Backend Developer Interview Preparation
Node.js Questions & Answers
Q: How do you handle asynchronous operations in Node.js? Explain callbacks, promises,
and async/await.
A: In Node.js, asynchronous operations are handled using callbacks, promises, or async/await:
- **Callbacks**: A function passed as an argument to another function. Once the asynchronous task
is complete, the callback function is executed. It can lead to 'callback hell' if nested too deeply.
- **Promises**: Represent the eventual completion (or failure) of an asynchronous operation.
Promises provide `then()` and `catch()` methods for handling success and errors.
- **Async/Await**: Introduced in ES2017, it allows you to write asynchronous code in a
synchronous-looking style. The `async` keyword is used to define a function, and `await` is used to
wait for a promise to resolve or reject.
Q: Describe how you would design a RESTful API in Node.js.
A: To design a RESTful API in Node.js:
- Use a framework like Express.js to handle HTTP requests.
- Design endpoints corresponding to resources (e.g., `/users`, `/posts`).
- Implement CRUD operations using appropriate HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).
- Ensure stateless communication, where each request from a client contains all the information
needed to process it.
- Use middleware for validation, authentication, and error handling.
- Make use of a database to store data and handle data persistence.
Q: How do you manage memory and handle high concurrency in Node.js applications?
A: Node.js is single-threaded and uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model. To manage
memory and handle high concurrency:
- Use the `cluster` module or a process manager like PM2 to scale applications across multiple CPU
cores.
- Optimize the event loop by ensuring that callbacks are non-blocking.
- Use streams to process large data efficiently.
- Monitor memory usage using tools like `heapdump` or `v8-profiler` and handle potential memory
leaks.
Q: Explain how to scale Node.js applications horizontally and vertically.
A: - **Horizontal Scaling**: Increase the number of instances of the application and distribute traffic
among them using load balancers.
- **Vertical Scaling**: Increase the computational power (CPU, RAM) of the machine running the
Node.js application.
GoLang Questions & Answers
Q: How do Go routines work? Can you compare them to threads?
A: Go routines are lightweight, managed by the Go runtime, and are used for concurrent
programming. Unlike threads, they are multiplexed onto a smaller number of OS threads, allowing
thousands of Go routines to run concurrently with minimal overhead.
Q: Explain how channels work in Go and how you would use them in a concurrent
application.
A: Channels in Go are used for communication between Go routines. They allow Go routines to
send and receive values to synchronize their execution. In a concurrent application, channels are
used to share data safely without using mutexes.
