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Top Python Scripting Interview Questions and Answers You Should Practice

by Interview Kickstart Team in Interview Questions
April 30, 2024

Top Python Scripting Interview Questions and Answers You Should Practice

Last updated by Vartika Rai on Apr 30, 2024 at 11:40 AM | Reading time: 12 minutes

You can download a PDF version of  
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Your deep understanding of Python is critical for acing tech interviews on the first try. To keep up with the competition, you need to be versatile and ready to address problems with a variety of tools, including programming languages, text searches, and scripting. Python Scripting interview questions reflect a variety of topics as well as the actual skills required for an interview.

The Python Scripting interview questions are challenging, and most FAANG+ companies have made them mandatory in their recruitment process. Preparing these top Python Scripting Interview Questions can help you pass the most difficult interview rounds and land a job at one of the FAANG+ companies.

You can learn how to create scripts that automate tedious tasks by practicing these Python Scripting interview questions. Continue reading to evaluate your Python tech interview preparation and understand some of the key concepts.

If you are preparing for a technical interview, look at our technical interview checklist, interview questions page, and salary negotiation ebook, so you are prepared!

Having trained more than 11,000 software engineers, we know what it takes to pass the toughest technical interviews. Our graduates consistently land jobs at FAANG+ companies. One IK alum has landed a whopping $1.267 million offer!

Our instructors hire managers and tech leads at top Silicon Valley tech companies, including Google, Facebook, Apple, etc.

Want to ace your next tech interview? Sign up for a Free Webinar.

Here is what we will cover in this post:

  • Python Scripting Interview Questions for Beginners
  • Python Scripting Interview Questions for Intermediates
  • Python Scripting Interview Questions for Experienced Developers
  • Python OOPS Scripting Interview Questions and Answers
  • Python Shell Scripting Interview Questions for Practice
  • FAQs on Python Scripting Interview Questions

Recession-proof your Software Engineering Career

Attend our free webinar to amp up your career and get the salary you deserve.

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR

Python Scripting Interview Questions for Beginners

Q1. Differentiate between an expression and a statement?

Expressions contain only identifiers, literals, and operators. These operators consist of arithmetic and boolean operators, function call operators (), and subscription operators [], and can be reduced to some "value" that may be any Python object.

Expression Statement
Expressions contain only identifiers, literals, and operators. These operators consist of arithmetic and boolean operators, function call operators (), and subscription operators [], and can be reduced to some "value" that may be any Python object. Statements are the smallest executable units of code, such as creating variables or displaying values. In any programming language, every line of code is called a statement. The interpreter or the programming language compiler can execute all of the lines in this code.
It results in a value. It results in an action.
Expressions are mostly defined by the user. Most statements are predefined in the programming language.

Q2. What are the positive and negative indices in Python?

In the positive indices, the search proceeds from left to right. With negative indices, the search moves from right to left. For example, in the array list of size x, the positive index, the first index is 0, then comes 1, and finally, the last index is x-1. In contrast, in the negative index, the first index is -x, followed by -(x-1) until the last index is -1.

Q3. What are the different stages of the Life Cycle of a Thread in Python?

The different stages of the life cycle of a thread are stated below:

  • Overriding the run method of the thread class by creating your own class.
  • As soon as a new thread is created, call start(), and the thread moves forward for scheduling purposes.
  • Execution occurs when the thread starts execution, and reaches the running state.
  • The thread waits until the calls to methods, including join() and sleep(), occur.
  • Following the waiting or execution of the thread, the waiting thread is scheduled.
  • A running thread terminates and reaches the dead state when it executes the terminates.

Q4. What is PEP 8 in Python, and why is it important?

Python Enhancement Proposal, also known as PEP, is an official design document that provides information to the Python community or proposes changes to features for Python or its processes. PEP 8 is especially significant since it documents the style guidelines for Python Code. Contributing to the Python open-source community requires you to follow these rules strictly.

Python Scripting Interview Questions for Intermediates

Q1. How can we remove spaces from a string in Python?

With the use of strip() or replace() functions, spaces can be removed from a string in Python. Strip() function in a string can be used to remove the leading and trailing white spaces, whereas all the white spaces can be removed by using replace() function :

Q2. How will you display a Text File's Contents in a Reverse Order?

The following steps can be used to display the contents of a text file in reverse order:

Steps for displaying the contents of a text file in reverse order


  • Use open() function to open the file
  • Store contents of the file into the list
  • Now, reverse the contents of a list
  • To iterate through the list, run a for loop

Q3. Is Python an Object-oriented or Functional Programming Language?

Python is a multi-paradigm language and follows an object-oriented paradigm. It enables the creation of objects and their manipulation with specific methods. It supports OOPS's features such as inheritance and polymorphism. You can use its paradigm functions as a first-class object and can also execute the Lambda function in Python.

Q4.What is a Flask in Python?

Based on "Werkzeug, Jinja 2, and good intentions", Flask is a microframework for web applications in Python. It depends on Werkzeug and Jinja.Flask is a component of the micro-framework. Thus, it will be independent of external libraries. In addition to being light, the framework is less likely to have security issues and is less dependent on updating.

Q5. What is Python's Tuple matching?

Matching tuples in Python is a method for grouping tuples by matching the second element in each tuple. In Python programming, this is accomplished by checking the second element of every tuple in a dictionary. However, it is possible to create new tuples by combining existing ones.

Python Scripting Interview Questions for Experienced Developers

Q1. What is the difference between Pickling and Unpickling?

There is a feature - serialization - built into the Python library. The action of serializing an object involves transforming it into a format that can be stored so that it can be deserialized later on to return the original object. It is here that the pickle module is useful.  

Pickling:

  • In Python, the serialization process is known as Pickling. Python can serialize any byte stream and dump it as a file in memory. Although Pickling is a compact process, pickle objects can be compressed more. The serialization is also portable across versions, and the pickle keeps track of objects it serializes.
  • The function used for Pickling is pickle.dump().

Unpickling:

  • In Unpickling, the byte stream is deserialized to recreate the objects stored in the file and then loads them into the memory.
  • The function used for unpickling is pickle.load().

Q2. What is the difference between deep copy and shallow copy?

Deep Copy Shallow Copy
You can store already copied values in deep copies. You can use a shallow copy when a new instance type is created. The copied values are kept in the new instance.
The reference pointers to the objects are not copied. The shallow copy also copies reference pointers.
You must know that deep copies refer to an object and store the new object pointed by another object. It will not affect any other copies that reference or store the object referenced in the original copy. The shallow copies are based on the reference points in the original. If you change any member of a class, it will affect its original copy.

Q3. How does Python manage its memory?

Python manages its memory using a private heap space. In Python, you can store data structures and objects in a private heap. The Python interpreter is responsible for keeping this Python private heap, and if you are the programmer, you will not have any access to it.

Python memory manager allocates heap space for Python objects. You can use the tools provided by the core API. Python has an inbuilt garbage collector, which recycles all unused memory, making it available to the heap.

Practice some more Advanced Python Coding Challenges for tech interviews.

Python OOPS Scripting Interview Questions and Answers

Q1. What is Polymorphism?

The ability to take multiple forms is polymorphism. In other words, if the parent class has a method named XYZ, then the child class can have a method with the same name XYZ that has its parameters and variables.

Q2. What makes Python object-oriented?

Because Python is based on the Object-Oriented paradigm, it is object-oriented. It revolves around classes and objects. Features of this kind of programming include:

Features of an object-oriented programming language

  • Abstraction
  • Inheritance
  • Encapsulation
  • Data hiding
  • Polymorphism

Q3. What does inheritance look like in Python?

Inheritance allows the class to access all attributes and methods of another class. It supports code reusability and allows developers to maintain applications without redundant code.

The class inheriting from another class is a child class, also called a derived class, and the class from which a child class derives the members is called the parent class or superclass.

Q4. What role do access specifiers play in Python?

You must know that Python does not restrict access to instance variables or functions. When a variable, function, or method name is prefixed with an underscore, it emulates the behavior of protected and private access specifiers.

A single or double underscore is used to imitate the behavior of protected and private access specifiers when the name of a variable, function, or method is prefixed with an underscore.  

Q5. In Python, how do you create an empty class?

Empty classes are classes with no code defined within them. You can create these classes with the pass keyword. However, you can use these classes outside the class. When you execute the PASS command in Python, it does nothing. It executes a null statement.

Python Shell Scripting Interview Questions for Practice

  1. What is a superblock in shell scripting?
  2. What is the difference between soft and hard links?
  3. How can you connect to a database server?
  4. What are the different types of commonly used shells on a typical Linux system?
  5. Why is a shell script needed?
  6. Write some limitations of shell scripting.
  7. What is the difference between $* and $@?
  8. Write the difference between Bourne Shell and C Shell.
  9. What are the different types of variables mostly used in shell scripting?
  10. What does the . (dot) indicate at the beginning of the file name? How can it be listed?

FAQs on Python Scripting Interview Questions

Q1. What makes you stand out in a Python coding interview?

When you are ready for a Python Scripting Interview based on your technical skills, then you must go through the Python Scripting interview questions to boost your practice and in-depth understanding of the subject.

To qualify in your interview, you must prove you can write clean production code and demonstrate knowledge of the libraries and tools required. You must represent your previous projects in your interview to get an edge over your competitors.

Q2. Are Python coding interviews hard?

It depends on the job for which you are applying, the company, its requirements, and your skills and knowledge/experience. A beginner may find the interview difficult if he is not yet confident about his coding skills. It will help you to prepare well and ace your Python interview if you know what types of questions to expect.

Q3. Which top organizations make use of Python Language?

Python is preferred by many top organizations, including Google, Amazon, Intel, and even unicorns, due to its extreme popularity and usability. NASA, IBM, Instagram, Facebook, Yahoo, YouTube, Netflix, JP Morgan, and many other major organizations use Python Language.

Q4. Why is Python so popular?

Python developers are in high demand in the United States. If you become a skilled Python developer, you will be paid three times the average salary for a Python developer. Many people lack a thorough understanding of Python and are skeptical of Python-related career opportunities.

To become certified in Python, you can either gain experience or take online courses. Overall, it helps with your career goals and resumes. To prepare for your interview, you can also consult the standard Python Scripting interview questions and answers pdf.

Q5. How can Python knowledge be improved through courses or certifications?

After developing programming skills in Python, you can move on to learning advanced concepts in Python libraries and modules, such as Pandas, SciPy, NumPy, Matplotlib, and more. The possibilities are endless after learning Python. Taking part in a certificate course can help you gain the necessary knowledge. Taking a course in Python can help you kick-start your career.

Get Ready to Crack Your Next Tech Interview

If you’re looking for guidance and help with getting your prep started, sign up for our free webinar. As pioneers in the field of technical interview prep, we have trained thousands of software engineers to crack the toughest coding interviews and land jobs at their dream companies, such as Google, Facebook, Apple, Netflix, Amazon, and more!

Sign up now!

Author
Vartika Rai
Product Manager at Interview Kickstart | Ex-Microsoft | IIIT Hyderabad | ML/Data Science Enthusiast. Working with industry experts to help working professionals successfully prepare and ace interviews at FAANG+ and top tech companies
The fast well prepared banner

Your deep understanding of Python is critical for acing tech interviews on the first try. To keep up with the competition, you need to be versatile and ready to address problems with a variety of tools, including programming languages, text searches, and scripting. Python Scripting interview questions reflect a variety of topics as well as the actual skills required for an interview.

The Python Scripting interview questions are challenging, and most FAANG+ companies have made them mandatory in their recruitment process. Preparing these top Python Scripting Interview Questions can help you pass the most difficult interview rounds and land a job at one of the FAANG+ companies.

You can learn how to create scripts that automate tedious tasks by practicing these Python Scripting interview questions. Continue reading to evaluate your Python tech interview preparation and understand some of the key concepts.

If you are preparing for a technical interview, look at our technical interview checklist, interview questions page, and salary negotiation ebook, so you are prepared!

Having trained more than 11,000 software engineers, we know what it takes to pass the toughest technical interviews. Our graduates consistently land jobs at FAANG+ companies. One IK alum has landed a whopping $1.267 million offer!

Our instructors hire managers and tech leads at top Silicon Valley tech companies, including Google, Facebook, Apple, etc.

Want to ace your next tech interview? Sign up for a Free Webinar.

Here is what we will cover in this post:

  • Python Scripting Interview Questions for Beginners
  • Python Scripting Interview Questions for Intermediates
  • Python Scripting Interview Questions for Experienced Developers
  • Python OOPS Scripting Interview Questions and Answers
  • Python Shell Scripting Interview Questions for Practice
  • FAQs on Python Scripting Interview Questions

Recession-proof your Software Engineering Career

Attend our free webinar to amp up your career and get the salary you deserve.

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR

Python Scripting Interview Questions for Beginners

Q1. Differentiate between an expression and a statement?

Expressions contain only identifiers, literals, and operators. These operators consist of arithmetic and boolean operators, function call operators (), and subscription operators [], and can be reduced to some "value" that may be any Python object.

Expression Statement
Expressions contain only identifiers, literals, and operators. These operators consist of arithmetic and boolean operators, function call operators (), and subscription operators [], and can be reduced to some "value" that may be any Python object. Statements are the smallest executable units of code, such as creating variables or displaying values. In any programming language, every line of code is called a statement. The interpreter or the programming language compiler can execute all of the lines in this code.
It results in a value. It results in an action.
Expressions are mostly defined by the user. Most statements are predefined in the programming language.

Q2. What are the positive and negative indices in Python?

In the positive indices, the search proceeds from left to right. With negative indices, the search moves from right to left. For example, in the array list of size x, the positive index, the first index is 0, then comes 1, and finally, the last index is x-1. In contrast, in the negative index, the first index is -x, followed by -(x-1) until the last index is -1.

Q3. What are the different stages of the Life Cycle of a Thread in Python?

The different stages of the life cycle of a thread are stated below:

  • Overriding the run method of the thread class by creating your own class.
  • As soon as a new thread is created, call start(), and the thread moves forward for scheduling purposes.
  • Execution occurs when the thread starts execution, and reaches the running state.
  • The thread waits until the calls to methods, including join() and sleep(), occur.
  • Following the waiting or execution of the thread, the waiting thread is scheduled.
  • A running thread terminates and reaches the dead state when it executes the terminates.

Q4. What is PEP 8 in Python, and why is it important?

Python Enhancement Proposal, also known as PEP, is an official design document that provides information to the Python community or proposes changes to features for Python or its processes. PEP 8 is especially significant since it documents the style guidelines for Python Code. Contributing to the Python open-source community requires you to follow these rules strictly.

Python Scripting Interview Questions for Intermediates

Q1. How can we remove spaces from a string in Python?

With the use of strip() or replace() functions, spaces can be removed from a string in Python. Strip() function in a string can be used to remove the leading and trailing white spaces, whereas all the white spaces can be removed by using replace() function :

Q2. How will you display a Text File's Contents in a Reverse Order?

The following steps can be used to display the contents of a text file in reverse order:

Steps for displaying the contents of a text file in reverse order


  • Use open() function to open the file
  • Store contents of the file into the list
  • Now, reverse the contents of a list
  • To iterate through the list, run a for loop

Q3. Is Python an Object-oriented or Functional Programming Language?

Python is a multi-paradigm language and follows an object-oriented paradigm. It enables the creation of objects and their manipulation with specific methods. It supports OOPS's features such as inheritance and polymorphism. You can use its paradigm functions as a first-class object and can also execute the Lambda function in Python.

Q4.What is a Flask in Python?

Based on "Werkzeug, Jinja 2, and good intentions", Flask is a microframework for web applications in Python. It depends on Werkzeug and Jinja.Flask is a component of the micro-framework. Thus, it will be independent of external libraries. In addition to being light, the framework is less likely to have security issues and is less dependent on updating.

Q5. What is Python's Tuple matching?

Matching tuples in Python is a method for grouping tuples by matching the second element in each tuple. In Python programming, this is accomplished by checking the second element of every tuple in a dictionary. However, it is possible to create new tuples by combining existing ones.

Python Scripting Interview Questions for Experienced Developers

Q1. What is the difference between Pickling and Unpickling?

There is a feature - serialization - built into the Python library. The action of serializing an object involves transforming it into a format that can be stored so that it can be deserialized later on to return the original object. It is here that the pickle module is useful.  

Pickling:

  • In Python, the serialization process is known as Pickling. Python can serialize any byte stream and dump it as a file in memory. Although Pickling is a compact process, pickle objects can be compressed more. The serialization is also portable across versions, and the pickle keeps track of objects it serializes.
  • The function used for Pickling is pickle.dump().

Unpickling:

  • In Unpickling, the byte stream is deserialized to recreate the objects stored in the file and then loads them into the memory.
  • The function used for unpickling is pickle.load().

Q2. What is the difference between deep copy and shallow copy?

Deep Copy Shallow Copy
You can store already copied values in deep copies. You can use a shallow copy when a new instance type is created. The copied values are kept in the new instance.
The reference pointers to the objects are not copied. The shallow copy also copies reference pointers.
You must know that deep copies refer to an object and store the new object pointed by another object. It will not affect any other copies that reference or store the object referenced in the original copy. The shallow copies are based on the reference points in the original. If you change any member of a class, it will affect its original copy.

Q3. How does Python manage its memory?

Python manages its memory using a private heap space. In Python, you can store data structures and objects in a private heap. The Python interpreter is responsible for keeping this Python private heap, and if you are the programmer, you will not have any access to it.

Python memory manager allocates heap space for Python objects. You can use the tools provided by the core API. Python has an inbuilt garbage collector, which recycles all unused memory, making it available to the heap.

Practice some more Advanced Python Coding Challenges for tech interviews.

Python OOPS Scripting Interview Questions and Answers

Q1. What is Polymorphism?

The ability to take multiple forms is polymorphism. In other words, if the parent class has a method named XYZ, then the child class can have a method with the same name XYZ that has its parameters and variables.

Q2. What makes Python object-oriented?

Because Python is based on the Object-Oriented paradigm, it is object-oriented. It revolves around classes and objects. Features of this kind of programming include:

Features of an object-oriented programming language

  • Abstraction
  • Inheritance
  • Encapsulation
  • Data hiding
  • Polymorphism

Q3. What does inheritance look like in Python?

Inheritance allows the class to access all attributes and methods of another class. It supports code reusability and allows developers to maintain applications without redundant code.

The class inheriting from another class is a child class, also called a derived class, and the class from which a child class derives the members is called the parent class or superclass.

Q4. What role do access specifiers play in Python?

You must know that Python does not restrict access to instance variables or functions. When a variable, function, or method name is prefixed with an underscore, it emulates the behavior of protected and private access specifiers.

A single or double underscore is used to imitate the behavior of protected and private access specifiers when the name of a variable, function, or method is prefixed with an underscore.  

Q5. In Python, how do you create an empty class?

Empty classes are classes with no code defined within them. You can create these classes with the pass keyword. However, you can use these classes outside the class. When you execute the PASS command in Python, it does nothing. It executes a null statement.

Python Shell Scripting Interview Questions for Practice

  1. What is a superblock in shell scripting?
  2. What is the difference between soft and hard links?
  3. How can you connect to a database server?
  4. What are the different types of commonly used shells on a typical Linux system?
  5. Why is a shell script needed?
  6. Write some limitations of shell scripting.
  7. What is the difference between $* and $@?
  8. Write the difference between Bourne Shell and C Shell.
  9. What are the different types of variables mostly used in shell scripting?
  10. What does the . (dot) indicate at the beginning of the file name? How can it be listed?

FAQs on Python Scripting Interview Questions

Q1. What makes you stand out in a Python coding interview?

When you are ready for a Python Scripting Interview based on your technical skills, then you must go through the Python Scripting interview questions to boost your practice and in-depth understanding of the subject.

To qualify in your interview, you must prove you can write clean production code and demonstrate knowledge of the libraries and tools required. You must represent your previous projects in your interview to get an edge over your competitors.

Q2. Are Python coding interviews hard?

It depends on the job for which you are applying, the company, its requirements, and your skills and knowledge/experience. A beginner may find the interview difficult if he is not yet confident about his coding skills. It will help you to prepare well and ace your Python interview if you know what types of questions to expect.

Q3. Which top organizations make use of Python Language?

Python is preferred by many top organizations, including Google, Amazon, Intel, and even unicorns, due to its extreme popularity and usability. NASA, IBM, Instagram, Facebook, Yahoo, YouTube, Netflix, JP Morgan, and many other major organizations use Python Language.

Q4. Why is Python so popular?

Python developers are in high demand in the United States. If you become a skilled Python developer, you will be paid three times the average salary for a Python developer. Many people lack a thorough understanding of Python and are skeptical of Python-related career opportunities.

To become certified in Python, you can either gain experience or take online courses. Overall, it helps with your career goals and resumes. To prepare for your interview, you can also consult the standard Python Scripting interview questions and answers pdf.

Q5. How can Python knowledge be improved through courses or certifications?

After developing programming skills in Python, you can move on to learning advanced concepts in Python libraries and modules, such as Pandas, SciPy, NumPy, Matplotlib, and more. The possibilities are endless after learning Python. Taking part in a certificate course can help you gain the necessary knowledge. Taking a course in Python can help you kick-start your career.

Get Ready to Crack Your Next Tech Interview

If you’re looking for guidance and help with getting your prep started, sign up for our free webinar. As pioneers in the field of technical interview prep, we have trained thousands of software engineers to crack the toughest coding interviews and land jobs at their dream companies, such as Google, Facebook, Apple, Netflix, Amazon, and more!

Sign up now!

Recession-proof your Career

Recession-proof your Software Engineering Career

Attend our free webinar to amp up your career and get the salary you deserve.

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Founder, Interview Kickstart
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Register for Webinar

Recession-proof your Career

Recession-proof your Software Engineering Career

Attend our free webinar to amp up your career and get the salary you deserve.

Ryan-image
Hosted By
Ryan Valles
Founder, Interview Kickstart
blue tick
Accelerate your Interview prep with Tier-1 tech instructors
blue tick
360° courses that have helped 14,000+ tech professionals
blue tick
57% average salary hike received by alums in 2022
blue tick
100% money-back guarantee*
Register for Webinar

Attend our Free Webinar on How to Nail Your Next Technical Interview

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