13 Python Developer interview questions and answers

A great way to determine how skilled your contractor is would be to ask them to describe Python in their own words. The contractor should be able to discuss at length some specific features of Python, including coding with objects, modules, .txt threads, exceptions, and automatic memory management. Also, your contractor should know that Python Code, unlike Java, is a programming language that is a dynamically typed and interpreted OSI-approved open-source language.

The developer should know how Python supports loops within repetitive tasks and how the conditionals use (true/false tests) tell them to stop. Knowing how to use loops and conditionals shows that your contractor can develop code with more complex behavior and functionality.

Your contractor should know that the Python program language is an interpreted language that runs directly from the source code. They should know that every block of code is translated into an intermediate language and that languages structures and syntax are translated into a machine learning language to be executed. Every Python programmer should know how interpretation works so they can create Python code to be changed and executed.

When you pickle, the pickle module accepts the functionality of any Python object and converts it into a string representation. This documentation string can be saved, stored, or recalled later in a process called unpickling. If your contractor knows how to pickle and unpickle, it shows that they will translate the data structures or object states into a format that can be stored within Python memory for later use. 

Conversion types are a very common type of data in Python. Since converting data from one data type to another is the primary way, your contractor should know how to execute conversions while building code. During your questions and answers session, look for answers that include some of the following conversion type functions:

• tuple() – used to convert to a tuple
• dict() – used to convert a tuple of order (key, value) into a python list dictionary
• str() – Used to convert an integer into a string
• oct() – converts an integer to octal
• dir() specified object's properties and methods
• obj() returns a new object

Your contractor should be able to create and use lambda functions. These anonymous functions can have various parameters but just one statement. If your contractor knows how to use these types of procedures, they know the importance of working within small lines of code and how to simplify when possible. 

The developer should be well versed in functions (func). These code blocks only run when they are called, and a basic test of knowledge is to ask your contractor to create a general-purpose Python function. These functions can be very specific, case sensitive, and also require indentation to code. Your contractor should be able to provide you with multiple examples of built-in functions with the correct syntax. 

A good example of a test is the following: 

<START>

def function-name( parameters ):

   "function_docstring"

   function_suite

   return [expression] 

<STOP>

Any expert-level Python coder should have a list of Python tutorials that they reference or can recommend. While on the job skills are essential, keeping up with data science trends and knowing the newest Python libraries like Numpy, or staying current with Pep 8 Styles, indicates that your contractor is constantly learning and trying new bits of code.

An advanced Python coder should know how to use this _init_reserved method in. Look for answers that mention how Init is a constructor for use within object-oriented programming, specifically Python3. Knowing how to use Init indicates that this contractor can initialize (assign values) to the class data when an object is created.

Knowing how to create and implement deep copy and shallow copy shows that the developer understands how to clone arbitrary objects, including custom classes. A deep copy is more long-term than a shallow copy which constructs a new compound object and then inserts itself into it to the objects found in the original.

The num sequences in Python are indexed, and they consist of positive as and negative numbers. Understanding how to work within the negative index (which removes any line or namespace from the string and allows the string to accept the last numeric or text character provided) helps with list comprehension and runtime speed. 

The developer should know what the Python interpreter is, and more importantly, how it is used. For example, they should know that the Python interpreter is a virtual machine with input within instruction sets called bytecode. Understanding the uses of the Python interpreter shows a clear understanding of how to implement the coding language.

Your expert should explain a list of commonly used data types that operate within Python. Look for answers that include some of the following data type examples: strings (str), booleans (bool), and null values (None). Knowing data types is a fundamental skill that should be a part of your expert's skill base.