Top 50 Interview Questions and Answers on Python
Are you preparing for a Python interview in 2025? Whether you’re a fresher, intern, or aiming for your first job, mastering these top Python interview questions will help you stand out. This guide covers the most asked Python interview questions for freshers, with simple answers, coding tips, and practical examples.
Top 50 Python Interview Questions and Answers
1. What is Python?
Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language known for its readability and versatility
2. What are the key features of Python?
Python supports multiple programming paradigms, has dynamic typing, automatic memory management, and a large standard library. It is easy to read, write, and understand
3. What is PEP 8?
PEP 8 is a coding convention for Python code. It provides guidelines for writing clear and readable code
4. What are mutable and immutable types in Python?
4. What are mutable and immutable types in Python?
Mutable types (like lists, dictionaries) can be changed after creation. Immutable types (like strings, tuples, numbers) cannot be modified once created
5. What is the difference between a list and a tuple in Python?
A list is mutable (can be changed), while a tuple is immutable (cannot be changed)
2. What are the key features of Python?
Python supports multiple programming paradigms, has dynamic typing, automatic memory management, and a large standard library. It is easy to read, write, and understand
6. What is a Python module?
A module is a file containing Python definitions and statements. It can be imported and used in other Python programs
7. What is a Python package?
A package is a collection of Python modules grouped together in a directory
8. What is __init__
in Python?
__init__
is a constructor method in Python, automatically called when a new object is created. It helps initialize the object’s attributes
9. What is the difference between Python arrays and lists?
Arrays can only contain elements of the same data type and are more memory-efficient. Lists can contain elements of different data types but use more memory
10. What is a dictionary? How do you access its elements?
A dictionary is a collection of key-value pairs. You can access its elements using the key: my_dict['key']
11. What is list comprehension?
List comprehension provides a concise way to create lists using the
syntax [expression for item in iterable if condition]
12. What is a lambda function?
A lambda function is an anonymous function that can take any number of arguments but has only one expression. It is often used for short, throwaway functions
13. How do you delete a file in Python?
Use os.remove(filename)
to delete a file
14. What are negative indexes and why are they used?
Negative indexes allow you to access elements from the end of a list, tuple, or string. For example, arr[-1]
gives the last element
15. How do you create a class in Python?
Use the class
keyword. Example:
class MyClass:
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name
16. What is the difference between Python 2 and Python 3?
Python 3 is the present and future of the language, with better Unicode support and more consistent syntax compared to Python 2
17. What is the use of ‘self’ in Python classes?
self
refers to the current instance of the class and is used to access variables that belong to the clas
18. How do you handle exceptions in Python?
Use try
, except
, and optionally finally
blocks to handle exceptions gracefully
19. What is the difference between deepcopy()
and copy()
?
copy()
creates a shallow copy (references nested objects), while deepcopy()
creates a new copy of the object and all nested objects
20. How do you iterate through a list in Python?
Use a for
loop:for item in my_list
print(item)
21. Explain inheritance in Python.
Inheritance lets a class (child) acquire properties and methods from another class (parent). It promotes code reuse and supports hierarchical relationships. Use the syntax:python
class Parent:
pass
class Child(Parent):
pass
22. How are classes created in Python?
Classes are created using the class
keyword, followed by the class name and a colon. Example:
class MyClass:
def __init__(self, value):
self.value = value
23. What is the purpose of generators in Python?
Generators allow you to iterate over large datasets efficiently by yielding one item at a time, instead of returning everything at once. They use the yield
keyword and are memory effici
24. Explain the concept of context managers in Python.
Context managers manage resources like files or network connections using with
statements, ensuring proper setup and teardown. Example:python
with open('file.txt') as f:
data = f.read()
25. What is the significance of PEP 8 in Python?
PEP 8 is the official style guide for Python code, promoting readability and consistency across Python projects.
26. Explain the difference between global and local variables.
Global variables are accessible throughout the module, while local variables are only accessible within the function or block where they are defined.
27. What are some popular testing frameworks for Python?
Popular frameworks include unittest
, pytest
, doctest
, and nose
. They help automate and structure testing for Python code
28. What is slicing in Python?
Slicing is a technique to extract a portion of a list, tuple, or string using the syntax [start:stop:step]
. Example:
arr = [1,2,3,4,5]
print(arr[1:4]) # Output: [2, 3, 4]
29. What is the difference between shallow copy and deep copy in Python?
A shallow copy copies the reference to objects (nested objects are shared), while a deep copy creates new copies of nested objects as well. Use copy.copy()
for shallow and copy.deepcopy()
for deep copy
30. Name some commonly used built-in modules in Python.
Common modules include os
, sys
, math
, datetime
, random
, and
31. How is memory managed in Python?
Memory management in Python is handled by the Python memory manager and includes reference counting and garbage collection to reclaim unused memo
32. Does Python support multiple inheritance?
Yes, Python allows a class to inherit from multiple parent classes, enabling multiple inheri
33. What is the difference between break, continue, and pass in Python?
break
: Exits the current loop.continue
: Skips the rest of the loop and continues with the next iteration.pass
: Does nothing; acts as a placeholder.34. What is Pandas in Python?
Pandas is a powerful open-source data analysis and manipulation library, widely used for data science tasks.
35. What is the use of self in Python?
self
refers to the instance of the class and is used to access variables and methods associated with the current object36. What is the difference between for loop and while loop in Python?
A
for
loop iterates over a sequence (like a list or string), while awhile
loop repeats as long as a condition is true.37. How do you merge datasets based on a common column in Python?
Use the
merge()
function in Pandas:pythonimport pandas as pd
merged = pd.merge(df1, df2, on='common_column')38. How do you reverse a string in Python?
Use slicing:python
s = "Python"
print(s[::-1]) # Output: "nohtyP"39. How do you check if a string is a palindrome?
Compare the string to its reverse:python
def is_palindrome(s):
return s == s[::-1]40. How do you swap two numbers without using a temporary variable?
Use tuple unpacking:python
a, b = b, a
41. How do you calculate the factorial of a number in Python?
Use a loop or recursion:python
def factorial(n):
return 1 if n == 0 else n * factorial(n-1)41. How do you calculate the factorial of a number in Python?
Use a loop or recursion:python
def factorial(n):
return 1 if n == 0 else n * factorial(n-1)43. What is the difference between == and is in Python?
==
checks value equality, whileis
checks object identity (whether two references point to the same object).44. What is type conversion in Python?
Type conversion changes the data type of a value, e.g.,
int('5')
converts a string to an integer45. What is the use of the
with
statement in Python?The
with
statement simplifies exception handling and resource management, commonly used with file operations to ensure files are closed properly.46. How do you handle exceptions in Python?
Use
try
,except
, and optionallyfinally
blocks to catch and handle exceptions gracefully.47. What is the difference between append() and extend() in Python lists?
append()
adds its argument as a single element to the end of the list.extend()
adds each element of its argument to the list.
Example:
pythonlst = [1, 2]
lst.append([3, 4]) # [1, 2, [3, 4]]
lst.extend([5, 6]) # [1, 2, [3, 4], 5, 6]48. How do you count the occurrences of a character in a string?
Use the
count()
method: pythons = "banana"
print(s.count('a')) # Output: 349. How do you find the sum of all elements in a list?
Use the
sum()
function: pythonnumbers = [1, 2, 3]
print(sum(numbers)) # Output: 6
50. Name some Python project ideas for beginners.
Code generator (text encoder/decoder)
Simple web browser UI
Countdown calculator
Sorting algorithm visualizer
These projects help develop fundamental skills like string manipulation, UI design, and algorithmic thinking.
FAQs (Structured for Schema Markup)
Q: What are the most asked Python interview questions for freshers in 2025?
A: The most asked questions cover Python basics, data types, OOP, list comprehensions, exception handling, and differences between Python 2 and 3.
Q: What is the best way to crack your first Python interview?
Prepare with common questions, practice coding, and work on explaining your solutions clearly to the interviewer
Q: How do I prepare for a Python coding interview as a beginner?
A: Focus on understanding syntax, practicing coding problems, and reviewing core concepts like data structures, functions, and error handling
This blog post covers the essential Python interview questions for freshers in 2025 and provides simple answers to help you succeed. For a complete list of 50+ questions, keep practicing and expanding your knowledge with real-world coding problems and mock interviews