Python Interview Questions and Answers
Question 1:
What is Python?
Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity and readability. It was created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991. Python supports multiple programming paradigms, including object-oriented, procedural, and functional programming.
Question 2:
What are the key features of Python?
- Easy-to-learn syntax
- Readability and maintainability
- Extensive standard library
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Support for multiple programming paradigms
- Integration capabilities with other languages
- Large and active developer community
- Wide range of third-party libraries and frameworks
Question 3:
What is the difference between a list and a tuple in Python?
A list is a mutable sequence of elements, while a tuple is an immutable sequence. This means that you can modify a list by adding, removing, or modifying its elements, whereas a tuple's elements cannot be changed once it is created.
Question 4:
How do you handle exceptions in Python?
Exceptions in Python can be handled using a try-except block. The code that might raise an exception is placed within the try block, and the code to handle the exception is placed within the except block. Here's an example:
try:
# Code that might raise an exception
...
except ExceptionType:
# Code to handle the exception
...
Question 5:
What is the purpose of the __init__ method in Python classes?
The __init__ method is a special method in Python classes that is automatically called when an object is created from a class. It is used to initialize the object's attributes or perform any other setup that is required. Here's an example:
class MyClass:
def __init__(self, attribute1, attribute2):
self.attribute1 = attribute1
self.attribute2 = attribute2
# Creating an object of MyClass
obj = MyClass(value1, value2)
Question 6:
What is the difference between 'range' and 'xrange'?
In Python 2, 'range' and 'xrange' are both used to generate a sequence of numbers. However, the key difference is that 'range' returns a list containing all the numbers in the sequence, while 'xrange' returns an object that generates the numbers on-the-fly as you iterate over it. This can be more memory-efficient when dealing with large sequences.
Question 7:
What is the purpose of 'yield' in Python?
'yield' is used in Python to create generator functions. A generator function is a special type of function that can pause execution and resume it later, allowing you to iterate over a sequence of values without storing them all in memory at once. 'yield' is used to define the points at which the function should pause and return a value to the caller.
Question 8:
How do you handle file I/O in Python?
Python provides several ways to handle file I/O. The most common approach is to use the 'open' function to open a file in a specific mode (such as read mode or write mode), and then use methods like 'read', 'write', and 'close' to interact with the file. Here's an example of reading a file:
with open("myfile.txt", "r") as file:
content = file.read()
print(content)
Question 9:
What are decorators in Python?
Decorators are a powerful feature in Python that allow you to modify the behavior of functions or classes without directly modifying their source code. Decorators are defined using the '@' symbol followed by the decorator name, and they are placed before the function or class definition. Decorators are often used for adding additional functionality, such as logging or authentication, to existing functions or classes.
Question 10:
Explain the concept of list comprehensions in Python.
List comprehensions provide a concise way to create lists based on existing lists or other iterable objects. The basic syntax of a list comprehension is [expression for item in iterable if condition]. It allows you to apply an expression to each item in the iterable, optionally filtered by a condition. List comprehensions are often used to perform operations like filtering, mapping, or generating new lists based on existing ones.