Top 25 Python Interview Questions and Answers (2026)

Python Basics

1. What is Python?

Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language known for its readable syntax. It supports procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming styles.

Python is commonly used for:

Web development
Automation and scripting
Data analysis
Machine learning and AI
Backend API development
Testing and DevOps automation

2. What are the main features of Python?

Some important features include:

Simple and readable syntax
A large standard library
Support for multiple programming paradigms
Automatic memory management
A large ecosystem of third-party packages
Cross-platform availability

Python is dynamically typed, which means variable types are determined at runtime rather than declared explicitly in every assignment.

3. What is the difference between a list and a tuple?

A list is mutable, meaning its elements can be changed after creation. A tuple is immutable, so its elements cannot be reassigned after the tuple is created.

Example:

numbers = [1, 2, 3]
numbers[0] = 10

coordinates = (1, 2, 3)
# coordinates[0] = 10  # Raises TypeError

Use a list when you need to modify a collection and a tuple when an immutable sequence is more appropriate.

4. What are Python's main built-in data types?

Common built-in types include:

int: integers
float: decimal numbers
str: text
bool: Boolean values
list: mutable sequences
tuple: immutable sequences
dict: key-value mappings
set: collections of unique elements
NoneType: the type of None

Example:

name = "Alex"
age = 22
salary = 25000.50
is_active = True
skills = ["Python", "SQL"]

5. What is the difference between `==` and `is`?

The == operator checks whether two objects have equal values. The is operator checks whether two references point to the same object.

Example:

a = [1, 2, 3]
b = [1, 2, 3]

print(a == b)  # True
print(a is b)  # False

Use is None when checking whether a value is None.

Variables, Functions, and Collections

6. What is the difference between mutable and immutable objects?

Mutable objects can be changed after creation. Lists, dictionaries, and sets are examples.

Immutable objects cannot be changed in place. Integers, strings, and tuples are common examples, although a tuple may contain references to mutable objects.

Example:

items = [1, 2]
items.append(3)

message = "Hello"
message = message + " World"

The list is modified, while the string operation creates a new string value.

7. What is a dictionary in Python?

A dictionary stores key-value pairs. Keys must be hashable, and keys are unique within the dictionary.

Example:

candidate = {
    "name": "Alex",
    "skill": "Python",
    "experience": 1
}

print(candidate["skill"])

Dictionaries are useful for representing structured records and performing lookups by key.

8. What is a set in Python?

A set is an unordered collection of distinct hashable elements. It is useful for removing duplicates and performing set operations.

Example:

numbers = [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4]
unique_numbers = set(numbers)

print(unique_numbers)

The set contains each distinct value once. Do not rely on set iteration order.

9. What is a function in Python?

A function is a reusable block of code that performs a particular task. Functions can accept parameters and return results.

Example:

def add_numbers(a, b):
    return a + b

print(add_numbers(5, 3))

Functions help improve code reuse, readability, testing, and maintainability.

10. What are `*args` and `**kwargs`?

*args collects additional positional arguments into a tuple. **kwargs collects additional keyword arguments into a dictionary.

Example:

def show_details(*args, **kwargs):
    print(args)
    print(kwargs)

show_details("Python", "SQL", experience=1)

These features are useful when writing flexible functions, wrappers, and reusable APIs.

Object-Oriented Programming

11. What is object-oriented programming?

Object-oriented programming (OOP) organizes code around classes and objects.

Important concepts include:

Encapsulation
Inheritance
Polymorphism
Abstraction

OOP can help organize related data and behavior into reusable structures.

12. What is a class and an object?

A class defines a structure and behavior. An object is an instance of that class.

Example:

class Developer:
    def __init__(self, name, skill):
        self.name = name
        self.skill = skill

    def introduce(self):
        return f"{self.name} knows {self.skill}"

developer = Developer("Alex", "Python")
print(developer.introduce())

Here, Developer is the class and developer is an object.

13. What is inheritance?

Inheritance allows a class to reuse or extend behavior from another class.

Example:

class Employee:
    def work(self):
        return "Working"

class Developer(Employee):
    def code(self):
        return "Writing code"

person = Developer()
print(person.work())
print(person.code())

Developer inherits the work() method from Employee.

14. What is polymorphism?

Polymorphism allows different objects or classes to provide their own implementations of a common interface.

Example:

class Dog:
    def speak(self):
        return "Bark"

class Cat:
    def speak(self):
        return "Meow"

for animal in (Dog(), Cat()):
    print(animal.speak())

Both objects expose speak(), but the behavior differs.

15. What is the purpose of `self` in Python?

self refers to the current instance of a class in an instance method. It allows the method to access the object's attributes and other instance methods.

Example:

class Candidate:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

The name self is a strong Python convention, although the parameter can technically have another name.

Advanced Fundamentals

16. What is the difference between `break`, `continue`, and `pass`?

break exits the nearest enclosing loop.
continue skips to the next iteration of the loop.
pass performs no operation and acts as a placeholder.

Example:

for number in range(5):
    if number == 1:
        continue
    if number == 4:
        break
    print(number)

17. What is a lambda function?

A lambda function is a small anonymous function consisting of a single expression.

Example:

square = lambda number: number * number

print(square(5))

For more complex logic, a regular def function is usually clearer.

18. What is a list comprehension?

A list comprehension provides a concise way to create a list from an iterable, optionally applying a condition.

Example:

squares = [number * number for number in range(1, 6)]

print(squares)

Output:

[1, 4, 9, 16, 25]

19. What is exception handling in Python?

Exception handling allows a program to respond to runtime errors using try, except, and optionally else and finally.

Example:

try:
    result = 10 / 0
except ZeroDivisionError:
    print("Cannot divide by zero")
finally:
    print("Operation completed")

Handle specific exceptions whenever possible so that unexpected errors are not hidden.

20. What is a Python module?

A module is a Python file containing definitions and statements that can be imported into other code.

Example:

import math

print(math.sqrt(25))

Modules help developers organize code and reuse functionality across applications.

Practical Python Coding Questions

21. How do you reverse a string?

Example:

text = "Python"
reversed_text = text[::-1]

print(reversed_text)

Output:

nohtyP

The slice uses a step of -1 to traverse the string backward.

22. How do you check whether a number is even or odd?

Example:

number = 7

if number % 2 == 0:
    print("Even")
else:
    print("Odd")

The modulo operator returns the remainder. An integer is even if the remainder after division by two is zero.

23. How do you find duplicate elements in a list?

Example:

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 1, 5]
seen = set()
duplicates = set()

for number in numbers:
    if number in seen:
        duplicates.add(number)
    else:
        seen.add(number)

print(duplicates)

This approach uses sets to track previously seen elements. The result is a set of duplicate values.

24. How do you find the largest number in a list?

Example:

numbers = [12, 45, 7, 89, 23]

if numbers:
    largest = max(numbers)
    print(largest)

Output:

The built-in max() function returns the largest item. If implementing the logic manually during an interview, initialize a variable with the first element and compare each remaining element.

25. How do you count the frequency of words in a sentence?

Example:

from collections import Counter

sentence = "python is useful and python is popular"
word_counts = Counter(sentence.split())

print(word_counts)

Counter creates a mapping of each word to its frequency. For more advanced text processing, consider punctuation, capitalization, and normalization.

Tips to Prepare for a Python Developer Interview

Practise coding every day

Solve small problems involving strings, lists, dictionaries, loops, and functions. Explain your approach before writing code.

Understand concepts instead of memorizing answers

Interviewers may ask follow-up questions or request a different implementation. Understanding the underlying concept helps you respond confidently.

Build practical projects

Create projects such as a REST API, a task manager, a simple job portal, or an automation script. Be prepared to explain your design decisions and the challenges you solved.

Depending on the job description, you may also need SQL, Git, REST APIs, testing, FastAPI or Django, and basic deployment knowledge.

Practise explaining your code

Discuss the expected output, edge cases, time complexity where relevant, and how you would improve the solution.

Find Python Developer Jobs on Expectin

Preparing for interviews is an important step toward your next opportunity. Continue building practical projects, improving your coding skills, and applying for roles that match your qualifications.

Visit https://expectin.com to explore available job opportunities and discover positions that fit your skills and experience.

Review each vacancy carefully for its experience requirements, required technologies, location, and application instructions before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Python suitable for freshers?

Yes. Python is commonly used in entry-level development, automation, data analysis, and other technical roles. Candidates should build practical skills and projects relevant to the positions they target.

What should I study before a Python interview?

Start with data types, collections, functions, loops, exception handling, OOP, and common coding exercises. Then review the technologies listed in the specific job description.

Are Python interview questions the same for every company?

No. Questions vary by role, employer, seniority, and technical requirements. Some interviews emphasize fundamentals, while others focus on APIs, databases, testing, algorithms, or system design.

How can I practise Python coding?

Use Python locally or an online coding environment. Solve small problems, write tests, review your solutions, and build projects that demonstrate practical knowledge.

Where can I find Python Developer jobs?

Visit https://expectin.com and explore the available vacancies. Check the eligibility criteria and apply to suitable openings.

About Expectin

Expectin provides a platform for exploring job opportunities and accessing career resources. Keep learning, practise consistently, and take the next step in your software development career.

Python Basics

1. What is Python?

Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language known for its readable syntax. It supports procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming styles.

Python is commonly used for:

Web development
Automation and scripting
Data analysis
Machine learning and AI
Backend API development
Testing and DevOps automation

2. What are the main features of Python?

Some important features include:

Simple and readable syntax
A large standard library
Support for multiple programming paradigms
Automatic memory management
A large ecosystem of third-party packages
Cross-platform availability

Python is dynamically typed, which means variable types are determined at runtime rather than declared explicitly in every assignment.

3. What is the difference between a list and a tuple?

A list is mutable, meaning its elements can be changed after creation. A tuple is immutable, so its elements cannot be reassigned after the tuple is created.

Example:

numbers = [1, 2, 3]
numbers[0] = 10

coordinates = (1, 2, 3)
# coordinates[0] = 10  # Raises TypeError

Use a list when you need to modify a collection and a tuple when an immutable sequence is more appropriate.

4. What are Python's main built-in data types?

Common built-in types include:

int: integers
float: decimal numbers
str: text
bool: Boolean values
list: mutable sequences
tuple: immutable sequences
dict: key-value mappings
set: collections of unique elements
NoneType: the type of None

Example:

name = "Alex"
age = 22
salary = 25000.50
is_active = True
skills = ["Python", "SQL"]

5. What is the difference between `==` and `is`?

The == operator checks whether two objects have equal values. The is operator checks whether two references point to the same object.

Example:

a = [1, 2, 3]
b = [1, 2, 3]

print(a == b)  # True
print(a is b)  # False

Use is None when checking whether a value is None.

Variables, Functions, and Collections

6. What is the difference between mutable and immutable objects?

Mutable objects can be changed after creation. Lists, dictionaries, and sets are examples.

Immutable objects cannot be changed in place. Integers, strings, and tuples are common examples, although a tuple may contain references to mutable objects.

Example:

items = [1, 2]
items.append(3)

message = "Hello"
message = message + " World"

The list is modified, while the string operation creates a new string value.

7. What is a dictionary in Python?

A dictionary stores key-value pairs. Keys must be hashable, and keys are unique within the dictionary.

Example:

candidate = {
    "name": "Alex",
    "skill": "Python",
    "experience": 1
}

print(candidate["skill"])

Dictionaries are useful for representing structured records and performing lookups by key.

8. What is a set in Python?

A set is an unordered collection of distinct hashable elements. It is useful for removing duplicates and performing set operations.

Example:

numbers = [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4]
unique_numbers = set(numbers)

print(unique_numbers)

The set contains each distinct value once. Do not rely on set iteration order.

9. What is a function in Python?

A function is a reusable block of code that performs a particular task. Functions can accept parameters and return results.

Example:

def add_numbers(a, b):
    return a + b

print(add_numbers(5, 3))

Functions help improve code reuse, readability, testing, and maintainability.

10. What are `*args` and `**kwargs`?

*args collects additional positional arguments into a tuple. **kwargs collects additional keyword arguments into a dictionary.

Example:

def show_details(*args, **kwargs):
    print(args)
    print(kwargs)

show_details("Python", "SQL", experience=1)

These features are useful when writing flexible functions, wrappers, and reusable APIs.

Object-Oriented Programming

11. What is object-oriented programming?

Object-oriented programming (OOP) organizes code around classes and objects.

Important concepts include:

Encapsulation
Inheritance
Polymorphism
Abstraction

OOP can help organize related data and behavior into reusable structures.

12. What is a class and an object?

A class defines a structure and behavior. An object is an instance of that class.

Example:

class Developer:
    def __init__(self, name, skill):
        self.name = name
        self.skill = skill

    def introduce(self):
        return f"{self.name} knows {self.skill}"

developer = Developer("Alex", "Python")
print(developer.introduce())

Here, Developer is the class and developer is an object.

13. What is inheritance?

Inheritance allows a class to reuse or extend behavior from another class.

Example:

class Employee:
    def work(self):
        return "Working"

class Developer(Employee):
    def code(self):
        return "Writing code"

person = Developer()
print(person.work())
print(person.code())

Developer inherits the work() method from Employee.

14. What is polymorphism?

Polymorphism allows different objects or classes to provide their own implementations of a common interface.

Example:

class Dog:
    def speak(self):
        return "Bark"

class Cat:
    def speak(self):
        return "Meow"

for animal in (Dog(), Cat()):
    print(animal.speak())

Both objects expose speak(), but the behavior differs.

15. What is the purpose of `self` in Python?

self refers to the current instance of a class in an instance method. It allows the method to access the object's attributes and other instance methods.

Example:

class Candidate:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

The name self is a strong Python convention, although the parameter can technically have another name.

Advanced Fundamentals

16. What is the difference between `break`, `continue`, and `pass`?

break exits the nearest enclosing loop.
continue skips to the next iteration of the loop.
pass performs no operation and acts as a placeholder.

Example:

for number in range(5):
    if number == 1:
        continue
    if number == 4:
        break
    print(number)

17. What is a lambda function?

A lambda function is a small anonymous function consisting of a single expression.

Example:

square = lambda number: number * number

print(square(5))

For more complex logic, a regular def function is usually clearer.

18. What is a list comprehension?

A list comprehension provides a concise way to create a list from an iterable, optionally applying a condition.

Example:

squares = [number * number for number in range(1, 6)]

print(squares)

Output:

[1, 4, 9, 16, 25]

19. What is exception handling in Python?

Exception handling allows a program to respond to runtime errors using try, except, and optionally else and finally.

Example:

try:
    result = 10 / 0
except ZeroDivisionError:
    print("Cannot divide by zero")
finally:
    print("Operation completed")

Handle specific exceptions whenever possible so that unexpected errors are not hidden.

20. What is a Python module?

A module is a Python file containing definitions and statements that can be imported into other code.

Example:

import math

print(math.sqrt(25))

Modules help developers organize code and reuse functionality across applications.

Practical Python Coding Questions

21. How do you reverse a string?

Example:

text = "Python"
reversed_text = text[::-1]

print(reversed_text)

Output:

nohtyP

The slice uses a step of -1 to traverse the string backward.

22. How do you check whether a number is even or odd?

Example:

number = 7

if number % 2 == 0:
    print("Even")
else:
    print("Odd")

The modulo operator returns the remainder. An integer is even if the remainder after division by two is zero.

23. How do you find duplicate elements in a list?

Example:

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 1, 5]
seen = set()
duplicates = set()

for number in numbers:
    if number in seen:
        duplicates.add(number)
    else:
        seen.add(number)

print(duplicates)

This approach uses sets to track previously seen elements. The result is a set of duplicate values.

24. How do you find the largest number in a list?

Example:

numbers = [12, 45, 7, 89, 23]

if numbers:
    largest = max(numbers)
    print(largest)

Output:

The built-in max() function returns the largest item. If implementing the logic manually during an interview, initialize a variable with the first element and compare each remaining element.

25. How do you count the frequency of words in a sentence?

Example:

from collections import Counter

sentence = "python is useful and python is popular"
word_counts = Counter(sentence.split())

print(word_counts)

Counter creates a mapping of each word to its frequency. For more advanced text processing, consider punctuation, capitalization, and normalization.

Tips to Prepare for a Python Developer Interview

Practise coding every day

Solve small problems involving strings, lists, dictionaries, loops, and functions. Explain your approach before writing code.

Understand concepts instead of memorizing answers

Interviewers may ask follow-up questions or request a different implementation. Understanding the underlying concept helps you respond confidently.

Build practical projects

Create projects such as a REST API, a task manager, a simple job portal, or an automation script. Be prepared to explain your design decisions and the challenges you solved.

Depending on the job description, you may also need SQL, Git, REST APIs, testing, FastAPI or Django, and basic deployment knowledge.

Practise explaining your code

Discuss the expected output, edge cases, time complexity where relevant, and how you would improve the solution.

Find Python Developer Jobs on Expectin

Preparing for interviews is an important step toward your next opportunity. Continue building practical projects, improving your coding skills, and applying for roles that match your qualifications.

Visit https://expectin.com to explore available job opportunities and discover positions that fit your skills and experience.

Review each vacancy carefully for its experience requirements, required technologies, location, and application instructions before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Python suitable for freshers?

What should I study before a Python interview?

Start with data types, collections, functions, loops, exception handling, OOP, and common coding exercises. Then review the technologies listed in the specific job description.

Are Python interview questions the same for every company?

No. Questions vary by role, employer, seniority, and technical requirements. Some interviews emphasize fundamentals, while others focus on APIs, databases, testing, algorithms, or system design.

How can I practise Python coding?

Use Python locally or an online coding environment. Solve small problems, write tests, review your solutions, and build projects that demonstrate practical knowledge.

Where can I find Python Developer jobs?

Visit https://expectin.com and explore the available vacancies. Check the eligibility criteria and apply to suitable openings.

About Expectin

Expectin provides a platform for exploring job opportunities and accessing career resources. Keep learning, practise consistently, and take the next step in your software development career.

Top 25 Python Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers in 2026

Python Basics

1. What is Python?

2. What are the main features of Python?

3. What is the difference between a list and a tuple?

4. What are Python's main built-in data types?

5. What is the difference between == and is?

Variables, Functions, and Collections

6. What is the difference between mutable and immutable objects?

7. What is a dictionary in Python?

8. What is a set in Python?

9. What is a function in Python?

10. What are *args and **kwargs?

Object-Oriented Programming

11. What is object-oriented programming?

12. What is a class and an object?

13. What is inheritance?

14. What is polymorphism?

15. What is the purpose of self in Python?

Advanced Fundamentals

16. What is the difference between break, continue, and pass?

17. What is a lambda function?

18. What is a list comprehension?

19. What is exception handling in Python?

20. What is a Python module?

Practical Python Coding Questions

21. How do you reverse a string?

22. How do you check whether a number is even or odd?

23. How do you find duplicate elements in a list?

24. How do you find the largest number in a list?

25. How do you count the frequency of words in a sentence?

Tips to Prepare for a Python Developer Interview

Practise coding every day

Understand concepts instead of memorizing answers

Build practical projects

Learn related technologies

Practise explaining your code

Find Python Developer Jobs on Expectin

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Python suitable for freshers?

What should I study before a Python interview?

Are Python interview questions the same for every company?

How can I practise Python coding?

Where can I find Python Developer jobs?

Top 25 Python Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers in 2026

Python Basics

1. What is Python?

2. What are the main features of Python?

3. What is the difference between a list and a tuple?

4. What are Python's main built-in data types?

5. What is the difference between == and is?

Variables, Functions, and Collections

6. What is the difference between mutable and immutable objects?

7. What is a dictionary in Python?

8. What is a set in Python?

9. What is a function in Python?

10. What are *args and **kwargs?

Object-Oriented Programming

11. What is object-oriented programming?

12. What is a class and an object?

13. What is inheritance?

14. What is polymorphism?

15. What is the purpose of self in Python?

Advanced Fundamentals

16. What is the difference between break, continue, and pass?

17. What is a lambda function?

18. What is a list comprehension?

19. What is exception handling in Python?

20. What is a Python module?

Practical Python Coding Questions

21. How do you reverse a string?

22. How do you check whether a number is even or odd?

23. How do you find duplicate elements in a list?

24. How do you find the largest number in a list?

25. How do you count the frequency of words in a sentence?

Tips to Prepare for a Python Developer Interview

Practise coding every day

Understand concepts instead of memorizing answers

Build practical projects

Learn related technologies

5. What is the difference between `==` and `is`?

10. What are `*args` and `**kwargs`?

15. What is the purpose of `self` in Python?

16. What is the difference between `break`, `continue`, and `pass`?

5. What is the difference between `==` and `is`?

10. What are `*args` and `**kwargs`?

15. What is the purpose of `self` in Python?

16. What is the difference between `break`, `continue`, and `pass`?