Softaculous PHP Developer Interview Questions and Answers

Algorithm to find 2 numbers in an array whose sum is equal to a target integer

• Use a hash table to store the difference between target and each element in the array

• Iterate through the array and check if the current element exists in the hash table

• Return the pair of elements that sum up to the target integer

Write a select statement to retrieve work of all users who belong to my team.

• Join USERS and WORK tables on user_id

• Join MANAGERS and USERS tables on team

• Filter by manager_id

The manifest.json file contains the most important information of a Chrome extension.

• The manifest.json file includes the version number, permissions, content scripts, background scripts, and other important details.

• It is located in the root directory of the extension.

• It is required for all Chrome extensions.

• Example: "manifest_version": 2, "version": "1.0", "permissions": ["tabs", "storage"]

Hashtable is faster for finding an item than a sorted list.

• Hashtable has constant time complexity O(1) for finding an item.

• Sorted list has logarithmic time complexity O(log n) for finding an item.

• Hashtable uses hashing to directly access the item's location.

• Sorted list requires binary search to find the item's location.

• Hashtable is ideal for large datasets with frequent lookups.

• Sorted list is ideal for datasets that re

JSON and XML are the most popular data interchange formats when using APIs.

• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight format that is easy to read and write. It is widely used in web APIs.

• XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a more complex format that is also widely used in web APIs.

• Other formats include CSV (Comma Separated Values), YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language), and Protocol Buffers.

Popular APIs for Social Commerce services

• Facebook Graph API for social media integration

• Instagram API for photo sharing and tagging

• Twitter API for real-time updates and customer engagement

• Pinterest API for product discovery and sharing

• Google Maps API for location-based services

• PayPal API for secure payment processing

Use a script to iterate through each HTML page, locate phone numbers, and update their format.

• Write a script using a programming language like Python or JavaScript to iterate through each HTML page

• Use regular expressions to locate phone numbers in the pages

• Update the format of the phone numbers as needed (e.g. adding country code, changing separators)

• Save the updated HTML pages with the new phone number format

Designing Google Suggest system

• I would start by analyzing user search patterns and frequently searched keywords

• Then, I would create a database of these keywords and their associated search results

• I would use indexing services to quickly retrieve relevant results for each keyword

• I would also implement machine learning algorithms to improve the accuracy of suggestions over time

Check if a number is a power of 2 and odd.

• To check if a number is a power of 2, use bitwise AND operator with the number and its predecessor. If the result is 0, it is a power of 2.

• To check if a number is odd, use modulus operator with 2. If the result is 1, it is odd.

• Example code in Python:

• def is_power_of_two(num):

• return num & (num - 1) == 0

• def is_odd(num):

• return num % 2 == 1

By introducing new menu items, optimizing pricing strategy, and improving the overall dining experience.

• Conduct a survey to understand the preferences of employees

• Introduce healthy and affordable meal options

• Offer discounts for bulk orders or loyalty programs

• Partner with local vendors to source fresh ingredients

• Improve the ambiance and seating arrangements

• Implement online ordering and delivery services

Reviewing 30 million ads from 42 languages in Google AdWords and rejecting non-compliant ads requires a systematic approach.

• Create a set of specific rules and guidelines for ad compliance

• Use automated tools to filter out ads that violate the rules

• Assign a team of reviewers to manually check the remaining ads

• Ensure that the reviewers are fluent in the languages of the ads they are reviewing

• Regularly update the rules and...read more

Multiple data structures are used to print nodes in a specific order. One data structure cannot be used alone.

• The given order suggests a depth-first search traversal of a tree-like structure.

• A stack can be used to keep track of the nodes to be visited.

• A queue can be used to store the children of a node in the order they are visited.

• An array can be used to store the nodes in the required order.

• A linked list can be used ...read more

Find largest pen using minimum comparisons with tops.

• Divide pens into two groups and compare largest pen from each group with largest top.

• Repeat the process with the group containing the largest pen until only one pen is left.

• The remaining pen is the largest pen.

• Total number of comparisons required is 2n-3.

Given n dice with 'a' sides and sum b, return no. of ways to obtain b. Optimize time and space complexity.

• Use dynamic programming to reduce time complexity

• Create a 2D array to store the number of ways to obtain each sum for each number of dice

• Use rolling arrays to optimize space complexity

• Example: n=2, a=6, b=7 -> 6 ways to obtain sum 7

• Example: n=3, a=4, b=8 -> 21 ways to obtain sum 8

Sort 128 GB data on 2 machines with 64 GB RAM each. Extend to 1000 machines.

• Use external sorting algorithm like merge sort or quick sort

• Divide data into smaller chunks and sort them individually

• Merge sorted chunks using additional RAM

• For 1000 machines, use distributed sorting algorithms like MapReduce or Hadoop

• Ensure data consistency and fault tolerance in distributed sorting

I know multiple programming languages including Java, Python, and C++.

• Proficient in Java with experience in developing web applications using Spring framework

• Familiar with Python for data analysis and machine learning

• Experience in C++ for developing high-performance applications

• Also familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for front-end development

Class is a blueprint for creating objects, encapsulation is the process of hiding data and methods within a class.

• Class is a template or blueprint that defines the properties and behaviors of an object.

• Encapsulation is the process of bundling data and methods together within a class, hiding the internal details from the outside world.

• Other features of OOP include inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

• Inheritance a...read more

Program to find the sum of squares of each term of Fibonacci series

• Generate Fibonacci series using loop or recursion

• Calculate square of each term

• Add all squares to get the sum

I would like to join Cognizant because of its reputation as a leading global technology and consulting company.

• Cognizant has a strong presence in the industry and is known for its innovative solutions.

• I am impressed by Cognizant's commitment to digital transformation and its ability to deliver value to clients.

• The company offers excellent career growth opportunities and a supportive work environment.

• Cognizant's diverse...read more

A C code that prints out the elements of an array of strings.

• Declare an array of strings

• Use a loop to iterate through the array

• Print out each element

The probability of rain in Chennai today depends on various factors such as season, weather conditions, and location.

• The probability can be estimated by analyzing the current weather patterns and historical data.

• Factors such as humidity, temperature, and wind speed can affect the probability of rain.

• Local weather forecasts and satellite imagery can also provide insights into the likelihood of rain.

• The probability of ra...read more

It is impossible to accurately predict the probability of India winning the next Cricket World Cup.

• Sports events are unpredictable and depend on various factors such as team performance, weather conditions, injuries, etc.

• Past performance of the team and individual players can be considered, but it does not guarantee future success.

• Other teams participating in the tournament also play a significant role in determining t...read more