Python Interview Questions & Answers
- What is Python?
Answer:
Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language that emphasizes code readability and simplicity.
- What are the benefits of using Python?
Answer:
Some benefits of using Python include its ease of use, versatility, scalability, cross-platform compatibility, and extensive library support.
- What is a virtual environment in Python?
Answer:
A virtual environment in Python is an isolated environment where you can install Python packages without affecting the system’s global Python installation. This allows you to create different environments for different projects with different dependencies.
- What is a namespace in Python?
Answer:
A names pace in Python is a mapping between names and objects. Name spaces are used to avoid naming conflicts and to organize code into logical units.
- What is the difference between a set and a frozenset in Python?
Answer:
Sets and frozen sets are both unordered collections of unique elements in Python, but sets are mutable (can be changed), while frozen sets are immutable (cannot be changed).
- What is the difference between shallow and deep copy in Python?
Answer:
Shallow copy creates a new object that references the same memory locations as the original object, while deep copy creates a new object with its own memory locations that are completely separate from the original object.
- What is inheritance in Python?
Answer:
Inheritance in Python is a mechanism for creating new classes that are based on existing classes. The new class inherits the attributes and methods of the existing class and can add its own attributes and methods as well.
- What is polymorphism in Python?
Answer:
Polymorphism in Python is the ability of objects to take on different forms (behaviors) depending on their context. This is achieved through method overriding and method overloading.
- What is a module in Python?
Answer:
A module in Python is a file containing Python code that can be imported and used in other Python programs. Modules allow you to organize your code into reusable components that can be shared among different projects. A module can define variables, functions, classes, and other objects that can be used by other modules or programs.
- What is a package in Python?
Answer:
A package in Python is a way to organize modules into a hierarchical directory structure. Packages allow you to group related modules together, making it easier to organize and manage your code. A package is a directory that contains an init.py file, which is executed when the package is imported.
- How do you read input from the user in Python?
Answer:
You can read input from the user in Python using the input() function. This function reads a line of text from the user, and returns it as a string.
For example:
name = input(“What is your name”)
- What are the built-in data structures in Python?
Answer:
Python provides several built-in data structures, including lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries.
- What is a list in Python?
Answer:
A list in Python is a collection of values that are ordered and mutable. Lists can contain any type of value, including other lists, and can be modified by adding, removing, or changing elements.
- What is a tuple in Python?
Answer:
A tuple in Python is a collection of values that are ordered and immutable. Tuples can contain any type of value, including other tuples, and cannot be modified after they are created.
- What is a set in Python?
Answer:
A set in Python is a collection of unique values that are unordered and mutable. Sets can be modified by adding or removing elements, and are commonly used to perform set operations such as intersection, union, and difference.
- What is a dictionary in Python?
Answer:
A dictionary in Python is a collection of key-value pairs that are unordered and mutable. Dictionaries can be modified by adding, removing, or changing elements, and are commonly used to store and retrieve data based on a key.
- How do you remove an element from a set in Python?
Answer:
You can remove an element from a set in Python using the remove() method. For example, if you have a set named my_set and you want to remove the value 3 from it, you can do it like this: my_set.remove(3). If the value is not in the set, a KeyError will be raised. Alternatively, you can use the discard() method to remove an element without raising an error if it is not in the set.
- What are the differences between lists and tuples in Python?
Answer:
Lists and tuples are both sequences of values in Python, but they have some differences. The main differences are:
Lists are mutable, which means that their values can be changed, added, or removed. Tuples are immutable, which means that their values cannot be changed once they are created.
Lists are represented by square brackets ([]), and tuples are represented by parentheses ().
Lists can have elements of different types, while tuples are usually used for collections of values of the same type.
- What is a generator in Python? How does it differ from a list?
Answer:
A generator is a special type of function in Python that allows you to iterate over a sequence of values without having to store them all in memory at once. Generators are used to produce a sequence of values on-the-fly, as you need them, which can be more memory-efficient than creating a list of all the values upfront.
A list, on the other hand, is a sequence of values that are stored in memory all at once. This means that creating a list of a large number of values can consume a lot of memory
- What is a lambda function in Python?
Answer:
A lambda function is an anonymous function in Python that can be defined on a single line using the lambda keyword. Lambda functions are commonly used as short, throwaway functions that are defined inline instead of as separate named functions. Lambda functions can take any number of arguments, but can only have one expression. For example:
# Example of a lambda function that adds two numbers
add = lambda x, y: x + y
result = add(3, 5) # Result is 8