-end developer positions, you have come to the right place. It’s time to get ready for those challenging interview questions that stand between you and the job of your dreams.
Every company has a procedure for hiring new employees and evaluating both their individual and collective effort. Some of them are evaluated using a set of interview questions.
With the assistance of several industry professionals who have also worked in the hiring process for some of the top software companies worldwide, we have created this interview questionnaire to assist those talented people who are unable to land their ideal job simply because they lack the expertise.
Introductory questions
1 – Tell me about yourself
Even though applicants from every sector are asked this question, it is crucial for developers because you represent your brand. Even seasoned interviewees may find it difficult to respond to open-ended inquiries like these If they are unprepared. Highlighting recent successes, qualifications related to the job or industry, and a description of your present situation are all recommended. You can say something like this:
“I have improved my skills and pushed boundaries in the field of back-end development over the last couple of years. I recently worked on a major project where I successfully constructed a solid foundation for an exciting e-commerce platform. Due to the difficult nature of back-end development, a thorough strategy was required to guarantee flawless performance and a positive user experience. Being a part of the back-end development industry, which is constantly changing, gives me the chance to use my creative and problem-solving skills every day.”
Tip: Practice your script until you can recite it from the heart. The remaining questions in the interview will go more smoothly for you if you nail the first half.
2 – Why do you want to work for us?
Employers are particularly interested in learning about your devotion to working with them. This is your opportunity to convince them of it.
“(Name of the organisation you are applying to)) is a back-end development leading the industry, standing tall. I’m primarily seeking jobs with organisations that emphasise lifelong learning and embrace the rapidly evolving nature of technology. I chose (Name of Organisation you are Applying To) because it is a place where I can always learn new things and enhance my abilities while collaborating with business leaders that inspire and push me to advance in my front-end development career.”
Tip: To show that you have done your study, mention any projects you find inspiring or your compatibility with the business culture.
3 – Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
By asking you this question, your potential employer is attempting to figure out whether you view this position as a wise career move. A productive and highly retained employee is more likely to be fully engaged.
“At this stage of my career, I want to work for an organisation where I can collaborate with talented individuals. I’d like to have more authority over creative direction in the future.”
Tip: Even if you have a lot of ambition, avoid mentioning during the interview that you want to “take their job” or “run the company.
4 – Why did you choose back-end development as a profession?
Employers ask this because they want to know who their employees will be working with. Your educational background, prior experiences, and motivations for wanting to work in this industry are all good discussion topics. You might perhaps explain how your lifelong passion for creation inspired you to pursue this career path, or simply state that you want to create engaging, user-friendly websites so that people’s lives become easier.
Tip: Decide how much information you want to share with the interviewer and how casual or serious the environment of the company seems (you can usually figure this out by looking at the surroundings).
Performance-Based Questions
5 – What actions would you take to restore MySQL using mysqldump?
You should anticipate that interviewers will test your coding knowledge with a few language-specific questions. Explain your approach to the programming question in plain language in your response. Technical details are typically requested by interviewers if they desire them.
For example:
“I would first use MySQL to establish a new database with the same name as the deleted database. After confirming that the database name was present in the root directory, I would decide whether or not to also include the server name.”
6 – How would you use a MongoDB database to query data?
Be prepared for some random questions related to simple practical questions related to database and server-side programming languages. Try to answer these type of questions using simple language so that employers get the idea that you have a proper understanding of the topic.
For example:
“I would utilise the MongoDB Query Language (MQL) syntax to build queries and communicate with the database. This makes it possible for me to quickly obtain, filter, and modify data according to predetermined standards or requirements.”
7 – How would you differentiate between a RESTFul and a SOAP API?
Employers often ask questions related to difference between two similar technologies to gauge the awareness level of the interviewee to these technologies, and whether they know which framework works best for them. Try to answer these questions clearly and use terms you are aware of.
For example:
“RESTful APIs are based on the principles of simplicity, statelessness, and using standard HTTP methods, while SOAP APIs rely on a more complex XML-based messaging protocol for communication and have more rigid specifications.“
8 – Describe the seven layers of the OSI system model.
Network-specific questions like these demand straightforward, factual responses. They allow interviewers to assess your fundamental understanding of network concepts and procedures. Try to demonstrate both your theoretical and practical understanding in your response.
For example:
“In the Open Systems Interconnection model, information must pass through seven abstract layers with particular roles in order to be tracked as it flows from one application to a physical device to software on another computer. Physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation, and application are among these layers.”
9 – How would you describe a Django rest framework?
Employers will ask some questions related to popular web frameworks like Django, Ruby, and Flask as they are an integral part of back-end development. Make sure you prepare for these types of questions. Answer them with a precise explanation of the framework and show that you have worked with them.
For example:
“Django REST Framework is a powerful and flexible toolkit for building Web APIs in Django. It provides a convenient way to serialise and deserialise data, handle authentication, manage permissions, and offers various features to streamline API development.”
10 – How are relational and non-relational databases different from one another?
Some questions might appear to you relatively easy like this one. This is because employers want you to be a little relaxed before diving into some hard questions. Make sure to leave your impact with these type of simple questions and build your confidence.
For example:
“Relational databases organise data into tables with predefined schemas, support complex queries, and ensure data integrity through relationships. Non-relational databases, on the other hand, are schema-less, store data in flexible formats like documents or key-value pairs, and offer scalability and faster read/write operations, sacrificing some advanced querying capabilities.
11 – How do you settle conflicts in Git?
A: In back-end development, If you don’t know how to use Git or a Version Control System, you are not a suitable candidate for any software agency because Git is an essential need of today’s back-end development team.
For example:
“It’s easy. To settle conflicts in Git, we first need to identify the conflicting files, make desired changes to them, add them to the repository, and finish by committing the resolved conflicts.”
12 – What steps would you take to roll back a failed deployment?
Employers ask this question to test your abilities when you face failure. How would to react to the situation? Are you able to handle everything or try to cover up your mistake? Answer these types of questions by showing that you know how to fix your mistakes and you don’t let any failure put you down.
For example:
“To rollback a failed deployment, I will quickly identify the issue, disable related features causing the failure, revert to a stable version to be on safe side, then communicate with stakeholders to let them know of the situation, and finally analyse the cause for prevention.”
13 – What distinguishes a functional test from an acceptance test?
Another one of those questions that test your knowledge and skills. Be precise in answering these types of questions and try to explain the terms in simple words without making the interview process boring.
For example:
“A functional test focuses on testing specific functions or features of a system, ensuring they work as expected. On the other hand, an acceptance test validates if the system meets the requirements and expectations of the end user or stakeholders. Functional tests target internal functionality, while acceptance tests focus on overall system behavior and user satisfaction.”
14 – How does SSL/TLS operate?
Time to shine in front of your employer. Make sure to answer these types of questions with as simple vocabulary as possible to make your employer impressed.
For example:
“SSL/TLS operates by establishing an encrypted connection between client and server, ensuring secure data transmission and protection against unauthorised access.”
15 – What makes a cookie different from a session?
Another question to test your knowledge level. Use a similar principle for answering these types of questions. Be precise and to the point.
For example:
“A cookie is a small amount of information that is saved on the user’s device. A session is a data structure that stays on the server and contains details about the user’s current session.”
16 – What method do you use for debugging?
These type of questions sets you apart from other candidates as your method of doing a process will be different from others. Try to impress your employer with your approach by presenting it in a way that speaks for your expertise.
For example:
“I primarily use debugging tools and techniques like logging, breakpoints, and error tracking to identify and resolve issues efficiently during the debugging process.”
