100+ Assistant System Engineer Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

Find minimum number of * or # to make a string valid with equal number of * and #.

• Count the number of * and # in the string.

• Find the absolute difference between the counts.

• Return the difference as the minimum number of characters to add.

• If the counts are already equal, return 0.

Determine the minimum possible value of the maximum number of balls in a bag after performing a given number of operations.

• Iterate through the bags and split them into two bags until the maximum number of operations is reached.

• Keep track of the maximum number of balls in a bag after each operation.

• Return the minimum possible value of the maximum number of balls in a bag.

Implement a stack using two queues to store integer values with specified functions.

• Create a stack class with two queue data members.

• Implement push(data) function to add elements to the stack.

• Implement pop() function to remove and return the top element.

• Implement top() function to return the top element without removing it.

• Implement size() function to return the current number of elements.

• Implement isEmpty() function to check if the stack is empty.

Calculate total instances of equivalent prime groups in a day divided into equal parts.

• Divide the day into equal parts and check for prime groups at the same position in different parts.

• Count the number of prime groups found and return the total count.

• Ensure that each hour in a prime group is in a different part of the day.

Determine the maximum amount of money a thief can steal from houses without looting two consecutive houses.

• Create an array 'dp' to store the maximum money that can be stolen up to the i-th house.

• Iterate through the houses and update 'dp' based on whether the current house is looted or not.

• Return the maximum value in 'dp' as the answer.

The task is to determine the maximum possible number of unique vehicle registrations given the number of districts, the range of series letters, and the range of digits.

• Parse the input for each test case: number of districts, letter ranges, and digit ranges.

• Calculate the total number of unique registrations based on the given constraints.

• Output the maximum number of unique vehicle registrations for each test case.

• Ensure to handle the constraints specified in the problem state...read more

Check if the binary representation of a given integer is a palindrome.

• Convert the integer to binary representation.

• Check if the binary representation is a palindrome by comparing it with its reverse.

• Return true if it is a palindrome, false otherwise.

Identify duplicate elements in an array of integers within a given range.

• Iterate through the array and keep track of the frequency of each element using a hashmap.

• Return elements with frequency greater than 1 as duplicates.

• Handle edge cases like empty array or no duplicates found.

• Example: For input [0, 3, 1, 2, 3], output should be [3].

Yogesh needs to find the minimum possible P such that there are at least K prime numbers in the range [A, P].

• Iterate from A to B and check if each number is prime

• Keep track of the count of prime numbers found in the range [A, P]

• Return the minimum P that satisfies the condition or -1 if no such P exists

A linked list is a data structure that consists of a sequence of nodes, where each node contains a reference to the next node.

• A linked list is a dynamic data structure that can grow or shrink as needed.

• Each node in a linked list contains two parts: data and a reference to the next node.

• To insert a node at the beginning of a linked list, we create a new node, set its data, and update the reference of the new node to point to the current head of the list.

C++ is an extension of C with object-oriented programming features.

• C++ supports classes and objects while C does not.

• C++ has better support for polymorphism and inheritance.

• C++ has a standard template library (STL) while C does not.

• C++ is more complex and has more features than C.

• C++ is often used for developing large-scale software projects.

• C is often used for system programming and embedded systems.

Local variables are declared within a specific function or block, while global variables are declared outside of any function or block.

• Local variables have a limited scope and are only accessible within the function or block where they are declared.

• Global variables can be accessed from anywhere in the program.

• Local variables are created when a function is called and destroyed when the function ends.

• Global variables are created when the program starts and exist until the progr...read more

ArrayList is a dynamic array that can grow or shrink in size. It provides advantages like dynamic resizing and built-in methods.

• ArrayList is a resizable array implementation of the List interface in Java.

• It can store elements of any type, including objects and primitives.

• Advantages over generic arrays include dynamic resizing, automatic memory management, and built-in methods like add(), remove(), etc.

• Example: ArrayList names = new ArrayList();

• names.add("John"); names.add("Ja...read more

Yes, I have participated in TCS CodeVita.

• I participated in TCS CodeVita in 2020 and 2021.

• I was able to solve several coding problems during the competition.

• Participating in CodeVita helped me improve my coding skills and problem-solving abilities.

Asymptotic notation is a way to describe the performance of an algorithm by analyzing its behavior as the input size approaches infinity.

• Asymptotic notation is used to analyze the efficiency and scalability of algorithms.

• It provides a way to compare algorithms based on their growth rates.

• Commonly used asymptotic notations include Big O, Big Omega, and Big Theta.

• Big O notation represents the upper bound or worst-case scenario of an algorithm's time complexity.

• For example, an a...read more

Unions and joins are used to combine data from multiple tables. Primary keys are unique identifiers for a table, while unique keys ensure uniqueness of a column.

• Unions combine data from two or more tables into a single result set, while joins combine data from two or more tables based on a common column.

• Primary keys are used to uniquely identify each row in a table and cannot contain null values. Unique keys ensure that a column has unique values, but can contain null values....read more

Arrays offer constant time access and efficient memory usage, but have fixed size. Linked lists have dynamic size but slower access.

• Arrays provide constant time access to elements using index

• Arrays have efficient memory usage as they store elements in contiguous memory locations

• Arrays have a fixed size and cannot be easily resized

• Linked lists have dynamic size and can grow or shrink as needed

• Linked lists allow efficient insertion and deletion of elements

• Linked lists require e...read more

Yes, I am willing to sign the service bonds.

• I understand the importance of service bonds in ensuring job security and commitment to the company.

• I am willing to commit to the terms and conditions of the bond.

• I believe in the company's vision and goals and am excited to contribute to its growth.

• I have signed service bonds in the past and have fulfilled my obligations.

• I am open to discussing the terms of the bond before signing.

Join is a database operation that combines rows from two or more tables based on a related column between them.

• Inner join returns only the matching rows from both tables.

• Outer join returns all the rows from one table and the matching rows from the other table.

• There are different types of outer joins: left outer join, right outer join, and full outer join.

• Joining tables can be done using the JOIN keyword in SQL.

• Example: SELECT * FROM table1 INNER JOIN table2 ON table1.column =...read more

Python is a versatile programming language used for solving real-world problems in various fields.

• Python is used for web development, data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

• It is used in scientific computing, finance, and gaming industries.

• Python is used for automation, scripting, and building desktop applications.

• It is also used for creating chatbots, web crawlers, and data visualization tools.

• Python's simplicity, readability, and vast libraries make it...read more

Delete command removes rows from a table, while Truncate command removes all rows from a table.

• Delete command is a DML (Data Manipulation Language) command, while Truncate command is a DDL (Data Definition Language) command.

• Delete command can be rolled back, while Truncate command cannot be rolled back.

• Delete command fires triggers, while Truncate command does not fire triggers.

• Delete command is slower as it maintains logs, while Truncate command is faster as it does not main...read more

An array is a collection of similar data types. It can be defined and values can be assigned to its indices.

• Arrays can be defined using square brackets [] and specifying the size or leaving it empty for dynamic sizing.

• Values can be assigned to array indices using the assignment operator = and specifying the index number.

• Example: int arr[5]; arr[0] = 1; arr[1] = 2; arr[2] = 3; arr[3] = 4; arr[4] = 5;

• Arrays can also be initialized during declaration like int arr[] = {1, 2, 3, 4...read more

Truncate, drop, and delete are SQL commands used to remove data from a table, but they differ in their functionality.

• Truncate is a DDL command that removes all rows from a table, but keeps the structure intact.

• Drop is a DDL command that removes an entire table, including its structure and data.

• Delete is a DML command that removes specific rows from a table based on a condition.

• Truncate is faster than delete as it doesn't generate any transaction logs.

• Drop is irreversible and ...read more

A static variable in C is a variable that retains its value between function calls.

• Static variables are declared using the 'static' keyword.

• They are initialized only once, at the start of the program.

• Their value persists even after the function call ends.

• Static variables have a default initial value of 0.

• They are useful for maintaining state across function calls.

I am comfortable in multiple programming languages including Java, Python, and C++.

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

• Skilled in Python with experience in data analysis and machine learning using libraries like NumPy and Pandas

• Familiar with C++ and its object-oriented programming concepts

• Also comfortable in languages like JavaScript and SQL

Find the difference between the sum of odd and even position digits in a maximum of 100 digit number.

• Iterate through the digits of the number and add the digits at odd positions to a variable for odd position digits and even positions to a variable for even position digits.

• Calculate the difference between the two variables.

• Return the difference.

• Example: For the number 123456, the sum of digits at odd positions is 1+3+5=9 and the sum of digits at even positions is 2+4+6=12. Th...read more

Cyclically rotate an array of N integers clockwise by K.

• Create a temporary array of size K and copy the last K elements of the original array into it.

• Shift the remaining elements of the original array K positions to the right.

• Copy the elements from the temporary array to the beginning of the original array.

• Time complexity: O(N)

• Space complexity: O(K)

Swapping 2 numbers without a third variable in a program.

• Use arithmetic operations to swap the values of the variables.

• Add the values of both variables and store the result in one variable.

• Subtract the value of the second variable from the sum and store the result in the second variable.

• Subtract the value of the first variable from the sum and store the result in the first variable.

Call by value and call by reference are two ways of passing arguments to a function.

• Call by value passes a copy of the argument's value to the function.

• Call by reference passes a reference to the argument's memory location to the function.

• Call by value is used for simple data types like int, float, etc.

• Call by reference is used for complex data types like arrays, structures, etc.

Query to select highest salary from employee table.

• Use SELECT statement to retrieve data from employee table.

• Use MAX function to find the highest salary.

• Combine both using the syntax: SELECT MAX(salary) FROM employee;

• Ensure that the column name is correct and matches the table schema.

Scale up and scale down operations refer to increasing or decreasing the resources allocated to a system or application.

• Scale up involves adding more resources to a system to handle increased demand or workload.

• Examples of scale up include adding more RAM, CPU, or storage to a server.

• Scale down involves reducing the resources allocated to a system when demand or workload decreases.

• Examples of scale down include removing unused resources or shutting down servers that are no lo...read more

C is a procedural programming language while C++ is an object-oriented programming language. C++ is an extension of C with additional features.

• C is a procedural programming language, while C++ is an object-oriented programming language.

• C++ supports features like classes, inheritance, polymorphism, and operator overloading which are not present in C.

• C++ is an extension of C, so C code can be easily integrated into C++ programs.

• Java is also an object-oriented programming langua...read more

Inner join returns only the matching rows from both tables while outer join returns all rows from both tables with null values for non-matching rows.

• Inner join is used to combine rows from two tables where the join condition is met.

• Outer join is used to combine rows from two tables even if the join condition is not met.

• There are three types of outer join: left outer join, right outer join, and full outer join.

• Left outer join returns all rows from the left table and matching r...read more

C language has various operators like arithmetic, relational, logical, bitwise, assignment, and conditional operators.

• Arithmetic operators: +, -, *, /, %

• Relational operators: <, >, <=, >=, ==, !=

• Logical operators: &&, ||, !

• Bitwise operators: &, |, ^, ~, <<, >>

• Assignment operators: =, +=, -=, *=, /=, %=

• Conditional operator: ? :

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

• Java

• Python

• C++

Cache memory is a small, fast memory that stores frequently accessed data for quick access.

• Cache memory is faster than main memory but smaller in size.

• It reduces the time taken to access data from main memory.

• Examples include CPU cache, web browser cache, and disk cache.

• Cache memory is volatile and can be cleared at any time.

• Cache hit is when data is found in cache, cache miss is when it's not.

Method overloading is creating multiple methods with the same name but different parameters. Method overriding is creating a new implementation of an existing method in a subclass.

• Method overloading is used to provide different ways of calling a method with different parameters.

• Method overriding is used to change the behavior of an existing method in a subclass.

• Method overloading is resolved at compile-time based on the number and type of arguments passed.

• Method overriding is...read more

Local variables are declared within a function and have a limited scope, while global variables are declared outside of a function and can be accessed throughout the program.

• Local variables are only accessible within the function they are declared in.

• Global variables can be accessed from any part of the program.

• Local variables are created when a function is called and destroyed when the function ends.

• Global variables are created when the program starts and destroyed when the ...read more

Loops are used to repeat a set of instructions. If, else and while loops are conditional statements used in programming.

• If statement is used to execute a block of code if a condition is true.

• Else statement is used to execute a block of code if the same condition is false.

• While loop is used to execute a block of code repeatedly as long as a condition is true.

• For loop is used to execute a block of code a specific number of times.

Method overriding is a feature in object-oriented programming where a subclass provides a different implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass.

• Method overriding is used to achieve runtime polymorphism.

• The method in the subclass must have the same name, return type, and parameters as the method in the superclass.

• The @Override annotation can be used to indicate that a method is intended to override a superclass method.

• The overridden method in the subcl...read more

Java is an object-oriented programming language while C++ is a hybrid language with both object-oriented and procedural programming features.

• Java is platform-independent while C++ is platform-dependent.

• Java has automatic garbage collection while C++ requires manual memory management.

• Java has a simpler syntax and is easier to learn than C++.

• C++ allows for low-level memory manipulation and is faster than Java.

• Java is used for developing web applications, mobile applications, an...read more

SQL is a language used to manage relational databases, while MySQL is a specific relational database management system.

• SQL is a language used to manage relational databases, while MySQL is a specific implementation of a relational database management system.

• SQL is a standard language used across different database management systems, while MySQL is a specific product developed by Oracle Corporation.

• MySQL is an open-source database management system that uses SQL as its langua...read more

Byte code is a compiled code that is generated by the Java compiler and can be executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

• Byte code is an intermediate representation of Java source code.

• It is platform-independent and can be executed on any device with a JVM.

• Byte code is stored in .class files.

• Examples of byte code instructions include loading, storing, and arithmetic operations.

Service-based companies provide services to clients while product-based companies sell products to customers.

• Service-based companies focus on providing services to clients, such as consulting, outsourcing, and support services.

• Product-based companies focus on selling products to customers, such as software, hardware, and consumer goods.

• Service-based companies typically have a more flexible business model and may have a wider range of clients, while product-based companies may...read more

Answering a query to delete a row and converting if loop to while loop.

• To delete a row, use the DELETE statement with the WHERE clause to specify the row to be deleted.

• Syntax: DELETE FROM table_name WHERE condition;

• To convert an if loop to while loop, replace the if statement with a while loop and add a condition to exit the loop.

• Example: if (condition) { // code } can be converted to while (condition) { // code }

Exception handling is a mechanism to handle runtime errors and prevent program crashes.

• Exceptions are objects that represent errors or exceptional situations in a program.

• When an exception occurs, the program stops executing and jumps to the nearest exception handler.

• Exception handling involves catching and handling exceptions to prevent program crashes.

• Try-catch blocks are used to catch and handle exceptions.

• Example: try { //code that may throw an exception } catch (Exceptio...read more

Find distinct elements in a given array of size n<=20.

• Iterate through the array and add each element to a set.

• Return the size of the set as the number of distinct elements.

• Example: [1, 2, 3, 2, 1] -> {1, 2, 3} -> 3 distinct elements.

List and tuple are data structures in Python used to store collections of items.

• Lists are mutable and can be modified, while tuples are immutable and cannot be modified.

• Lists are defined using square brackets [], while tuples are defined using parentheses ().

• Lists are commonly used for storing and manipulating data, while tuples are used for grouping related data.

• Example of a list: my_list = [1, 2, 3]

• Example of a tuple: my_tuple = (4, 5, 6)