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Top 25 Python Coding Questions for Interview

18 Oct 2024
9 min read

Python coding questions are important for testing problem-solving skills and coding abilities, especially during job interviews. As Python is widely used in fields like web development and data science, there’s a strong demand for people who know it well. These questions range from simple to complex, allowing candidates to showcase their logical thinking and creativity. While they may seem challenging at first, many can be tackled with practice, and numerous online resources are available to help learners improve their skills. This article will explore the importance of Python coding questions, common coding questions with answers for beginners, intermediate, and advanced, and tips for preparing for Python coding interviews.

Importance of Python Coding Questions

Mastering Python coding questions and answers is vital for anyone aiming to secure a position in software development. These questions not only assess your technical skills but also evaluate your problem-solving abilities and coding efficiency. Familiarity with interview Python coding questions can significantly boost your confidence and performance during interviews.

These questions help a candidate to solve problems and understand algorithms and data structures. By practicing these questions, candidates gain experience with real-world challenges, which boosts their confidence and critical thinking. Additionally, working through coding problems encourages good coding skills, and more maintainable code. In a competitive job market, strong Python skills can help candidates stand out and showcase their abilities. Overall, regular practice enhances skills and promotes continuous learning and adaptability, preparing candidates for future success in their careers.

Beginner-Level Python Coding Question & Answers

Here are the Python interview coding questions and answers for beginners:

1. Write a simple Python program to print an output.

print("Hello, World!")

Output

Hello, World!

2. Write a Python code to check if a number is even or odd

def is_even(num):
    return num % 2 == 0

print(is_even(4))  # True
print(is_even(5))  # False

3. Write a Python code to concatenate two strings

str1 = "Hello"
str2 = "World"
result = str1 + " " + str2
print(result) #Hello World

4. Write a Python program to find the maximum of three numbers

def max_of_three(a, b, c):
    return max(a, b, c)

print(max_of_three(1, 2, 3))  # 3

5. Write a Python program to count the number of vowels in a string

def count_vowels(s):
    return sum(1 for char in s if char.lower() in 'aeiou')

print(count_vowels("Hello World"))  # 3

6. Write a Python program to calculate the factorial of a number

def factorial(n):
    if n == 0:
        return 1
    return n * factorial(n - 1)
 print(factorial(5))  # 120

7. Write a Python code to convert a string to an integer

str_num = "12345"
int_num = int(str_num)
print(int_num)  # 12345

8. Write a Python program to calculate the area of a rectangle

def area_of_rectangle(length, width):
    return length * width

print(area_of_rectangle(5, 3))  # 15

Intermediate Level Python Coding Question & Answers

Here, are the Python coding questions and answers for the intermediate level:

9. Write a Python code to merge two dictionaries

dict1 = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
dict2 = {'b': 3, 'c': 4}
merged = {**dict1, **dict2}
print(merged) #{'a': 1, 'b': 3, 'c': 4}

10. Write a Python program to find common elements in two lists

list1 = [1, 2, 3, 4]
list2 = [3, 4, 5, 6]
common = list(set(list1) & set(list2))
print(common) #[3, 4]

11. Write a Python code to remove duplicates from a list

list1 = [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4]
unique_list1 = list(set(list1))
print(unique_list1) #[1, 2, 3, 4]

12. Write a Python code to check if a string is a palindrome

def is_palindrome(s):
    return s == s[::-1]

print(is_palindrome("radar"))  # True
print(is_palindrome("hello"))  # False

13. Write a Python program to find the longest word in a sentence

def longest_word(sentence):
    words = sentence.split()
    return max(words, key=len)

print(longest_word("The fox jumps over the lazy dog"))  # jumps

14. Write a Python code to find the first non-repeating character in a string

def first_non_repeating_char(s):
    char_count = {}
    for char in s:
        char_count[char] = char_count.get(char, 0) + 1
    for char in s:
        if char_count[char] == 1:
            return char
    return None

print(first_non_repeating_char("nxtwave"))  # n

15. Write a Python code to count the number of uppercase letters in a string

def count_uppercase(s):
    return sum(1 for char in s if char.isupper())

print(count_uppercase("Nxtwave"))  # 1

Advanced Level Python Coding Question & Answers

Here, are the most frequently asked advanced Python coding questions in the technical interviews:

16. Write a Python code to implement a binary search algorithm

def binary_search(arr, target):
    low, high = 0, len(arr) - 1
    while low <= high:
        mid = (low + high) // 2
        if arr[mid] < target:
            low = mid + 1
        elif arr[mid] > target:
            high = mid - 1
        else:
            return mid
    return -1

print(binary_search([1, 2, 3, 4, 5], 3))  # 2

17. Write a Python code to implement a function to flatten a nested list

def flatten(nested_list):
    flat_list = []
    for item in nested_list:
        if isinstance(item, list):
            flat_list.extend(flatten(item))
        else:
            flat_list.append(item)
    return flat_list

print(flatten([1, [2, [3, 4], 5], 6]))  # [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

18. Write a Python program to check if a binary tree is balanced

class Node:
    def __init__(self, value):
        self.value = value
        self.left = None
        self.right = None

def is_balanced(root):
    if not root:
        return True

    def height(node):
        if not node:
            return 0
        return 1 + max(height(node.left), height(node.right))

    return abs(height(root.left) - height(root.right)) <= 1

root = Node(1)
root.left = Node(2)
root.right = Node(3)
print(is_balanced(root))  # True

19.  Write a Python code to find the maximum subarray sum

def max_subarray_sum(arr):
    max_sum = current_sum = arr[0]
    for num in arr[1:]:
        current_sum = max(num, current_sum + num)
        max_sum = max(max_sum, current_sum)
    return max_sum

print(max_subarray_sum([-2, 1, -3, 4, -1, 2, 1, -5, 4]))  # 6

20. Write a Python program to find the intersection of two sets

def intersection(set1, set2):
    return set1 & set2

print(intersection({1, 2, 3}, {2, 3, 4}))  # {2, 3}

21. Write a Python code to implement a simple calculator

def calculator(a, b, operation):
    if operation == 'add':
        return a + b
    elif operation == 'subtract':
        return a - b
    elif operation == 'multiply':
        return a * b
    elif operation == 'divide':
        return a / b if b != 0 else "Cannot divide by zero"
    else:
        return "Invalid operation"

print(calculator(5, 3, 'add'))  # 8

22. Write a Python code to check if a number is a perfect square

def is_perfect_square(x):
    return int(x**0.5)**2 == x

print(is_perfect_square(16))  # True
print(is_perfect_square(14))  # False

23. Write a Python code to find the GCD of two numbers

def gcd(a, b):
    while b:
        a, b = b, a % b
    return a
print(gcd(48, 18))  # 6

24. Write a Python code to convert a list of temperatures from Celsius to Fahrenheit

def celsius_to_fahrenheit(temps):
    return [(temp * 9/5) + 32 for temp in temps]
print(celsius_to_fahrenheit([0, 20, 37]))  # [32.0, 68.0, 98.6]

25. Write a Python code to implement a queue using collections.deque

from collections import deque

class Queue:
    def __init__(self):
        self.queue = deque()

    def enqueue(self, item):
        self.queue.append(item)

    def dequeue(self):
        return self.queue.popleft() if self.queue else None

q = Queue()
q.enqueue(1)
q.enqueue(2)
print(q.dequeue())  # 1

Python Coding Interview Tips

Here are some tips to help succeed in the technical interview:

  • Engage in coding questions for practice to build your skills.
  • Focus on understanding rather than memorizing code.
  • Participate in competitive coding challenges to test yourself.
  • Analyze different approaches to solve the same problem.
  • Use online compilers to check your codes with some test cases.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding and practicing Python coding questions across various levels is crucial for people who want to clear their interviews. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced developer, familiarity with these questions can boost your confidence and help you secure your desired position.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some tricky coding questions in Python?

Questions that are from advanced data structures, or algorithm optimization can often be tricky.

2. How can I practice Python coding questions?

Utilize coding challenge platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, and Codechef to practice various levels of Python coding questions.

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