SDE Interview Questions for Freshers

Ace Your SDE Interview: Essential Questions and Tips for Freshers

SDE Interview Questions for Freshers

Table of contents

1️⃣ Projects (High Priority)

  • Be ready to explain your projects (Neo Compiler, NotesNeo, NeoCode).

  • Focus on:

    • Tech stack used and why.

    • Challenges faced and how you solved them.

    • Scalability & performance improvements.

    • Future improvements and next steps.

2️⃣ DSA Topics (Solve at least 15 problems)

  • Easy: Arrays, Strings, HashMaps.

  • Medium: Binary Search, Two Pointers, Stacks, Queues.

  • Hard: Graphs, DP basics.

🔗 LeetCode Problems to Revise Basics:

  1. Two Sum

  2. Reverse a Linked List

  3. Merge Intervals

  4. Binary Search

  5. Valid Parentheses

  6. LRU Cache

  7. Top K Frequent Elements

  8. Longest Substring Without Repeating Characters

  9. Word Ladder

  10. Find the Duplicate Number


3️⃣ Operating System

  • Deadlock conditions & prevention 🔗 Resource

  • Paging vs. Segmentation 🔗 Resource

  • Kernel functions & modes 🔗 Resource


4️⃣ Computer Networks

  • OSI Layers & Functions 🔗 Resource

  • TCP vs UDP 🔗 Resource

  • HTTP vs HTTPS 🔗 Resource


5️⃣ Git Commands

  • Important Commands:

    • git init, git clone, git branch

    • git add, git commit, git push

    • git merge, git rebase, git stash

🔗 Practice here: Git Basics


6️⃣ APIs

  • REST vs GraphQL 🔗 Resource

  • CRUD Operations in REST APIs

  • API Authentication (JWT, OAuth, API Keys)


7️⃣ SQL

  • Basic Queries: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE

  • Window Functions Overview: ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), DENSE_RANK()

  • Joins: Inner, Outer, Left, Right

🔗 Practice SQL: LeetCode SQL Problems


8️⃣ AWS Basics


9️⃣ AI/ML Basics (Optional, Bonus)

  • Supervised vs. Unsupervised Learning

  • Common ML Algorithms: Linear Regression, Decision Trees

  • Basic AI Use Cases in Industry

🔗 Quick AI/ML Overview: Intro to AI


🚀 Autodesk Behavioral Interview Questions & Tips

Autodesk, like many top companies, evaluates candidates on technical skills as well as behavioral competencies. The behavioral interview focuses on communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Autodesk follows the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for evaluating responses.


🔹 Common Behavioral Questions & Sample Answers

1️⃣ Tell me about yourself.

How to Answer:

  • Start with your background (education, experience).

  • Highlight relevant skills (full-stack development, DSA, projects).

  • Mention recent achievements (internships, projects, LeetCode practice).

📌 Example Answer:
"I am Deepak Modi, a pre-final year B.Tech CSE student. I have a strong interest in full-stack development and problem-solving. I have built projects like Neo Compiler*, an online code editor, and have solved over* X+ problems on LeetCode*. I am proficient in* React.js, Next.js, TypeScript, and backend technologies*. I am preparing for this role by refining my DSA skills and learning AWS & APIs. I’m excited about the opportunity at Autodesk because it aligns with my passion for building scalable products."*


2️⃣ Why do you want to work at Autodesk?

How to Answer:

  • Show your knowledge of Autodesk (products, mission, innovation).

  • Relate Autodesk’s values to your skills and aspirations.

📌 Example Answer:
"Autodesk is a leader in designing and engineering software, and I admire how it empowers creators and developers. I am particularly interested in full-stack development and cloud-based applications, which aligns with Autodesk’s work on Fusion 360, AutoCAD, and cloud solutions*. I want to work here because it offers an environment where I can contribute, learn, and grow as a software engineer."*


3️⃣ Tell me about a challenging project you worked on.

How to Answer (STAR Method):
Situation – Explain the project and challenge.
Task – Describe your role.
Action – What you did to solve it.
Result – Outcome & impact.

📌 Example Answer:
"I was developing Neo Compiler*, an online code editor for my startup project. The biggest challenge was* real-time collaboration and multi-language support*. I researched solutions like WebSockets and Prisma for database management. I implemented* Monaco Editor for code highlighting and WebSockets for real-time updates*. The project successfully handled concurrent users, and I gained hands-on experience with* Next.js, PostgreSQL, and AI-powered code assistance*."*


4️⃣ Have you ever faced a conflict in a team? How did you handle it?

How to Answer:

  • Show your collaboration & problem-solving skills.

  • Explain how you resolved the conflict professionally.

📌 Example Answer:
"During a hackathon, our team disagreed on the tech stack. One member wanted Django*, while others preferred* Node.js*. I initiated a discussion to evaluate pros and cons, focusing on project requirements and deadlines. We eventually chose* Node.js for scalability*. This experience taught me the importance of communication and compromise in teamwork."*


5️⃣ How do you handle tight deadlines and pressure?

How to Answer:

  • Show prioritization, time management, and adaptability.

  • Give an example of handling pressure effectively.

📌 Example Answer:
"During my semester exams, I also had an internship project deadline. I prioritized tasks using Trello & Pomodoro Technique and focused on high-impact activities first. I broke tasks into smaller milestones and completed both successfully. This experience helped me develop strong time-management and multi-tasking skills."


6️⃣ How do you stay updated with new technologies?

How to Answer:

  • Mention your learning sources (blogs, YouTube, online courses).

  • Show your curiosity & growth mindset.

📌 Example Answer:
"I actively follow tech blogs like Hashnode, Dev.to, and YouTube channels like Traversy Media & Akshay Saini*. I also contribute to* open-source projects and write blogs about my learnings. Recently, I have been exploring Next.js 14 and AWS services like EC2 & S3 to enhance my backend skills."


7️⃣ What are your strengths and weaknesses?

How to Answer:
✔ Strengths – Relevant to the job (problem-solving, adaptability, quick learning).
✔ Weaknesses – Show self-awareness and improvement.

📌 Example Answer:
✅ Strength: "I have strong problem-solving skills and love tackling complex coding challenges. I have solved X+ problems on LeetCode and actively practice DSA."

⚠ Weakness: "Earlier, I struggled with public speaking, but I have been improving by presenting my projects in college and writing tech blogs to communicate better."


8️⃣ Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

How to Answer:

  • Align with Autodesk’s vision.

  • Show growth mindset & career aspirations.

📌 Example Answer:
"In five years, I see myself as a Full-stack Engineer specializing in scalable applications*. I want to* mentor junior developers, contribute to open-source*, and work on innovative projects that impact millions. I believe Autodesk’s environment will help me achieve this growth."*


🔥 Quick Behavioral Interview Tips

Use the STAR method for structured answers.
Be confident & authentic (don’t memorize; speak naturally).
Research Autodesk (products, culture, mission).
Have questions ready for the interviewer.
Practice common scenarios (teamwork, problem-solving, challenges).


➡️ Projects

📌 How to Answer Questions About Your Projects in an Interview

The best way to structure your answers is using the STAR method:

Situation – What was the problem?

Task – What was your role?

Action – What did you do?

Result – What was the outcome?

Since your main projects are Neo Compiler, NotesNeo, and NeoCode, here’s how you can explain them in an interview:


🚀 Project 1: Neo Compiler (Online Code Editor)

💡 "Can you describe your project?"

Situation: I built Neo Compiler, an online code editor that supports multiple languages, real-time collaboration, and AI-powered coding assistance.

Task: The goal was to create a seamless coding experience with user authentication, file management, and theme customization.

Action:

  • Developed the frontend using Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and ShadCN for UI components.

  • Implemented Google & GitHub authentication for secure access.

  • Used PostgreSQL with Prisma ORM for storing user files and settings.

  • Integrated AI-powered code suggestions using OpenAI API.

  • Added multi-language support using Dockerized backend execution.Result: The project improved coding efficiency and provided an intuitive development environment, similar to CodeSandbox or Replit. Future plans include live collaboration using WebSockets.

Follow-up Questions:

🟢 "What was the biggest challenge?"

  • Handling real-time execution across different languages efficiently.

  • Optimizing server response time to ensure smooth execution.

🟢 "How did you optimize performance?"

  • Used lazy loading for heavy components.

  • Cached frequent API calls using TanStack Query.

  • Optimized database queries with Prisma indexing.


📚 Project 2: NotesNeo (Educational Notes Platform)

💡 "Can you describe your project?"

Situation: I created NotesNeo, a platform where students can access organized subject notes and share their study materials.

Task: The main challenge was to organize and structure educational content efficiently for easy access.

Action:

  • Built the frontend using React.js and Tailwind CSS.

  • Integrated user authentication using Firebase.

  • Implemented a search feature using Debouncing and Trie-based searching.

  • Used PostgreSQL to store notes in a structured manner.

  • Added a collaborative feature where multiple students can edit and update notes.Result: Increased accessibility of study materials among students, improving exam preparation efficiency.

Follow-up Questions:

🟢 "How do you handle large data efficiently?"

  • Implemented pagination & infinite scrolling to load data dynamically.

  • Used caching mechanisms to reduce database queries.

🟢 "How did you handle user authentication?"

  • Used Firebase Auth for quick authentication.

  • Implemented role-based access control (RBAC) for different users.


🛠️ Project 3: NeoCode (DSA & Development Learning Platform)

💡 "Can you describe your project?"

Situation: I developed NeoCode, a platform for structured DSA & Development learning, including interactive roadmaps, articles, and challenges.

Task: The main objective was to provide structured learning resources with an integrated online coding environment.

Action:

  • Designed a dynamic roadmap for learning DSA and full-stack development.

  • Used Next.js and Tailwind CSS for an optimized frontend.

  • Integrated NeoCompiler for practicing code.

  • Added performance tracking using real-time analytics.

  • Built a recommendation system to suggest topics based on user progress.Result: Helped students systematically improve their coding and development skills.

Follow-up Questions:

🟢 "How did you personalize recommendations?"

  • Used content-based filtering with user activity tracking.

🟢 "What backend did you use?"

  • Used PostgreSQL with Prisma for managing data efficiently.

🔥 Tips for Answering Project Questions:

Mention the Problem & How You Solved It.

Highlight the Tech Stack & Why You Chose It.

Talk About Challenges & How You Overcame Them.

If Possible, Show a Demo (Screen Sharing or GitHub Link).

Mention Future Improvements (Shows Proactiveness).


HTML Interview Questions & Answers

Here are some commonly asked HTML interview questions along with their answers:


1️⃣ What is HTML?

Answer:

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language used to create web pages. It provides the basic structure of a webpage using elements such as headings, paragraphs, images, and links.

📌 Example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>My First Page</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Welcome to My Website</h1>
    <p>This is a simple HTML page.</p>
</body>
</html>

2️⃣ What is the difference between HTML and HTML5?

Answer:

FeatureHTMLHTML5
Doctype<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"><!DOCTYPE html> (Simplified)
Multimedia SupportRequires Flash for audio/videoUses <audio> & <video> tags
Form EnhancementsBasic input typesNew types like email, date, number, range
Semantic ElementsUses <div> mostlyIntroduces <header>, <section>, <article>, <footer>

3️⃣ What are Semantic Elements in HTML5?

Answer:

Semantic elements clearly define the meaning of the content in a webpage.

📌 Examples of Semantic Elements:

  • <header> - Defines a page or section header

  • <nav> - Contains navigation links

  • <section> - Defines a section of content

  • <article> - Represents an independent piece of content

  • <footer> - Defines a footer section

📌 Example Code:

<header>
    <h1>My Blog</h1>
</header>
<nav>
    <a href="home.html">Home</a>
    <a href="about.html">About</a>
</nav>
<section>
    <article>
        <h2>HTML Interview Questions</h2>
        <p>Learn the top HTML questions asked in interviews.</p>
    </article>
</section>
<footer>
    <p>&copy; 2025 My Website</p>
</footer>

4️⃣ What are the different types of lists in HTML?

Answer:

1️⃣ Ordered List (<ol>) - Numbered list

2️⃣ Unordered List (<ul>) - Bulleted list

3️⃣ Definition List (<dl>) - Terms and their definitions

📌 Example:

<ol>
    <li>HTML</li>
    <li>CSS</li>
    <li>JavaScript</li>
</ol>

<ul>
    <li>Apple</li>
    <li>Banana</li>
    <li>Cherry</li>
</ul>

<dl>
    <dt>HTML</dt>
    <dd>HyperText Markup Language</dd>
    <dt>CSS</dt>
    <dd>Cascading Style Sheets</dd>
</dl>

5️⃣ What is the difference between <div> and <span>?

Answer:

TagUsageBlock/Inline
<div>Defines a block-level sectionBlock Element
<span>Defines a small inline section inside a textInline Element

📌 Example:

<div style="background-color: lightblue; padding: 10px;">
    This is a block-level element (div)
</div>

<p>This is a paragraph with an <span style="color: red;">inline span</span> inside it.</p>

6️⃣ What are HTML Forms? What are some important form elements?

Answer:

HTML forms collect user input.

📌 Common Form Elements:

  • <input> - Text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons

  • <textarea> - Multi-line input

  • <select> - Dropdown list

  • <button> - Clickable button

  • <label> - Labels for form elements

📌 Example Code:

<form action="/submit" method="POST">
    <label for="name">Name:</label>
    <input type="text" id="name" name="name" required>

    <label for="email">Email:</label>
    <input type="email" id="email" name="email">

    <label for="gender">Gender:</label>
    <select id="gender" name="gender">
        <option value="male">Male</option>
        <option value="female">Female</option>
    </select>

    <button type="submit">Submit</button>
</form>

7️⃣ What is the difference between GET and POST methods in a form?

Answer:

FeatureGETPOST
Data in URLVisible (sent in URL)Hidden (sent in body)
SecurityLess secure (URL can be bookmarked)More secure
Data LimitLimited (~2048 characters)Unlimited
Use CaseWhen retrieving data (e.g., search queries)When submitting sensitive data (e.g., login forms)

8️⃣ What are the different types of input fields in HTML5?

Answer:

HTML5 introduced new input types:

📌 Examples:

<input type="text" placeholder="Enter text">
<input type="email" placeholder="Enter email">
<input type="password" placeholder="Enter password">
<input type="number" min="1" max="100">
<input type="date">
<input type="range" min="0" max="100">
<input type="color">
<input type="file">

9️⃣ What is the difference between id and class attributes in HTML?

Answer:

Featureidclass
UniquenessUnique (one per page)Can be used multiple times
Selector in CSS#id.class
Use CaseSpecific element stylingGroup styling

📌 Example:

<div id="header">Unique Header</div>
<p class="highlight">This paragraph has a common class.</p>

CSS:

#header { color: blue; }
.highlight { background-color: yellow; }

🔟 What is the purpose of the <meta> tag in HTML?

Answer:

The <meta> tag provides metadata about the document.

📌 Examples:

<meta charset="UTF-8">  <!-- Defines character encoding -->
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">  <!-- Mobile responsiveness -->
<meta name="description" content="Learn HTML interview questions">  <!-- SEO Optimization -->
<meta name="keywords" content="HTML, CSS, Web Development">  <!-- SEO Keywords -->

📝 Other Important HTML Interview Questions

11. What is the difference between <iframe> and <embed>?

12. What is lazy loading in HTML?

13. What is the difference between relative, absolute, and fixed positioning?

14. What is the use of the rel="noopener noreferrer" attribute in links?

15. What is the difference between <link> and <a> tags?

16. What is the purpose of data-* attributes in HTML?

17. How do you make an element responsive using HTML?

18. What are web storage options in HTML5 (localStorage vs. sessionStorage)?

19. What is the difference between <noscript> and <script>?

20. What is the difference between target="_blank" and target="_self" in links?


CSS Interview Questions & Answers

Here are some of the most commonly asked CSS interview questions, along with their answers and examples.


1️⃣ What is CSS?

Answer:

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used to style and layout web pages, including changing colors, fonts, spacing, and positioning elements.

📌 Example:

body {
    background-color: lightgray;
    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
}

h1 {
    color: blue;
    text-align: center;
}

2️⃣ What are the different types of CSS?

Answer:

1️⃣ Inline CSS (Inside HTML element using style attribute)

<p style="color: red;">This is red text</p>

2️⃣ Internal CSS (Inside <style> tag in HTML)

<style>
    p { color: red; }
</style>

3️⃣ External CSS (Separate .css file linked using <link>)

<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">

3️⃣ What is the difference between id and class in CSS?

Answer:

Featureidclass
UniquenessUnique per pageCan be used multiple times
Selector#id.class
Use CaseFor single elementsFor multiple elements

📌 Example:

#header { color: blue; }
.button { background-color: green; }
<div id="header">Unique Header</div>
<button class="button">Click Me</button>

4️⃣ What are the different types of selectors in CSS?

Answer:

1️⃣ Universal Selector (*) - Applies to all elements

* { margin: 0; padding: 0; }

2️⃣ Element Selector - Targets specific HTML tags

p { font-size: 16px; }

3️⃣ Class Selector (.) - Targets elements with a class

.button { color: white; background-color: red; }

4️⃣ ID Selector (#) - Targets an element with a specific ID

#main-heading { font-size: 24px; }

5️⃣ Child Selector (>) - Targets direct children

div > p { color: blue; }

6️⃣ Descendant Selector (space) - Targets all nested elements

div p { color: red; }

7️⃣ Attribute Selector - Targets elements with specific attributes

input[type="text"] { border: 2px solid black; }

8️⃣ Pseudo-classes (:hover, :nth-child())

button:hover { background-color: yellow; }

5️⃣ What is the difference between relative, absolute, fixed, and sticky positioning in CSS?

Answer:

PositionBehavior
Static (default)Normal document flow
RelativePositioned relative to itself
AbsolutePositioned relative to the nearest positioned ancestor
FixedPositioned relative to the viewport (doesn't scroll)
StickySticks to a position when scrolling

📌 Example:

.relative-box { position: relative; left: 20px; }
.absolute-box { position: absolute; top: 50px; left: 50px; }
.fixed-box { position: fixed; top: 0; left: 0; }
.sticky-box { position: sticky; top: 10px; }

6️⃣ What is Flexbox in CSS?

Answer:

Flexbox is a layout model used to align items inside a container efficiently.

📌 Example:

.container {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
    height: 200px;
}

📌 Key Properties:

  • display: flex; → Enables Flexbox

  • justify-content: → Aligns items horizontally (center, space-between, space-around)

  • align-items: → Aligns items vertically (center, flex-start, flex-end)


7️⃣ What is CSS Grid?

Answer:

CSS Grid is used to create two-dimensional layouts.

📌 Example:

.container {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
    gap: 10px;
}

📌 Key Properties:

  • grid-template-columns → Defines column structure

  • grid-template-rows → Defines row structure

  • gap → Sets space between grid items


8️⃣ What are Pseudo-elements in CSS?

Answer:

Pseudo-elements style specific parts of elements.

📌 Example:

p::first-letter { font-size: 2em; color: red; }
p::before { content: "👉 "; color: green; }

Common pseudo-elements:

  • ::before → Inserts content before

  • ::after → Inserts content after

  • ::first-letter → Styles the first letter

  • ::first-line → Styles the first line


9️⃣ What is the difference between em, rem, px, %, vw, and vh in CSS?

Answer:

UnitRelative To
pxFixed pixels
emParent element's font size
remRoot element's font size (html { font-size: 16px; })
%Relative to parent
vw1% of viewport width
vh1% of viewport height

📌 Example:

p { font-size: 2em; } /* 2 times the parent's font size */

🔟 What are Media Queries in CSS?

Answer:

Media Queries make a website responsive by applying different styles based on screen size.

📌 Example:

@media (max-width: 600px) {
    body { background-color: lightblue; }
}

📌 Breakpoints (Common sizes):

  • max-width: 576px → Mobile

  • max-width: 768px → Tablet

  • max-width: 1024px → Small Desktop

  • max-width: 1200px → Large Desktop


📝 Other Important CSS Interview Questions

11. What is the difference between inline, block, and inline-block elements?

12. What is the difference between visibility: hidden; and display: none;?

13. What is z-index in CSS?

14. What is the difference between max-width, min-width, and width?

15. How do you create a responsive image in CSS?

16. What are CSS animations and transitions?

17. What is the difference between opacity and rgba() in CSS?

18. How do you make an element sticky in CSS?

19. What is the difference between clip-path and mask?

20. What is the use of object-fit in images?


JavaScript Interview Questions & Answers

Here are some commonly asked JavaScript interview questions, categorized into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.


🔹 Basic JavaScript Questions

1️⃣ What is JavaScript?

Answer:

JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language used to create interactive web pages. It is mainly used for client-side scripting but can also be used on the server-side (Node.js).


2️⃣ What are the different data types in JavaScript?

Answer:

JavaScript has 8 data types:

  1. Primitive Types:

    • String"Hello"

    • Number42, 3.14

    • Booleantrue, false

    • Undefinedlet x;

    • Nulllet y = null;

    • BigInt9007199254740991n

    • SymbolSymbol('id')

  2. Reference Type (Non-Primitive):

    • Object{ name: "John", age: 25 }

📌 Example:

let name = "John";  // String
let age = 25;       // Number
let isStudent = true; // Boolean
let city;           // Undefined
let value = null;   // Null

3️⃣ What is the difference between let, const, and var?

Answer:

Featurevarletconst
ScopeFunction-scopedBlock-scopedBlock-scoped
RedeclarationAllowedNot AllowedNot Allowed
ReassignmentAllowedAllowedNot Allowed

📌 Example:

var x = 10;  // Function-scoped
let y = 20;  // Block-scoped
const z = 30; // Cannot be reassigned

4️⃣ What is == vs === in JavaScript?

Answer:

  • == (Loose equality) → Compares values only, converts types if necessary.

  • === (Strict equality) → Compares values & types (No type conversion).

📌 Example:

console.log(5 == "5");  // true  (type conversion)
console.log(5 === "5"); // false (different types)

5️⃣ What are Arrow Functions in JavaScript?

Answer:

Arrow functions are a shorter syntax for function expressions and do not have their own this context.

📌 Example:

const add = (a, b) => a + b;
console.log(add(3, 5)); // Output: 8

🔹 Intermediate JavaScript Questions

6️⃣ What is Hoisting in JavaScript?

Answer:

Hoisting moves function & variable declarations to the top of their scope before execution.

📌 Example:

console.log(x); // Undefined (var is hoisted)
var x = 10;

hoistedFunction(); // Works (function is hoisted)
function hoistedFunction() {
    console.log("I am hoisted!");
}

📌 Note:

  • var is hoisted with undefined value.

  • let & const are hoisted but not initialized.


7️⃣ What is the difference between map(), forEach(), filter(), and reduce()?

Answer:

MethodPurpose
forEach()Iterates over an array but does not return a new array
map()Returns a new array after applying a function to each element
filter()Returns a new array with elements that match a condition
reduce()Reduces array to a single value

📌 Example:

let arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

let doubled = arr.map(num => num * 2); // [2, 4, 6, 8, 10]
let evens = arr.filter(num => num % 2 === 0); // [2, 4]
let sum = arr.reduce((acc, num) => acc + num, 0); // 15

8️⃣ What is Event Delegation in JavaScript?

Answer:

Event Delegation is when a single event listener is used to handle multiple child elements.

📌 Example:

document.getElementById("parent").addEventListener("click", function(event) {
    if (event.target.tagName === "BUTTON") {
        console.log("Button clicked:", event.target.innerText);
    }
});

9️⃣ What is this in JavaScript?

Answer:

this refers to the object that is executing the function.

📌 Example:

const obj = {
    name: "Alice",
    sayHi: function() {
        console.log(this.name); // "Alice"
    }
};
obj.sayHi();

📌 Arrow Function Example:

const obj2 = {
    name: "Bob",
    sayHi: () => {
        console.log(this.name); // Undefined (Arrow function doesn't have its own `this`)
    }
};
obj2.sayHi();

🔹 Advanced JavaScript Questions

🔟 What is Closures in JavaScript?

Answer:

A closure is a function that remembers its outer variables even after execution.

📌 Example:

function outer() {
    let count = 0;
    return function inner() {
        count++;
        console.log(count);
    };
}
const counter = outer();
counter(); // 1
counter(); // 2

🔹 11. What is Debouncing and Throttling in JavaScript?

Answer:

  • Debouncing → Limits function execution after a delay (Used in search bars).

  • Throttling → Limits function execution at fixed intervals (Used in scroll events).

📌 Debounce Example:

function debounce(func, delay) {
    let timer;
    return function(...args) {
        clearTimeout(timer);
        timer = setTimeout(() => func(...args), delay);
    };
}

🔹 12. What is the difference between async/await and Promises?

Answer:

  • Promises.then() & .catch(), non-blocking.

  • async/await → More readable, works inside async functions.

📌 Example (Promise):

fetch("<https://api.example.com/data>")
    .then(response => response.json())
    .then(data => console.log(data))
    .catch(error => console.error(error));

📌 Example (Async/Await):

async function fetchData() {
    try {
        let response = await fetch("<https://api.example.com/data>");
        let data = await response.json();
        console.log(data);
    } catch (error) {
        console.error(error);
    }
}
fetchData();

TypeScript Interview Questions & Answers

Here are some commonly asked TypeScript interview questions, categorized into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.


🔹 Basic TypeScript Questions

1️⃣ What is TypeScript? How is it different from JavaScript?

Answer:

TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript that adds static typing and other features like interfaces, generics, and enums.

🔹 Key Differences:

FeatureJavaScriptTypeScript
TypingDynamically typedStatically typed
CompilationInterpretedCompiled to JavaScript
InterfacesNot availableAvailable
GenericsNot availableAvailable
ES6+ FeaturesPartial supportFull support

📌 Example:

let name: string = "John"; // TypeScript
// let name = "John"; // JavaScript

2️⃣ How do you install TypeScript?

Answer:

You can install TypeScript globally using npm:

npm install -g typescript

To check the installed version:

tsc --version

3️⃣ How do you compile a TypeScript file?

Answer:

Use the TypeScript Compiler (TSC) to compile .ts files to JavaScript:

tsc filename.ts

It will generate filename.js.


4️⃣ What are the basic types in TypeScript?

Answer:

TypeScript has primitive and special types:

TypeExample
string"Hello"
number42, 3.14
booleantrue, false
nullnull
undefinedundefined
anyCan hold any value
voidUsed for functions that don’t return a value
neverUsed for functions that never return (throw errors)

📌 Example:

let age: number = 25;
let isStudent: boolean = false;
let firstName: string = "Alice";

5️⃣ What is Type Inference in TypeScript?

Answer:

TypeScript automatically detects the type of a variable if it's initialized during declaration.

📌 Example:

let age = 30; // TypeScript infers `age` as a number
// age = "Hello"; // ❌ Error: Type 'string' is not assignable to type 'number'

🔹 Intermediate TypeScript Questions

6️⃣ What are Interfaces in TypeScript?

Answer:

Interfaces define a contract for object structure.

📌 Example:

interface User {
    name: string;
    age: number;
    isAdmin?: boolean; // Optional property
}

const user: User = {
    name: "John",
    age: 25,
};

7️⃣ What are Enums in TypeScript?

Answer:

Enums allow defining a set of named constants.

📌 Example:

enum Role {
    User = "USER",
    Admin = "ADMIN",
    Guest = "GUEST",
}

let myRole: Role = Role.Admin;
console.log(myRole); // Output: "ADMIN"

8️⃣ What are Generics in TypeScript?

Answer:

Generics allow reusable components that work with multiple types.

📌 Example:

function getFirstElement<T>(arr: T[]): T {
    return arr[0];
}

let num = getFirstElement<number>([1, 2, 3]); // 1
let str = getFirstElement<string>(["a", "b", "c"]); // "a"

9️⃣ What is the difference between interface and type in TypeScript?

Answer:

Featureinterfacetype
Can extend✅ Yes (extends)❌ No
Can be used for primitives❌ No✅ Yes
Can use unions (``)❌ No

📌 Example:

// Using interface
interface Person {
    name: string;
    age: number;
}

// Using type
type Employee = {
    name: string;
    salary: number;
};

🔟 What is unknown vs any in TypeScript?

Answer:

  • any allows any value, skipping type checks.

  • unknown is safer than any and requires a type check before use.

📌 Example:

let value: any = 10;
value = "hello"; // No error

let data: unknown = "hello";
// console.log(data.toUpperCase()); // ❌ Error
if (typeof data === "string") {
    console.log(data.toUpperCase()); // ✅ Works
}

🔹 Advanced TypeScript Questions

🔹 11. What are Type Guards in TypeScript?

Answer:

Type Guards narrow types during runtime.

📌 Example:

function isString(value: unknown): value is string {
    return typeof value === "string";
}

let value: unknown = "Hello";
if (isString(value)) {
    console.log(value.toUpperCase()); // Works
}

🔹 12. What is the difference between readonly and const?

Answer:

  • readonly → Used for object properties.

  • const → Used for variables.

📌 Example:

const PI = 3.14; // Cannot be reassigned

interface Car {
    readonly brand: string;
}

const myCar: Car = { brand: "Toyota" };
// myCar.brand = "Honda"; // ❌ Error

🔹 13. What is Partial<T>, Pick<T, K>, and Omit<T, K> in TypeScript?

Answer:

These are utility types.

UtilityDescription
Partial<T>Makes all properties optional
Pick<T, K>Picks specific properties from type T
Omit<T, K>Omits specific properties from type T

📌 Example:

interface User {
    name: string;
    age: number;
    email: string;
}

type PartialUser = Partial<User>; // { name?: string, age?: number, email?: string }
type PickedUser = Pick<User, "name" | "email">; // { name: string, email: string }
type OmittedUser = Omit<User, "email">; // { name: string, age: number }

🔹 14. What is never in TypeScript?

Answer:

never is used for functions that never return.

📌 Example:

function throwError(): never {
    throw new Error("Something went wrong!");
}

🔹 15. What are Mapped Types in TypeScript?

Answer:

Mapped types transform object types.

📌 Example:

type ReadonlyUser = {
    [K in keyof User]: Readonly<User[K]>;
};

React Interview Questions & Answers

Here are some commonly asked React interview questions, categorized into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.


🔹 Basic React Questions

1️⃣ What is React?

Answer:

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces (UI). It is maintained by Facebook (Meta) and allows the creation of reusable UI components.

📌 Key Features:

  • Component-based architecture

  • Virtual DOM for better performance

  • Declarative UI

  • One-way data binding

  • Fast rendering using diffing algorithm


2️⃣ What is JSX? Why is it used?

Answer:

JSX (JavaScript XML) is a syntax extension that allows writing HTML inside JavaScript.

📌 Example:

const element = <h1>Hello, React!</h1>;

🔹 JSX gets compiled to:

const element = React.createElement("h1", null, "Hello, React!");

Why use JSX?

  • Makes UI code more readable and expressive.

  • Prevents XSS attacks (sanitizes HTML).


3️⃣ What is the Virtual DOM?

Answer:

The Virtual DOM (VDOM) is a lightweight copy of the real DOM that React uses to optimize rendering.

📌 How it works?

1️⃣ React creates a Virtual DOM copy.

2️⃣ When the state changes, React updates the VDOM.

3️⃣ React compares (diffs) the new and previous VDOM.

4️⃣ It updates only the changed parts in the real DOM (Reconciliation).

Benefit: Improves performance by minimizing direct DOM manipulations.


4️⃣ What are Components in React?

Answer:

Components are reusable UI elements in React.

🔹 Types of Components:

1️⃣ Functional Components (Recommended)

function Welcome(props) {
  return <h1>Hello, {props.name}!</h1>;
}

2️⃣ Class Components (Legacy)

class Welcome extends React.Component {
  render() {
    return <h1>Hello, {this.props.name}!</h1>;
  }
}

Functional components with Hooks are preferred.


🔹 Intermediate React Questions

5️⃣ What is State and Props in React?

Answer:

FeatureStateProps
DefinitionHolds component dataPasses data from parent to child
MutabilityMutable (Can be changed)Immutable (Read-only)
UsageuseState in functional componentsPassed via attributes

📌 Example:

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = React.useState(0);
  return <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Clicked {count} times</button>;
}

6️⃣ What is useState Hook?

Answer:

useState is a Hook that allows state management in functional components.

📌 Example:

const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

<button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increase</button>;

Rules of Hooks:

  • Only call hooks inside React functions

  • Always call hooks at the top level


7️⃣ What is useEffect Hook?

Answer:

useEffect handles side effects (e.g., fetching data, subscriptions).

📌 Example:

useEffect(() => {
  console.log("Component Mounted!");
}, []); // Runs once (like componentDidMount)

Dependency Array:

  • [] → Runs once

  • [var] → Runs when var changes

  • No array → Runs on every render


8️⃣ What is React Context API?

Answer:

React Context provides global state management without prop drilling.

📌 Example:

const ThemeContext = React.createContext("light");

function App() {
  return (
    <ThemeContext.Provider value="dark">
      <Child />
    </ThemeContext.Provider>
  );
}

📌 Using Context:

const theme = useContext(ThemeContext);

Alternative: Use Redux for complex global state management.


9️⃣ What is React Router?

Answer:

React Router enables navigation without reloading.

📌 Example:

import { BrowserRouter, Route, Routes } from "react-router-dom";

function App() {
  return (
    <BrowserRouter>
      <Routes>
        <Route path="/" element={<Home />} />
        <Route path="/about" element={<About />} />
      </Routes>
    </BrowserRouter>
  );
}

Key Components:

  • <BrowserRouter> → Wraps the app

  • <Routes> → Defines all routes

  • <Route> → Maps paths to components


🔟 What is Lazy Loading in React?

Answer:

Lazy Loading reduces bundle size by loading components only when needed.

📌 Example:

const LazyComponent = React.lazy(() => import("./LazyComponent"));

function App() {
  return (
    <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
      <LazyComponent />
    </Suspense>
  );
}

Benefit: Improves performance.


🔹 Advanced React Questions

🔹 11. What is Redux?

Answer:

Redux is a state management library.

📌 Redux Flow:

1️⃣ Actions → Describe events

2️⃣ Reducers → Handle state updates

3️⃣ Store → Holds the state

📌 Example:

const initialState = { count: 0 };

function reducer(state = initialState, action) {
  if (action.type === "INCREMENT") {
    return { count: state.count + 1 };
  }
  return state;
}

const store = createStore(reducer);

Alternatives: React Context API, Zustand, Recoil.


🔹 12. What is the difference between useMemo and useCallback?

Answer:

HookPurpose
useMemoCaches the computed value
useCallbackCaches the function reference

📌 Example:

const memoizedValue = useMemo(() => expensiveCalculation(count), [count]);
const memoizedFunction = useCallback(() => console.log("Clicked!"), []);

Improves performance by reducing re-renders.


🔹 13. What is Server-Side Rendering (SSR) in React?

Answer:

SSR renders components on the server before sending HTML to the client.

📌 Example (Next.js SSR):

export async function getServerSideProps() {
  const data = await fetchAPI();
  return { props: { data } };
}

Benefits:

  • Better SEO

  • Faster first-page load


🔹 14. What is React Fiber?

Answer:

React Fiber is React's new reconciliation engine that improves rendering performance.

📌 Key Features:

  • Asynchronous Rendering

  • Interruptible Rendering

  • Better Animation Handling

Introduced in React 16.


🔹 15. How do you optimize React performance?

Answer:

  • Use React.memo

  • Use useCallback and useMemo

  • Use Lazy Loading

  • Use Code Splitting

  • Optimize re-renders with shouldComponentUpdate


MERN Stack Interview Questions & Answers

The MERN Stack consists of MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js. Below are commonly asked MERN Stack interview questions categorized into different levels.


🔹 Basic MERN Stack Questions

1️⃣ What is the MERN Stack?

Answer:

MERN Stack is a JavaScript-based technology stack used for developing full-stack web applications.

📌 Components:

  • MongoDB → NoSQL database

  • Express.js → Backend framework for Node.js

  • React.js → Frontend library

  • Node.js → JavaScript runtime for backend

Why MERN?

  • Full JavaScript stack (Same language for frontend & backend)

  • Scalable & flexible

  • Uses RESTful APIs for seamless data flow


2️⃣ What is the role of each technology in the MERN stack?

Answer:

TechnologyRole
MongoDBStores and manages application data (NoSQL database)
Express.jsHandles backend logic and APIs (Middleware framework)
React.jsBuilds user interface (Component-based frontend)
Node.jsRuns JavaScript on the server (Backend runtime)

3️⃣ How does data flow in a MERN stack application?

Answer:

📌 MERN Architecture Workflow:

1️⃣ Frontend (React.js) → Sends HTTP requests to the backend.

2️⃣ Backend (Express.js & Node.js) → Processes the request and interacts with the database.

3️⃣ Database (MongoDB) → Stores or retrieves the requested data.

4️⃣ Response Sent → Backend sends data back to the React frontend.

Example:

  • React → Calls API (fetch or Axios)

  • Express → Handles API request (app.get('/api'))

  • MongoDB → Fetches/stores data

  • React → Displays the received data


🔹 Intermediate MERN Stack Questions

4️⃣ How do you connect a MongoDB database to a Node.js application?

Answer:

Use Mongoose (ODM) to connect Node.js with MongoDB.

📌 Example:

const mongoose = require("mongoose");

mongoose
  .connect("mongodb://localhost:27017/myDatabase", { useNewUrlParser: true, useUnifiedTopology: true })
  .then(() => console.log("MongoDB Connected"))
  .catch((err) => console.error("Connection Error:", err));

mongoose.connect() → Establishes a connection.

.then() & .catch() → Handles success and errors.


5️⃣ What is Express.js and why is it used?

Answer:

Express.js is a lightweight, fast, and unopinionated backend framework for Node.js.

📌 Why use Express?

  • Simplifies routing & middleware.

  • Helps in building RESTful APIs.

  • Handles requests and responses easily.

📌 Example: Express Server

const express = require("express");
const app = express();

app.get("/", (req, res) => {
  res.send("Hello, World!");
});

app.listen(5000, () => console.log("Server running on port 5000"));

app.get() → Handles GET requests.

app.listen() → Starts the server.


6️⃣ What is React and why is it used in MERN?

Answer:

React.js is a JavaScript library for building dynamic user interfaces.

📌 Why React?

  • Component-based architecture → Reusable UI elements.

  • Virtual DOM → Faster updates.

  • One-way data binding → Better control of state.

📌 Example: Simple React Component

function App() {
  return <h1>Welcome to MERN Stack!</h1>;
}

export default App;

React handles UI while Express & Node handle the backend.


7️⃣ How do you create a REST API using Express.js?

Answer:

📌 Example: Express API with CRUD Operations

const express = require("express");
const app = express();
app.use(express.json()); // Middleware to parse JSON

let users = [{ id: 1, name: "John Doe" }];

// GET request
app.get("/users", (req, res) => res.json(users));

// POST request
app.post("/users", (req, res) => {
  users.push(req.body);
  res.json({ message: "User added" });
});

// DELETE request
app.delete("/users/:id", (req, res) => {
  users = users.filter((user) => user.id != req.params.id);
  res.json({ message: "User deleted" });
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log("Server running on port 3000"));

Express handles API requests easily with GET, POST, DELETE.


8️⃣ How do you make an API request from React to Express?

Answer:

Use fetch() or Axios to call APIs from React.

📌 Example (Axios Request in React):

import axios from "axios";
import { useEffect, useState } from "react";

function App() {
  const [users, setUsers] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    axios.get("<http://localhost:3000/users>").then((res) => setUsers(res.data));
  }, []);

  return (
    <ul>
      {users.map((user) => (
        <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

export default App;

useEffect() → Calls API when component loads.

Axios fetches data from backend Express API.


🔹 Advanced MERN Stack Questions

9️⃣ How do you implement JWT Authentication in MERN?

Answer:

JWT (JSON Web Token) secures API authentication.

📌 Steps to implement JWT Authentication:

1️⃣ User logs in → Sends credentials.

2️⃣ Server validates & issues a JWT token.

3️⃣ Token is stored (LocalStorage/Cookies).

4️⃣ On API request, token is verified.

📌 Example: Creating a JWT Token in Node.js

const jwt = require("jsonwebtoken");

const user = { id: 1, username: "testUser" };
const token = jwt.sign(user, "secret_key", { expiresIn: "1h" });

console.log("JWT Token:", token);

🔟 How do you deploy a MERN app?

Answer:

📌 Steps to deploy a MERN App:

  • Frontend (React) → Deploy on Vercel/Netlify

  • Backend (Node/Express) → Deploy on Render/AWS/Heroku

  • Database (MongoDB) → Use MongoDB Atlas

  • Reverse Proxy → Configure NGINX

Example Deployment on Vercel:

1️⃣ Install Vercel CLI

npm install -g vercel

2️⃣ Deploy React App

vercel

Next.js Interview Questions & Answers

Next.js is a React framework for building server-rendered and static web applications. It provides SSR (Server-Side Rendering), SSG (Static Site Generation), API routes, and better performance. Below are some commonly asked Next.js interview questions.


🔹 Basic Next.js Questions

1️⃣ What is Next.js? How is it different from React?

Answer:

Next.js is a React framework that enables:

SSR (Server-Side Rendering)

SSG (Static Site Generation)

API Routes

Automatic Code Splitting

📌 Differences Between React & Next.js:

FeatureReact.jsNext.js
RoutingManual (React Router)File-based Routing
RenderingCSR (Client-Side Rendering)SSR, SSG, ISR, CSR
SEONot SEO-friendlySEO-friendly
APINeeds external backend (Node/Express)Built-in API Routes

React is a library, while Next.js is a framework with built-in SSR & routing.


2️⃣ How does Next.js routing work?

Answer:

Next.js uses file-based routing inside the /pages directory.

📌 Example:

File NameURL Route
pages/index.js/
pages/about.js/about
pages/contact.js/contact

📌 Example Code (pages/about.js):

function About() {
  return <h1>About Page</h1>;
}

export default About;

📌 Dynamic Routing:

To create dynamic routes, use [id].js:

// pages/product/[id].js
import { useRouter } from "next/router";

export default function Product() {
  const router = useRouter();
  return <h1>Product ID: {router.query.id}</h1>;
}

📝 Visiting /product/123 → Shows "Product ID: 123".


3️⃣ What are the different rendering methods in Next.js?

Answer:

Next.js supports 4 rendering techniques:

Rendering MethodDescription
SSR (Server-Side Rendering)Page is generated on each request
SSG (Static Site Generation)Page is pre-built at build time
ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration)Static pages update without rebuilding the whole app
CSR (Client-Side Rendering)Like React.js, rendering happens in the browser

4️⃣ How do you use SSR (Server-Side Rendering) in Next.js?

Answer:

Use getServerSideProps() to fetch data on every request.

📌 Example: Fetch API Data with SSR

export async function getServerSideProps() {
  const res = await fetch("<https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1>");
  const data = await res.json();

  return { props: { post: data } };
}

export default function SSRPage({ post }) {
  return <h1>{post.title}</h1>;
}

Runs on every request

Good for dynamic content (e.g., user dashboard)


5️⃣ How do you use SSG (Static Site Generation) in Next.js?

Answer:

Use getStaticProps() to pre-render pages at build time.

📌 Example: Fetch API Data with SSG

export async function getStaticProps() {
  const res = await fetch("<https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1>");
  const data = await res.json();

  return { props: { post: data } };
}

export default function SSGPage({ post }) {
  return <h1>{post.title}</h1>;
}

Runs at build time

Best for blogs, documentation, marketing pages


🔹 Intermediate Next.js Questions

6️⃣ What is ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration) in Next.js?

Answer:

ISR allows updating static pages without rebuilding the whole app.

📌 Example: Updating Data Every 10 Seconds

export async function getStaticProps() {
  const res = await fetch("<https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1>");
  const data = await res.json();

  return { props: { post: data }, revalidate: 10 };
}

New page version is generated every 10 sec

Great for news feeds, blogs, e-commerce


7️⃣ How does API routing work in Next.js?

Answer:

Next.js allows you to create backend APIs inside /pages/api.

📌 Example: Creating an API Endpoint (pages/api/hello.js)

export default function handler(req, res) {
  res.status(200).json({ message: "Hello from API!" });
}

Access at http://localhost:3000/api/hello

No need for Express.js

📌 Example: Dynamic API Route (pages/api/user/[id].js)

export default function handler(req, res) {
  res.status(200).json({ userId: req.query.id });
}

Access at /api/user/123 → Returns { userId: "123" }


8️⃣ How do you handle authentication in Next.js?

Answer:

Use NextAuth.js for authentication.

📌 Example: Adding GitHub OAuth Authentication

npm install next-auth
// pages/api/auth/[...nextauth].js
import NextAuth from "next-auth";
import Providers from "next-auth/providers";

export default NextAuth({
  providers: [
    Providers.GitHub({
      clientId: process.env.GITHUB_ID,
      clientSecret: process.env.GITHUB_SECRET,
    }),
  ],
});

Supports OAuth, JWT, Credentials, etc.

Easy authentication setup


🔹 Advanced Next.js Questions

9️⃣ How do you optimize performance in Next.js?

Answer:

Use Image Optimization (next/image)

Code Splitting & Lazy Loading

Use ISR for fast updates

Enable Caching & CDN

Use SWR for data fetching

📌 Example: Image Optimization

import Image from "next/image";

<Image src="/logo.png" width={300} height={200} alt="Logo" />;

Optimized for lazy loading & resizing


🔟 How do you deploy a Next.js app?

Answer:

📌 Deployment Options:

Vercel (Recommended)

Netlify

AWS EC2 / S3

Docker

📌 Steps to Deploy on Vercel:

1️⃣ Install Vercel CLI

npm install -g vercel

2️⃣ Deploy Project

vercel

3️⃣ Your app is live 🎉


🚀 Final Tips

Understand SSR vs SSG vs ISR

Learn API routes & authentication

Practice dynamic routing & deployment

Optimize Next.js performance

➡️ Operating System (OS) Interview Preparation for Autodesk

📌 Key Topics to Focus On:

1️⃣ Process Management (Processes, Threads, Scheduling)

2️⃣ Memory Management (Paging, Segmentation, Virtual Memory)

3️⃣ Deadlocks (Conditions, Prevention, Avoidance)

4️⃣ File Systems (File Structure, Inodes, Disk Scheduling)

5️⃣ Synchronization (Mutex, Semaphore, Critical Section)


🔹 Frequently Asked OS Interview Questions & Answers

1️⃣ What is a Deadlock?

💡 Answer: A deadlock occurs when a group of processes are stuck in a circular wait, each waiting for a resource that another process is holding.

Four Conditions for Deadlock:

  1. Mutual Exclusion – Only one process can use a resource at a time.

  2. Hold and Wait – A process holding at least one resource is waiting for additional resources.

  3. No Preemption – Resources cannot be forcibly taken from a process.

  4. Circular Wait – A set of processes are waiting on each other in a circular chain.

How to Prevent Deadlocks?

  • Use a resource hierarchy to break circular wait.

  • Implement Banker’s Algorithm for safe resource allocation.

  • Allow preemption of resources when necessary.


2️⃣ What is Paging? How is it different from Segmentation?

💡 Answer:

📌 Paging is a memory management scheme that eliminates fragmentation by dividing memory into fixed-size pages. The logical address is divided into a page number and page offset.

📌 Segmentation divides memory into variable-sized segments based on logical divisions like functions, arrays, and structures.

FeaturePagingSegmentation
SizeFixed-sizeVariable-size
FragmentationInternal FragmentationExternal Fragmentation
Logical ViewNo division of functionsDivides memory into logical sections

Real-life Example:

  • Paging is like dividing a book into equal pages.

  • Segmentation is like dividing a book into chapters of different lengths.


3️⃣ What is a Kernel?

💡 Answer: The Kernel is the core of the operating system that manages hardware and software interactions. It handles processes, memory, file systems, and device management.

Types of Kernels:

  • Monolithic Kernel (e.g., Linux) – All OS services run in the same memory space.

  • Microkernel (e.g., QNX, Minix) – Only essential services (IPC, memory management) run in the kernel.

  • Hybrid Kernel (e.g., Windows, macOS) – A mix of Monolithic and Microkernel.

Why is the Kernel Important?

  • Handles process scheduling & resource allocation.

  • Manages I/O operations & hardware communication.

  • Ensures security & stability of the system.


4️⃣ What is Context Switching?

💡 Answer: Context switching is the process of saving a process's state and switching the CPU to another process. This occurs in multitasking operating systems.

When does Context Switching Happen?

  • Preemptive Scheduling (Round Robin, Priority Scheduling).

  • Interrupt Handling (I/O Interrupts, Timer Interrupts).

  • User to Kernel Mode Switch (System Calls).

Overhead: Context switching takes time (CPU cycles), so minimizing it improves system performance.


5️⃣ What is Thrashing in Virtual Memory?

💡 Answer: Thrashing occurs when a system spends more time swapping pages in and out of memory than executing actual processes, leading to poor performance.

How to Prevent Thrashing?

  • Working Set Model – Ensure enough memory for frequently used pages.

  • Page Fault Frequency (PFF) Algorithm – Increase/decrease memory allocation based on page fault rate.

  • Increase RAM – More physical memory reduces the need for excessive paging.


6️⃣ Difference Between Process and Thread?

💡 Answer:

FeatureProcessThread
DefinitionA running instance of a programA lightweight subprocess within a process
MemoryEach process has its own memory spaceThreads share memory of the process
CommunicationRequires IPC (Inter-Process Communication)Can directly access shared memory
OverheadHigh (Context switching between processes is slow)Low (Switching between threads is fast)
ExampleRunning Chrome and VS Code as separate processesMultiple tabs in Chrome running as threads

Types of Threads:

  • User-Level Threads – Managed by user libraries (e.g., pthreads).

  • Kernel-Level Threads – Managed by the OS (e.g., Linux kernel threads).


7️⃣ What are Scheduling Algorithms?

💡 Answer: Scheduling algorithms decide which process runs next in a multitasking system.

Common Scheduling Algorithms:

  1. First Come First Serve (FCFS) – Runs in order of arrival (Non-preemptive).

  2. Shortest Job Next (SJN) – Runs the shortest process first (Non-preemptive).

  3. Round Robin (RR) – Each process gets a time slice (Preemptive).

  4. Priority Scheduling – Processes are scheduled based on priority.

  5. Multilevel Queue – Divides processes into multiple priority queues.

Example: Round Robin is used in CPU time-sharing systems like OS task management.


8️⃣ What is a Semaphore?

💡 Answer: A semaphore is a synchronization tool used to control access to shared resources.

Types of Semaphores:

  1. Binary Semaphore (Mutex) – Value is 0 or 1 (like a lock).

  2. Counting Semaphore – Allows multiple threads to access a resource (e.g., database connections).

Example of Semaphore Use Case:

A printer queue where only one process can access the printer at a time.


9️⃣ What is Demand Paging?

💡 Answer: Demand Paging is a virtual memory technique where pages are loaded into memory only when needed, reducing memory usage.

How It Works:

  • If a required page is not in RAM → Page Fault occurs.

  • OS loads the page from disk into memory.

Advantages:

  • Reduces memory usage.

  • Increases system efficiency.


🔹 Quick Revision Table for OS Interview

TopicKey Concept
DeadlockCircular waiting for resources
Paging vs SegmentationFixed-size vs Variable-size memory allocation
Context SwitchingSwitching between processes or threads
ThrashingExcessive paging causing slow performance
Process vs ThreadProcess has separate memory; Threads share memory
SchedulingFCFS, RR, SJN, Priority Scheduling
SemaphoreControls access to shared resources
Demand PagingLoads pages only when required

🎯 Last-Minute Tips

Revise key concepts using real-world analogies.

Solve OS coding problems on Leetcode (e.g., Producer-Consumer, Reader-Writer).

Prepare for follow-up questions with practical examples.

Be ready to explain OS concepts in simple terms!


➡️ Computer Networks Interview Preparation for Autodesk 🚀

📌 Key Topics to Focus On:

1️⃣ OSI & TCP/IP Models (Layers, Functions, Differences)

2️⃣ Networking Protocols (HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, TCP, UDP, DNS)

3️⃣ IP Addressing & Subnetting (IPv4, IPv6, CIDR, NAT)

4️⃣ Routing & Switching (Static vs. Dynamic Routing, VLANs)

5️⃣ Network Security (Firewalls, VPNs, SSL/TLS)


🔹 Frequently Asked Computer Networks Interview Questions & Answers

1️⃣ What are the OSI and TCP/IP models?

💡 Answer:

The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model has 7 layers, while the TCP/IP model has 4 layers. These models standardize network communication.

OSI Model Layers:

  1. Physical – Cables, Signals, Bits (e.g., Ethernet, Wi-Fi)

  2. Data Link – MAC Addressing, Error Detection (e.g., Switch, ARP)

  3. Network – Routing, IP Addressing (e.g., IP, Routers)

  4. Transport – End-to-End Communication (e.g., TCP, UDP)

  5. Session – Manages Sessions (e.g., Authentication, API Calls)

  6. Presentation – Data Encryption, Compression (e.g., SSL, TLS)

  7. Application – User Interaction (e.g., HTTP, FTP, SMTP)

TCP/IP Model Layers:

  1. Network Interface (Link Layer) – Combines Physical & Data Link layers

  2. Internet Layer – Equivalent to OSI's Network Layer (IP, ICMP, ARP)

  3. Transport Layer – (TCP, UDP)

  4. Application Layer – Combines OSI's Top 3 Layers (HTTP, FTP, DNS)

Key Difference: OSI is theoretical; TCP/IP is practical & used on the internet.


2️⃣ What is the difference between TCP and UDP?

💡 Answer:

FeatureTCP (Transmission Control Protocol)UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
Connection TypeConnection-OrientedConnectionless
ReliabilityReliable, ensures deliveryUnreliable, no retransmission
SpeedSlower (3-way handshake)Faster
Use CasesWeb Browsing, File Transfer (HTTP, FTP)Streaming, Online Gaming, VoIP

Example:

  • TCP: Downloading a file using HTTP.

  • UDP: Watching a YouTube video (minor packet loss is okay).


3️⃣ What are HTTP and HTTPS?

💡 Answer:

📌 HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is used for web communication. It is stateless and unencrypted.

📌 HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) uses SSL/TLS for encryption, ensuring secure communication.

Key Differences:

  • HTTPS prevents man-in-the-middle attacks by encrypting data.

  • HTTPS uses port 443, while HTTP uses port 80.

  • HTTPS is essential for secure logins, banking transactions, and APIs.

Example: Logging into Gmail uses HTTPS, while accessing a local web server may use HTTP.


4️⃣ What is an IP Address?

💡 Answer:

An IP Address (Internet Protocol Address) is a unique identifier for a device on a network.

Types of IP Addresses:

  • IPv4: 32-bit (e.g., 192.168.1.1)

  • IPv6: 128-bit (e.g., 2001:db8::ff00:42:8329)

Private vs Public IP:

  • Private IP: Used inside a local network (e.g., 192.168.1.10).

  • Public IP: Used on the internet (e.g., 172.217.160.46 for Google).


5️⃣ What is Subnetting?

💡 Answer:

Subnetting divides a network into smaller sub-networks (subnets) to improve efficiency and security.

Example:

  • IP Address: 192.168.1.0/24

  • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 → Allows 256 addresses (0-255)

Why Use Subnetting?

  • Reduces network congestion.

  • Improves security and management.

  • Efficiently allocates IP addresses.


6️⃣ What is a MAC Address?

💡 Answer:

A MAC (Media Access Control) Address is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface card (NIC). It is a 48-bit hexadecimal number (e.g., 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E).

Differences Between IP and MAC Addresses:

FeatureMAC AddressIP Address
TypePhysical (Burned into hardware)Logical (Assigned by ISP or Network Admin)
ScopeWorks within Local NetworkUsed to identify devices globally
Changeable?No (Unless spoofed)Yes

Example: A router uses a MAC Address to forward packets within a LAN but uses an IP Address to communicate on the internet.


7️⃣ What is a Firewall?

💡 Answer:

A firewall is a security device/software that filters network traffic based on predefined rules.

Types of Firewalls:

  • Packet Filtering Firewall – Filters packets based on IP, Port, Protocol.

  • Stateful Inspection Firewall – Tracks connection state for better security.

  • Proxy Firewall – Acts as an intermediary between users and the internet.

Example: A firewall blocks all incoming traffic on port 22 (SSH) except for specific IP addresses.


8️⃣ What is DNS and How Does It Work?

💡 Answer:

DNS (Domain Name System) translates domain names into IP addresses (e.g., google.com → 172.217.160.46).

DNS Lookup Process:

  1. User types www.google.com.

  2. Browser checks cache for the IP.

  3. If not found, a recursive query is sent to a DNS server.

  4. DNS resolves www.google.com to its IP address and returns it.

  5. The browser uses this IP to connect to Google's server.

DNS Record Types:

  • A Record: Maps domain to IPv4.

  • AAAA Record: Maps domain to IPv6.

  • CNAME Record: Maps a domain to another domain.

  • MX Record: Defines mail server for a domain.


9️⃣ What is NAT (Network Address Translation)?

💡 Answer:

NAT allows multiple devices in a private network to share a single public IP address to access the internet.

Types of NAT:

  • Static NAT: One private IP is mapped to one public IP.

  • Dynamic NAT: Private IPs are mapped to a pool of public IPs.

  • PAT (Port Address Translation): Multiple private IPs use a single public IP (most common).

Example: Your WiFi router assigns private IPs (192.168.x.x), but uses NAT to communicate with the internet using one public IP.


🔹 Quick Revision Table for Computer Networks

TopicKey Concept
OSI Model7 Layers for network communication
TCP vs UDPReliable vs. Unreliable, Connection-Oriented vs. Connectionless
HTTP vs HTTPSUnsecured vs. Secured (SSL/TLS)
IP AddressingIPv4 (32-bit), IPv6 (128-bit)
SubnettingDividing a network for efficiency
MAC AddressUnique hardware address of a device
DNSResolves domain names to IP addresses
FirewallFilters incoming and outgoing network traffic
NATConverts private IPs to public IPs

🎯 Last-Minute Tips

Revise using real-world examples (e.g., YouTube uses UDP, Google uses DNS).

Solve networking problems on platforms like GeeksforGeeks, Leetcode.

Understand how your home WiFi network works (Router, DHCP, NAT, Firewall).


🚀 Git Commands for Autodesk Interview Preparation

Git is an essential tool for version control. You should be familiar with commonly used Git commands, their purpose, and how they work. Below is a structured guide to help you revise quickly.


📌 Basic Git Commands

CommandDescriptionExample
git initInitializes a new Git repositorygit init
git clone <repo-url>Clones a remote repository to localgit clone <https://github.com/user/repo.git\>
git statusShows the status of the working directorygit status
git add <file>Stages a file for commitgit add index.html
git add .Stages all modified filesgit add .
git commit -m "message"Commits staged changes with a messagegit commit -m "Added login feature"
git logDisplays commit historygit log
git branchLists all branchesgit branch
git branch <branch-name>Creates a new branchgit branch feature-1
git checkout <branch>Switches to another branchgit checkout feature-1
git checkout -b <branch>Creates and switches to a new branchgit checkout -b new-feature

🔹 Working with Remote Repositories

CommandDescriptionExample
git remote -vShows remote repository URLgit remote -v
git remote add origin <url>Links local repo to a remote repogit remote add origin <https://github.com/user/repo.git\>
git push origin <branch>Pushes local branch changes to remotegit push origin main
git pull origin <branch>Pulls latest changes from remotegit pull origin main
git fetchFetches changes from remote but doesn’t mergegit fetch origin

🔹 Undoing Changes & Fixing Mistakes

CommandDescriptionExample
git reset --hard HEADDiscards all uncommitted changesgit reset --hard HEAD
git reset --soft HEAD~1Moves the last commit to the staging areagit reset --soft HEAD~1
git revert <commit>Reverts a commit by creating a new commitgit revert a1b2c3d
git stashTemporarily saves uncommitted changesgit stash
git stash popRestores stashed changesgit stash pop

🔹 Merging & Rebasing

CommandDescriptionExample
git merge <branch>Merges changes from another branchgit merge feature-1
git rebase <branch>Reapplies commits on top of another branchgit rebase main
git cherry-pick <commit>Applies a specific commit to another branchgit cherry-pick a1b2c3d

🔹 Handling Conflicts

  1. Git shows conflict markers (<<<<<<<, =======, >>>>>>>) when merging conflicting branches.

  2. Manually resolve the conflict, remove conflict markers, and save the file.

  3. Run git add <file> to stage the resolved file.

  4. Commit the changes using git commit -m "Resolved merge conflict".


🔹 Advanced Git Commands

CommandDescriptionExample
git reflogShows all actions performed on HEADgit reflog
git bisectHelps find the commit that introduced a buggit bisect start
git tag <tag-name>Creates a tag for a releasegit tag v1.0
git blame <file>Shows who changed each line of a filegit blame index.html

🔹 Git Interview Questions & Answers

1️⃣ What is the difference between git fetch and git pull?

💡 Answer:

  • git fetch retrieves changes from the remote repository but doesn’t merge them.

  • git pull fetches and merges changes in one step.

  • Example:

git fetch origin
git merge origin/main  # Manually merges changes
# OR
git pull origin main  # Fetch + Merge in one step

2️⃣ How do you undo the last commit in Git?

💡 Answer:

  • To undo the last commit but keep the changes:

      git reset --soft HEAD~1
    
  • To undo and discard changes completely:

      git reset --hard HEAD~1
    

3️⃣ What is the difference between git merge and git rebase?

💡 Answer:

Featuregit mergegit rebase
BehaviorMerges changes & creates a new merge commitReapplies commits on top of another branch
Commit HistoryKeeps all commits, including merge commitsCreates a linear commit history
Use CasePreserves branch history (use in feature branches)Keeps history clean (use in personal branches)

Example:

git merge main  # Merge feature branch into main
git rebase main  # Apply commits on top of main

4️⃣ How do you resolve a merge conflict?

💡 Answer:

  1. Git will highlight conflicts in the file:

     <<<<<<< HEAD
     Current changes in the branch
     =======
     Changes from the other branch
     >>>>>>> feature-branch
    
  2. Manually edit the file, keeping the correct version.

  3. Run:

     git add <file>
     git commit -m "Resolved merge conflict"
    

5️⃣ What is Git Stash and when do you use it?

💡 Answer:

Git Stash is used to temporarily save uncommitted changes without committing them.

Example Usage:

git stash          # Stash changes
git stash list     # View stashed changes
git stash pop      # Apply stashed changes

Use Case:

When working on a feature and switching branches without committing.


🎯 Quick Revision Cheatsheet

CommandPurpose
git initInitialize a repository
git clone <repo-url>Clone a repo
git add .Stage all files
git commit -m "msg"Commit changes
git push origin <branch>Push changes to remote
git pull origin <branch>Get latest changes
git merge <branch>Merge branches
git rebase <branch>Reapply commits
git stashSave changes temporarily
git reset --hard HEADDiscard all uncommitted changes

🚀 Last-Minute Tips for Autodesk Git Interview

Know basic Git workflows (clone → branch → commit → push → merge).

Understand how to resolve conflicts and undo mistakes.

Be familiar with git rebase vs git merge.

Practice common Git scenarios using a dummy repo on GitHub.


📌 APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) - Autodesk Interview Preparation

APIs are a crucial part of software development, enabling communication between different systems. Below is a quick revision guide on APIs along with interview questions and answers.


🔹 What is an API?

API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules that allows one software application to communicate with another. It defines how requests and responses should be structured.

Example:

  • Weather API → You send a city name, and it returns weather details.

  • Payment API (Razorpay, Stripe) → You send payment details, and it processes the transaction.


🔹 Types of APIs

TypeDescriptionExample
REST APIUses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and works with JSON/XMLTwitter API, Google Maps API
SOAP APIUses XML-based protocol, more secure but complexBank transaction APIs
GraphQL APIAllows clients to request exactly the data they needGitHub GraphQL API
WebSocket APIFor real-time communication (two-way)Chat applications, Stock market data

🔹 RESTful API (Most Common in Interviews)

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. It follows these principles:

  1. Client-Server Architecture → Frontend and backend communicate via API.

  2. Stateless → Each request is independent; no session is stored on the server.

  3. Cacheable → Responses can be cached for efficiency.

  4. Uniform Interface → Uses standard HTTP methods.

📌 REST API Methods

HTTP MethodPurposeExample
GETRetrieve dataGET /users (Fetch all users)
POSTCreate new resourcePOST /users (Add a new user)
PUTUpdate existing resourcePUT /users/1 (Update user with ID 1)
DELETERemove resourceDELETE /users/1 (Delete user with ID 1)

Example:

GET /users
Host: api.example.com

Response (JSON):

{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "Deepak",
  "email": "deepak@example.com"
}

🔹 API Authentication & Security

MethodDescriptionExample
API KeyA secret key in headers or query paramsGET /data?api_key=xyz
OAuth 2.0Token-based authentication (used for third-party login)Google, Facebook Login
JWT (JSON Web Token)Secure, self-contained authentication tokenUsed in web apps
Basic AuthUsername and password in headersAuthorization: Basic base64(username:password)

Example: API Key in Headers

GET /data
Authorization: Bearer your-api-key

🔹 API Response Codes (HTTP Status Codes)

Status CodeMeaningExample
200 OKSuccessful requestAPI returned expected data
201 CreatedNew resource createdUser created successfully
400 Bad RequestInvalid request from clientMissing required parameters
401 UnauthorizedAuthentication failedIncorrect API key
403 ForbiddenAccess deniedUser doesn't have permission
404 Not FoundRequested resource not foundInvalid API endpoint
500 Internal Server ErrorAPI server crashedBug in API

🔹 API Interview Questions & Answers

1️⃣ What is RESTful API, and why is it used?

💡 Answer:

RESTful API follows REST architecture principles and uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to interact with web services. It is widely used because it is scalable, stateless, and cacheable.

Example:

  • GET /products → Fetch all products

  • POST /products → Add a new product


2️⃣ What is the difference between REST and SOAP APIs?

FeatureREST APISOAP API
ProtocolUses HTTPUses XML over HTTP, SMTP, etc.
FormatJSON or XMLXML only
SpeedFasterSlower
UsageWeb services, mobile appsBanking, security apps

Example: REST API is used in Google Maps API, while SOAP API is used in bank transactions.


3️⃣ What is GraphQL, and how is it different from REST?

💡 Answer:

GraphQL is a query language for APIs that allows clients to request exactly the data they need.

FeatureREST APIGraphQL API
Data FetchingFixed endpointsFlexible queries
Over-fetchingReturns extra dataReturns only requested data
SpeedMay need multiple requestsSingle request for all data

Example:

query {
  user(id: 1) {
    name
    email
  }
}

4️⃣ What is the difference between PUT and PATCH in REST API?

MethodDescriptionExample
PUTUpdates the entire resourcePUT /users/1 with full user data
PATCHPartially updates a resourcePATCH /users/1 with only changed fields

Example:

PATCH /users/1
{
  "name": "New Name"
}

5️⃣ How do you handle API rate limiting?

💡 Answer:

API rate limiting is used to restrict excessive API requests to prevent abuse.

🔹 Techniques:

  1. Token Bucket Algorithm – Allow requests at a fixed rate.

  2. Leaky Bucket Algorithm – Process requests at a steady rate.

  3. Retry with exponential backoff – If rate limited, retry after increasing delays.

Example:

If an API allows 100 requests per minute, the server may return:

HTTP/1.1 429 Too Many Requests
Retry-After: 30

🔹 Real-world API Scenarios Asked in Interviews

1️⃣ How do you call an API in JavaScript (Frontend)?

Using Fetch API:

fetch("<https://api.example.com/users>")
  .then(response => response.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(error => console.error(error));

Using Axios:

axios.get("<https://api.example.com/users>")
  .then(response => console.log(response.data))
  .catch(error => console.error(error));

2️⃣ How do you create an API in Node.js (Backend)?

Example using Express.js:

const express = require("express");
const app = express();

app.get("/users", (req, res) => {
  res.json([{ id: 1, name: "Deepak" }]);
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log("Server running on port 3000"));

🚀 Last-Minute Tips for Autodesk API Interview

Understand HTTP methods and status codes.

Know how authentication works (JWT, OAuth, API keys).

Be ready to explain REST vs GraphQL vs SOAP.

Practice API calls using Postman, Fetch API, and Axios.

Know how to handle API errors and rate limiting.


📌 SQL - Autodesk Interview Preparation Guide

SQL (Structured Query Language) is used to manage and manipulate relational databases. Below is a quick revision guide along with important interview questions and answers for your Autodesk interview.


🔹 Basic SQL Commands

CommandPurposeExample
SELECTFetch data from a tableSELECT * FROM employees;
INSERTAdd new data to a tableINSERT INTO employees (name, age) VALUES ('John', 30);
UPDATEModify existing dataUPDATE employees SET age = 32 WHERE name = 'John';
DELETERemove data from a tableDELETE FROM employees WHERE name = 'John';
WHEREApply conditions to filter dataSELECT * FROM employees WHERE age > 30;
ORDER BYSort resultsSELECT * FROM employees ORDER BY age DESC;
GROUP BYGroup rows based on a columnSELECT department, COUNT(*) FROM employees GROUP BY department;
HAVINGFilter groups after aggregationSELECT department, COUNT(*) FROM employees GROUP BY department HAVING COUNT(*) > 10;
LIMITRestrict the number of rows returnedSELECT * FROM employees LIMIT 5;

🔹 Important SQL Topics for Autodesk Interview

1️⃣ Basic Queries

  • Fetching data using SELECT

  • Filtering with WHERE

  • Sorting results using ORDER BY

  • Removing duplicates using DISTINCT

Example:

SELECT DISTINCT department FROM employees WHERE salary > 50000 ORDER BY department;

2️⃣ Joins (Important in Interviews!)

Join TypeDescriptionExample
INNER JOINReturns only matching records from both tablesJOIN employees e ON d.id = e.dept_id
LEFT JOINReturns all records from the left table and matching records from the rightLEFT JOIN employees e ON d.id = e.dept_id
RIGHT JOINReturns all records from the right table and matching records from the leftRIGHT JOIN employees e ON d.id = e.dept_id
FULL JOINReturns all records from both tablesFULL JOIN employees e ON d.id = e.dept_id

Example:

SELECT employees.name, departments.department_name
FROM employees
INNER JOIN departments ON employees.dept_id = departments.id;

3️⃣ Aggregation Functions

  • COUNT() – Count records

  • SUM() – Sum of values

  • AVG() – Average of values

  • MIN() / MAX() – Minimum / Maximum value

Example:

SELECT department, AVG(salary) AS avg_salary
FROM employees
GROUP BY department
HAVING AVG(salary) > 50000;

4️⃣ Subqueries

A query inside another query.

Example: Find employees earning more than the average salary

SELECT name, salary FROM employees
WHERE salary > (SELECT AVG(salary) FROM employees);

5️⃣ Window Functions (Frequently Asked in Interviews!)

FunctionDescriptionExample
ROW_NUMBER()Assigns a unique row numberROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY dept ORDER BY salary DESC)
RANK()Ranks with gaps for duplicatesRANK() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC)
DENSE_RANK()Ranks without gaps for duplicatesDENSE_RANK() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC)
NTILE(n)Divides data into n equal partsNTILE(4) OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC)
LEAD()Gets next row valueLEAD(salary) OVER (ORDER BY salary)
LAG()Gets previous row valueLAG(salary) OVER (ORDER BY salary)

Example: Rank Employees by Salary

SELECT name, salary,
       RANK() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) AS rank
FROM employees;

Example: Get Previous and Next Employee Salary

SELECT name, salary,
       LAG(salary) OVER (ORDER BY salary) AS prev_salary,
       LEAD(salary) OVER (ORDER BY salary) AS next_salary
FROM employees;

6️⃣ Common Table Expressions (CTEs)

CTEs improve readability and reusability of queries.

Example: Find Employees with Above-Average Salary

WITH avg_salary AS (
    SELECT AVG(salary) AS salary_avg FROM employees
)
SELECT name, salary FROM employees
WHERE salary > (SELECT salary_avg FROM avg_salary);

7️⃣ Indexing

Indexes speed up query execution but slow down inserts/updates.

Example: Create an Index on Employee Name

CREATE INDEX idx_employee_name ON employees(name);

🔹 SQL Interview Questions & Answers

1️⃣ What is the difference between WHERE and HAVING?

FeatureWHEREHAVING
Used WithSELECT, UPDATE, DELETEGROUP BY
FiltersIndividual rowsAggregated results
ExampleSELECT * FROM employees WHERE salary > 50000;SELECT department, AVG(salary) FROM employees GROUP BY department HAVING AVG(salary) > 50000;

2️⃣ How to find the second-highest salary?

Using LIMIT & OFFSET:

SELECT salary FROM employees ORDER BY salary DESC LIMIT 1 OFFSET 1;

Using Subquery:

SELECT MAX(salary) FROM employees WHERE salary < (SELECT MAX(salary) FROM employees);

3️⃣ How to delete duplicate records from a table?

Using ROW_NUMBER():

WITH CTE AS (
    SELECT *, ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY name ORDER BY id) AS rn
    FROM employees
)
DELETE FROM employees WHERE id IN (SELECT id FROM CTE WHERE rn > 1);

4️⃣ What is the difference between RANK(), DENSE_RANK(), and ROW_NUMBER()?

FunctionDescription
ROW_NUMBER()Unique row number, no duplicates
RANK()Assigns rank, but skips numbers for ties
DENSE_RANK()Assigns rank, but no gaps for ties

Example:

SELECT name, salary,
       RANK() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) AS Rank,
       DENSE_RANK() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) AS DenseRank,
       ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) AS RowNum
FROM employees;

🚀 Last-Minute Tips for Autodesk SQL Interview

Revise SQL Joins (INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, FULL).

Understand GROUP BY, HAVING, and Aggregate Functions.

Practice Common Table Expressions (CTE) and Window Functions.

Learn Query Optimization (Indexes, Explain Plan).

Solve at least 10 SQL problems on LeetCode/GFG.


AWS Basics for Autodesk Interview

Here’s a quick guide to AWS topics that may come up in your Autodesk 2nd round interview:


🔹 1. EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud)

What is it?

  • A virtual machine (server) on the cloud.

  • You can choose CPU, RAM, OS (Linux/Windows), and storage.

Common Questions:

  • What is EC2, and how does it work?

  • What are the different EC2 instance types?

    • T-series (T2, T3) → General purpose

    • M-series (M5, M6g) → Balanced performance

    • C-series (C5, C6g) → Compute-optimized

Basic Commands:

bash
CopyEdit
aws ec2 describe-instances   # Get info about EC2 instances
aws ec2 stop-instances --instance-ids i-1234567890abcdef0
aws ec2 start-instances --instance-ids i-1234567890abcdef0

🔹 2. S3 (Simple Storage Service)

What is it?

  • Cloud storage for files, images, and backups.

  • Supports versioning, lifecycle rules, and public/private access.

Common Questions:

  • How does S3 store data?

    • Buckets (like folders) → Objects (files)
  • What are the storage classes?

    • Standard → Frequent access

    • IA (Infrequent Access) → Cheaper for backups

    • Glacier → Cheapest, long-term storage

Basic Commands:

bash
CopyEdit
aws s3 ls                            # List all S3 buckets
aws s3 cp file.txt s3://my-bucket/   # Upload a file
aws s3 sync my-folder s3://my-bucket/  # Sync a local folder to S3

🔹 3. IAM (Identity and Access Management)

What is it?

  • Controls who can access what in AWS.

Common Questions:

  • What are IAM Roles, Users, and Policies?

    • Users → Individual accounts

    • Groups → Collection of users

    • Roles → Assigned to AWS services

    • Policies → Rules defining access

Basic Example:

json
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{
  "Effect": "Allow",
  "Action": "s3:*",
  "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"
}

🔹 4. AWS Lambda

What is it?

  • Serverless function execution (run code without managing servers).

  • Supports Python, Node.js, Java, etc.

Common Questions:

  • How does AWS Lambda scale?

    • Automatically scales based on requests.
  • What triggers a Lambda function?

    • S3 uploads, API Gateway, CloudWatch events, etc.

Basic Example (Node.js Lambda function):

javascript
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exports.handler = async (event) => {
    return { statusCode: 200, body: "Hello from AWS Lambda!" };
};

🔹 5. RDS (Relational Database Service)

What is it?

  • Managed database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, etc.

Common Questions:

  • How is RDS different from EC2 database setup?

    • RDS is managed (automatic backups, scaling).

    • EC2 DB is self-managed (manual setup).

Basic Commands:

bash
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aws rds describe-db-instances

🔹 6. CloudWatch (Monitoring)

What is it?

  • Monitors AWS resources (CPU, memory, logs).

  • Can trigger alerts when something goes wrong.

Basic Example:

  • Set up a CloudWatch Alarm to restart an EC2 instance if CPU usage is low.
bash
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aws cloudwatch describe-alarms

🎯 Quick Revision

AWS ServicePurpose
EC2Virtual Machines (Compute)
S3Cloud Storage (Buckets)
IAMUser Permissions & Access Control
LambdaServerless Functions
RDSManaged Databases
CloudWatchMonitoring & Alerts

🚀 What You Should Do Next

Watch a quick 30-min AWS tutorial (YouTube).

Try AWS Free Tier → Deploy an EC2 instance & S3 bucket.

Read AWS Docs on EC2, S3, and IAM.


🔹 Sample AWS Interview Answers & Questions

Here are mock questions and sample answers to help you prepare for Autodesk's interview.


🟢 1. What is Amazon EC2, and how does it work?

Answer:

Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) provides scalable virtual servers (instances) in the cloud. It allows users to launch, stop, restart, and terminate instances on demand. You can choose different instance types based on your needs (CPU, RAM, storage).

🔹 Example Use Case: Running a web server (e.g., Nginx, Apache) on an EC2 instance to host a website.

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • What are the different EC2 instance types, and when would you use each?

🟢 2. What are the different storage classes in S3, and when should you use them?

Answer:

S3 provides multiple storage classes for different use cases:

1️⃣ Standard → Frequently accessed data (e.g., images, website files).

2️⃣ Standard-IA (Infrequent Access) → Backup data (cheaper, but retrieval costs apply).

3️⃣ Glacier → Long-term archives (very cheap but slow retrieval).

4️⃣ Glacier Deep Archive → Extremely long-term storage (cheapest).

🔹 Example Use Case: Store user profile pictures in S3 Standard and old logs in Glacier.

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • How does S3 ensure data durability and availability?

🟢 3. How does IAM help in securing AWS resources?

Answer:

IAM (Identity and Access Management) controls who can access AWS services and what actions they can perform. It ensures security by:

Users & Groups → Assign permissions to people or teams.

Roles → Assign temporary permissions to AWS services (e.g., Lambda needs access to S3).

Policies → JSON-based rules defining permissions (e.g., allow read-only access to S3).

🔹 Example:

A developer user should have access to EC2 but not billing details (restrict via IAM policy).

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • What is the difference between IAM Users and IAM Roles?

🟢 4. What is AWS Lambda, and when would you use it?

Answer:

AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service that runs code without managing servers. It executes event-driven code and automatically scales.

🔹 Example Use Cases:

  • Resize images automatically when uploaded to S3.

  • Trigger an email when a user signs up (via API Gateway + Lambda).

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • How does Lambda scale to handle multiple requests?

🟢 5. What is RDS, and how is it different from running a database on EC2?

Answer:

Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service) is a managed database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, etc.

RDS (Managed DB) → Handles backups, scaling, and maintenance automatically.

EC2 (Self-managed DB) → Requires manual setup, monitoring, and backups.

🔹 Example Use Case:

Use RDS for production databases and EC2 for experimental setups.

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • How does Amazon RDS handle automatic backups?

🟢 6. What is AWS CloudWatch, and how does it help with monitoring?

Answer:

AWS CloudWatch monitors AWS resources and applications. It helps track metrics (CPU, memory, latency) and set alerts if thresholds are exceeded.

🔹 Example Use Case:

  • Set up an alert to restart an EC2 instance if CPU usage exceeds 80%.

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • How would you set up a CloudWatch alarm to trigger an action?

🟢 7. What is an Auto Scaling Group (ASG)?

Answer:

An Auto Scaling Group (ASG) automatically adds or removes EC2 instances based on demand. It helps maintain high availability.

🔹 Example Use Case:

  • If website traffic increases, ASG launches new instances.

  • If traffic decreases, ASG removes instances to save costs.

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • What metrics can be used for auto-scaling?

🟢 8. What is the difference between Private and Public S3 Buckets?

Answer:

Public Bucket → Accessible by anyone (e.g., hosting a website).

Private Bucket → Restricted access (default setting for security).

🔹 Example:

A company stores confidential reports in a private S3 bucket but allows users to download public files.

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • How do you secure S3 buckets from unauthorized access?

🟢 9. What is AWS API Gateway, and how does it work?

Answer:

AWS API Gateway is a fully managed service for creating, deploying, and managing APIs. It connects frontend applications with backend services (e.g., Lambda, EC2, databases).

🔹 Example Use Case:

A mobile app makes API calls to API Gateway, which triggers an AWS Lambda function to fetch data from a database.

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • How does API Gateway handle authentication?

🟢 10. What is AWS VPC, and why is it important?

Answer:

AWS VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) allows users to create isolated networks for security and performance.

🔹 Example Use Case:

  • A company hosts a private database in a VPC, restricting external access.

📝 Follow-up Question:

  • What is the difference between a Public and Private Subnet in a VPC?

🚀 How to Prepare Efficiently?

Watch a 30-min AWS Basics video on YouTube.

Try AWS Free Tier: Launch an EC2 instance and an S3 bucket.

Read AWS Documentation on EC2, S3, IAM, RDS, Lambda.

Practice explaining AWS concepts in 1-2 minutes (mock interview).


🚀 AWS Mock Interview Scenarios & Questions

Here are some real-world AWS scenarios to help you practice for Autodesk's interview. Try answering these questions in a structured way:

🔹 Answering Format:

1️⃣ Explain the concept in 1-2 sentences.

2️⃣ Give a real-world example (relatable use case).

3️⃣ Mention key AWS services involved.


🟢 Scenario 1: Website Traffic Spike Issue

🔹 Problem:

Your company runs an e-commerce website hosted on EC2 instances. During a flash sale, the website becomes slow and crashes due to high traffic.

👉 Question: How would you handle this using AWS services?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ Use an Auto Scaling Group (ASG) to dynamically increase EC2 instances when traffic spikes.

2️⃣ Deploy an Elastic Load Balancer (ELB) to distribute traffic across multiple instances.

3️⃣ Store static assets (images, CSS, JS) in Amazon S3 and use CloudFront CDN to cache content for faster delivery.

4️⃣ Use RDS Read Replicas to scale database reads if database load is high.


🟢 Scenario 2: Secure Private Data in S3

🔹 Problem:

A client needs to store confidential user data in Amazon S3 but wants to ensure only specific employees can access it.

👉 Question: How would you secure the S3 bucket?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ Set bucket policies to allow access only to specific IAM roles or users.

2️⃣ Enable AWS IAM permissions to restrict access at the user level.

3️⃣ Use S3 Server-Side Encryption (SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS) to encrypt data.

4️⃣ Enable MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) Delete to prevent accidental deletions.


🟢 Scenario 3: Serverless Image Processing

🔹 Problem:

Your company wants to automatically resize images when users upload them to an S3 bucket, without managing servers.

👉 Question: How would you build this using AWS?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ When an image is uploaded to S3, it triggers an AWS Lambda function via an S3 event notification.

2️⃣ The Lambda function resizes the image using Python (Pillow library) or Node.js and saves it back to another S3 bucket.

3️⃣ Use CloudFront to serve optimized images for fast delivery.


🟢 Scenario 4: High Availability for a Database

🔹 Problem:

A database hosted on a single EC2 instance goes down due to hardware failure, causing downtime.

👉 Question: How would you make the database highly available?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ Use Amazon RDS Multi-AZ Deployment for automatic failover.

2️⃣ Use RDS Read Replicas to handle more database reads and improve performance.

3️⃣ Deploy DynamoDB (NoSQL) or Aurora (Relational DB) for auto-scaling if needed.

4️⃣ Implement backups with RDS Automated Backups or Snapshots to restore in case of failure.


🟢 Scenario 5: API Gateway Authentication

🔹 Problem:

Your company is building a REST API using AWS API Gateway and AWS Lambda. How can you secure the API from unauthorized access?

👉 Question: How would you implement authentication for API requests?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ Use Amazon Cognito for authentication, allowing users to sign in securely.

2️⃣ Use API Gateway Resource Policies to allow access only from certain IPs or VPCs.

3️⃣ Implement JWT-based authentication using Lambda Authorizer for role-based access.

4️⃣ Enable AWS WAF (Web Application Firewall) to block malicious requests.


🟢 Scenario 6: Reducing EC2 Costs

🔹 Problem:

Your company runs multiple EC2 instances for development, and costs are high. How would you reduce AWS costs?

👉 Question: What strategies would you use to optimize EC2 costs?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ Use Spot Instances for non-critical workloads (e.g., batch processing).

2️⃣ Use Auto Scaling to automatically shut down unused instances during non-peak hours.

3️⃣ Switch to AWS Lambda if possible (serverless reduces costs).

4️⃣ Use AWS Compute Savings Plans to get discounts for long-term usage.


🟢 Scenario 7: Disaster Recovery Plan

🔹 Problem:

A client's AWS region goes down, making their application inaccessible. How would you design a disaster recovery (DR) solution?

👉 Question: What AWS services would you use for disaster recovery?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ Use Cross-Region Replication (CRR) in S3 to store backups in another region.

2️⃣ Deploy an active-passive setup with Route 53 DNS failover to redirect traffic to another region.

3️⃣ Use AWS Backup to store backups of EC2, RDS, and other resources in another region.

4️⃣ Use CloudFormation or Terraform to automate infrastructure setup in case of failure.


🟢 Scenario 8: Securing AWS Infrastructure

🔹 Problem:

Your company wants to secure AWS resources and prevent unauthorized access.

👉 Question: What AWS security best practices would you recommend?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ Enable AWS IAM least privilege access (only necessary permissions).

2️⃣ Use AWS Shield & AWS WAF to protect against DDoS attacks.

3️⃣ Enable CloudTrail to log all API requests for security auditing.

4️⃣ Use Security Groups & Network ACLs to restrict incoming and outgoing traffic.


🟢 Scenario 9: Migrating On-Premise to AWS

🔹 Problem:

A company wants to migrate on-premise applications to AWS with minimal downtime.

👉 Question: What AWS services would you use for smooth migration?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ Use AWS Snowball for large-scale data transfer.

2️⃣ Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) to migrate databases with minimal downtime.

3️⃣ Use AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) to lift-and-shift servers.

4️⃣ Use CloudEndure Migration for real-time replication of on-prem servers to AWS.


🟢 Scenario 10: Monitoring AWS Resources

🔹 Problem:

A client wants to monitor CPU usage, network traffic, and application logs for their AWS infrastructure.

👉 Question: How would you implement monitoring and alerting?

Expected Answer:

1️⃣ Use CloudWatch Metrics & Dashboards to monitor EC2, RDS, and S3 performance.

2️⃣ Use CloudWatch Alarms to trigger notifications (e.g., email via SNS).

3️⃣ Use AWS CloudTrail for logging API activity.

4️⃣ Use AWS Config to track infrastructure changes.


🚀 Next Steps: How to Prepare?

Practice explaining answers aloud in 1-2 minutes.

Try a free AWS account and test these services hands-on.

Watch AWS tutorials on YouTube (e.g., AWS EC2, Lambda, S3 basics).

Use AWS Skill Builder (official AWS practice platform).


AI/ML Overview for Interviews

In the Autodesk interview, they might ask basic AI/ML concepts, applications, or how AI/ML can be integrated into real-world projects. Here’s how you can prepare:


1️⃣ What is AI and ML?

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a broad field where machines mimic human intelligence (e.g., chatbots, recommendation systems).

  • Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of AI where algorithms learn from data and improve over time without being explicitly programmed.

📌 Example: Google’s search suggestions, Netflix’s movie recommendations, and self-driving cars use AI/ML.


2️⃣ Types of Machine Learning

Supervised Learning – The model learns from labeled data (e.g., spam detection).

Unsupervised Learning – The model finds patterns in unlabeled data (e.g., customer segmentation).

Reinforcement Learning – The model learns from rewards/punishments (e.g., game-playing AI like AlphaGo).

📌 Example:

  • Supervised Learning: Predicting house prices based on past data.

  • Unsupervised Learning: Grouping customers into different categories based on shopping habits.


3️⃣ Key AI/ML Concepts for Interviews

🟢 Overfitting & Underfitting – Overfitting means the model memorizes data but fails on new data, underfitting means the model is too simple.

🟢 Bias-Variance Tradeoff – Balance between too complex (high variance) and too simple (high bias) models.

🟢 Feature Engineering – Selecting the right inputs for the ML model to improve accuracy.

🟢 Neural Networks & Deep Learning – Used for image recognition, NLP, and complex tasks (e.g., ChatGPT, self-driving cars).


4️⃣ AI/ML in Real-World Applications

Computer Vision – Face recognition, self-driving cars.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) – Chatbots, voice assistants.

Recommendation Systems – Amazon, Netflix, YouTube.

Healthcare – Disease prediction, medical image analysis.

📌 Example: Autodesk may use AI/ML for predictive analytics in designing and simulating models in CAD software.


5️⃣ AI/ML in Autodesk Interview – Sample Questions

Q1: What is the difference between AI and ML?

Q2: Can you explain Supervised vs. Unsupervised Learning with examples?

Q3: How do you handle overfitting in ML models?

Q4: What are some real-world applications of AI/ML?

Q5: How can AI be used in design and engineering software?


🚀 Quick Answer Template for Interviews

"Machine Learning is a subset of AI where models learn from data. It is used in applications like recommendation systems, fraud detection, and self-driving cars. There are three main types: Supervised (labeled data), Unsupervised (pattern detection), and Reinforcement Learning (reward-based learning). In Autodesk, AI/ML can help in automating design simulations, optimizing workflows, and improving predictive analysis in engineering models."


AI/ML Interview Sample Questions & Answers

Here are some commonly asked AI/ML interview questions along with concise and clear answers:


1️⃣ What is the difference between AI, ML, and Deep Learning?

Answer:

  • AI (Artificial Intelligence): The broader field where machines simulate human intelligence (e.g., chatbots, self-driving cars).

  • ML (Machine Learning): A subset of AI where machines learn from data and improve over time without explicit programming (e.g., fraud detection, recommendation systems).

  • Deep Learning: A subset of ML using artificial neural networks with multiple layers, used in tasks like image recognition, NLP, and self-driving cars.

📌 Example:

  • AI: Voice assistants like Alexa.

  • ML: Netflix recommending movies based on past viewing.

  • Deep Learning: Facial recognition in Facebook photos.


2️⃣ What are Supervised, Unsupervised, and Reinforcement Learning?

Answer:

  • Supervised Learning: Model learns from labeled data.

    🔹 Example: Predicting house prices based on past data.

  • Unsupervised Learning: Model identifies patterns in unlabeled data.

    🔹 Example: Customer segmentation in marketing.

  • Reinforcement Learning: Model learns by interacting with the environment using rewards and penalties.

    🔹 Example: AlphaGo playing and improving chess moves.


3️⃣ What is Overfitting & Underfitting? How do you prevent them?

Answer:

  • Overfitting: Model learns training data too well, performing poorly on new data.

  • Underfitting: Model is too simple and fails to capture patterns in data.

📌 Ways to Prevent Overfitting:

  • Use Cross-Validation (like K-Fold).

  • Reduce model complexity (feature selection).

  • Use Regularization techniques (L1/L2).

  • Get more training data.


4️⃣ What is the Bias-Variance Tradeoff?

Answer:

  • Bias: Error due to overly simple models (underfitting).

  • Variance: Error due to overly complex models (overfitting).

  • Tradeoff: We need to find the optimal balance between both for better generalization.

📌 Example:

A linear model has high bias, while a deep neural network has high variance.


5️⃣ What is a Confusion Matrix in Machine Learning?

Answer:

A Confusion Matrix is a table that evaluates classification models by comparing actual vs. predicted values.

Actual \ PredictedPositiveNegative
PositiveTP (True Positive)FN (False Negative)
NegativeFP (False Positive)TN (True Negative)

📌 Key Metrics Derived:

  • Accuracy = (TP + TN) / Total Samples

  • Precision = TP / (TP + FP)

  • Recall = TP / (TP + FN)

  • F1 Score = 2 (Precision Recall) / (Precision + Recall)


6️⃣ What is Precision and Recall?

Answer:

  • Precision: How many predicted positives are actually positive?📌 Example: If a spam filter identifies 10 emails as spam, but only 7 are spam, precision = 7/10 = 70%.

  • Recall: How many actual positives were correctly identified?📌 Example: If there were 20 spam emails and 15 were caught, recall = 15/20 = 75%.

📌 Tradeoff: High recall increases false positives, high precision increases false negatives.


7️⃣ What is the Difference Between Classification and Regression?

Answer:

  • Classification: Predicts discrete categories (e.g., spam or not spam).

  • Regression: Predicts continuous values (e.g., stock price prediction).

📌 Example:

  • Classification: Email spam detection (Spam/Not Spam).

  • Regression: Predicting house prices.


8️⃣ What is Cross-Validation in Machine Learning?

Answer:

Cross-validation helps evaluate ML models by splitting data into training and testing sets multiple times.

📌 Types:

  • K-Fold Cross Validation: Data is divided into K subsets, training happens on K-1 folds, and validation on the remaining one.

  • Leave-One-Out Cross Validation (LOOCV): Uses all but one data point for training, tests on the remaining one.


9️⃣ What is Gradient Descent?

Answer:

Gradient Descent is an optimization algorithm used to minimize a model’s loss function by iteratively updating model parameters in the direction of the steepest descent.

📌 Types:

  • Batch Gradient Descent: Uses the entire dataset.

  • Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD): Uses one sample at a time.

  • Mini-Batch Gradient Descent: Uses small batches for efficiency.

📌 Example: Used in training neural networks.


🔟 What is the Difference Between Bagging and Boosting?

Answer:

Both are ensemble learning techniques that combine multiple models to improve accuracy.

FeatureBaggingBoosting
Model CombinationParallel (independent models)Sequential (models depend on previous ones)
FocusReduces varianceReduces bias
ExampleRandom ForestAdaBoost, XGBoost

📌 Example:

  • Bagging: Random Forest (combining multiple decision trees).

  • Boosting: XGBoost (improves weak models iteratively).


📝 Other Important AI/ML Questions You Should Prepare

11. What are Hyperparameters in Machine Learning?

12. What are Activation Functions in Deep Learning?

13. What is a Neural Network? How does it work?

14. What is the difference between L1 and L2 Regularization?

15. Explain PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and its use.

16. How do Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) work?

17. What is Transfer Learning in Deep Learning?

18. Explain the difference between Generative and Discriminative Models.

19. What is Reinforcement Learning? Give an example.

20. What are some common loss functions in ML?