100+ System Engineer Hardware Interview Questions and Answers

Hash maps and hash tables are data structures that store key-value pairs and use a hash function to map keys to values for efficient retrieval.

• Hash maps and hash tables are used to implement associative arrays, dictionaries, and sets.

• They use a hash function to compute an index into an array of buckets or slots, where the value is stored.

• Collision resolution techniques like chaining or open addressing are used to handle situations where multiple keys map to the same index.

• Exa...read more

A program to calculate factorial of a number.

• Take input from user

• Use a loop to multiply the number with all the numbers less than it

• Print the result

yum command is used to install, update, remove, or manage packages on Linux systems.

• Install a package: yum install package_name

• Update all packages: yum update

• Remove a package: yum remove package_name

• List available packages: yum list available

Yes, I have experience working in Agile process.

• I have worked in Agile teams following Scrum framework

• I have experience in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives

• I have collaborated closely with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality products

• I have used tools like Jira for Agile project management

A prime number is a number greater than 1 that can only be divided by 1 and itself.

• A prime number has exactly two distinct positive divisors: 1 and itself.

• Examples of prime numbers include 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, etc.

• To determine if a number is prime, check if it is divisible by any number other than 1 and itself.

SQL joins are used to combine data from two or more tables based on a related column between them.

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

• Left join: returns all the rows from the left table and matching rows from the right table

• Right join: returns all the rows from the right table and matching rows from the left table

• Full outer join: returns all the rows from both tables, with NULL values in the columns where there is no match

• Cross join: returns the Cartesi...read more

init() method initializes an object or a class.

• init() method is used to initialize an object or a class.

• It is called automatically when an object is created.

• It can be used to set default values for object properties.

• It can also be used to perform any necessary setup operations.

• Example: __init__() method in Python.

• Example: init() method in Java.

• Example: viewDidLoad() method in iOS development.

C++ supports multiple inheritance while Java supports single inheritance.

• C++ allows a class to inherit from multiple classes, while Java only allows a class to inherit from one class.

• Java uses interfaces to achieve multiple inheritance-like behavior.

• C++ inheritance is more flexible but can lead to ambiguity and complexity, while Java's single inheritance simplifies the design.

• Example: C++ - class B: public A, public C; Java - class B extends A;

• Example: Java - interface C { vo...read more

Explanation of various sorting algorithms and their time complexities

• Bubble Sort - O(n^2)

• Selection Sort - O(n^2)

• Insertion Sort - O(n^2)

• Merge Sort - O(n log n)

• Quick Sort - O(n log n)

• Heap Sort - O(n log n)

• Radix Sort - O(nk)

OOPs concept is a programming paradigm based on the concept of objects, which can contain data in the form of fields and code in the form of procedures.

• Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on the data into a single unit.

• Inheritance: Allowing a class to inherit properties and behavior from another class.

• Polymorphism: The ability to present the same interface for different data types.

A pointer in C is a variable that stores the memory address of another variable.

• Pointers are used to manipulate data directly in memory.

• They can be used to pass data between functions efficiently.

• Pointers can be used to dynamically allocate memory.

• Example: int *ptr; ptr = # *ptr = 10; // num now equals 10

An array in C is a collection of similar data types stored in contiguous memory locations.

• Arrays are declared using square brackets []

• Elements in an array can be accessed using their index number

• Arrays can be initialized during declaration

• Arrays can be passed as arguments to functions

• Example: int arr[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};

• Example: printf("%d", arr[2]); // Output: 3

SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle, a process used to design, develop, and maintain software.

• SDLC is a structured approach to software development.

• It involves several stages such as planning, analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance.

• Each stage has its own set of activities and deliverables.

• SDLC ensures that software is developed efficiently, on time, and within budget.

• Examples of SDLC models include Waterfall, Agile, and DevOps.

An airplane flies due to the principles of aerodynamics and the use of engines to generate thrust.

• Airplanes generate lift through the shape of their wings and the Bernoulli's principle.

• Thrust is generated by the engines, which propel the airplane forward.

• The airplane's weight is counteracted by the lift generated by the wings.

• Control surfaces such as ailerons, elevators, and rudder are used to control the airplane's movement.

• Pilots use instruments and controls to monitor and ...read more

Stack, Queue, and Binary Search are common data structures used in computer science.

• Stack: Last In First Out (LIFO) data structure. Example: Undo/Redo feature in a text editor.

• Queue: First In First Out (FIFO) data structure. Example: Print queue in a printer.

• Binary Search: Efficient search algorithm for sorted arrays. Example: Searching for a word in a dictionary.

Object-oriented programming concepts that focus on data encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

• Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on the data into a single unit (object)

• Inheritance: Ability of a class to inherit properties and behavior from another class

• Polymorphism: Ability to present the same interface for different data types

• Abstraction: Hiding the complex implementation details and showing only the necessary features

IT contributes significantly to GDP through technology innovation, productivity gains, and job creation.

• IT sector directly contributes to GDP through sales of hardware, software, and services

• IT enables productivity gains in other sectors by automating processes and improving efficiency

• IT creates new job opportunities in tech companies and related industries

• Examples: Apple's revenue from iPhone sales, Microsoft's software sales, Amazon's cloud computing services

An array is a collection of elements of the same data type, stored in contiguous memory locations.

• Arrays can be one-dimensional or multi-dimensional

• Elements in an array can be accessed using their index

• Arrays can be initialized with values at the time of declaration

• Examples: int[] numbers = {1, 2, 3}; char[] letters = {'a', 'b', 'c'};

• Arrays in programming languages like C/C++ are pointers to the first element of the array

Abstraction in Java is the concept of hiding the implementation details and showing only the necessary features of an object.

• Abstraction allows you to define the structure of an object without specifying the implementation details.

• It helps in reducing complexity by hiding unnecessary details and only showing the essential parts.

• Abstract classes and interfaces are used to achieve abstraction in Java.

• Example: Abstract class 'Shape' with abstract method 'draw' can be extended by...read more

Projects are planned and executed by a team of engineers to achieve specific goals and objectives.

• Projects are initiated to address a specific need or problem.

• Project teams are formed with individuals who have the necessary skills and expertise.

• Project plans outline the scope, timeline, budget, and resources required.

• Project managers oversee the execution of the project and ensure it stays on track.

• Regular monitoring and evaluation are conducted to assess progress and make ne...read more

Pointers in C++ are variables that store memory addresses of other variables.

• Pointers are used to access and manipulate memory directly.

• They are denoted by an asterisk (*) before the variable name.

• Example: int *ptr; // declares a pointer to an integer variable

• Example: ptr = # // assigns the address of 'num' to the pointer

Blue screen of death is a Windows operating system error screen that appears when a system error occurs.

• Occurs in Windows operating systems when a critical system error is encountered

• Also known as BSOD or stop error

• Displays a blue screen with error message and code

• Usually requires a system restart to resolve

PSVM stands for Parallel Support Vector Machine and SYSO stands for System Output.

• PSVM is a machine learning algorithm used for classification tasks.

• SYSO refers to the output generated by a system or program.

• PSVM can be implemented using libraries like LIBSVM.

• SYSO can include text, images, or numerical data.

Automating SDLC involves using tools and scripts to streamline and optimize the software development process.

• Use continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) tools to automate build, test, and deployment processes.

• Implement configuration management tools to automate infrastructure provisioning and management.

• Utilize automation scripts for repetitive tasks such as code reviews, testing, and deployment.

• Integrate automated testing tools to ensure code quality and red...read more

Object Oriented concepts in Java include classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation.

• Classes are blueprints for objects, defining attributes and behaviors.

• Objects are instances of classes, containing data and methods.

• Inheritance allows a class to inherit attributes and methods from another class.

• Polymorphism enables objects to be treated as instances of their parent class.

• Encapsulation restricts access to certain components of an object.

OOPS principles are a set of guidelines that help in creating modular, reusable, and maintainable code.

• Encapsulation: Hiding the implementation details of an object and exposing only the necessary information.

• Inheritance: Creating new classes from existing ones, inheriting their properties and methods.

• Polymorphism: The ability of objects to take on multiple forms or behaviors.

• Abstraction: Focusing on the essential features of an object and ignoring the non-essential ones.

• Exam...read more

Securing a web app involves implementing various measures to protect against attacks and vulnerabilities.

• Use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit

• Implement strong authentication and authorization mechanisms

• Regularly update and patch software and libraries

• Use input validation and output encoding to prevent injection attacks

• Implement security headers to prevent cross-site scripting and clickjacking

• Regularly perform security audits and penetration testing

• Implement rate limiting and o...read more

HTML tags are used to define the structure and content of a web page.

• HTML tags are enclosed in angle brackets, such as <tag>.

• They are used to format text, insert images, create links, etc.

• Examples include <p> for paragraphs, <img> for images, <a> for links.

SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle. It is a process used to design, develop, and maintain software systems.

• SDLC is a structured approach to software development.

• It consists of several phases including requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance.

• Each phase has specific activities and deliverables.

• SDLC helps ensure that software is developed efficiently, meets user requirements, and is of high quality.

• Examples of SDLC models include...read more

OOPs stands for Object-Oriented Programming which is a programming paradigm based on the concept of objects.

• OOPs focuses on creating objects that have properties and methods

• It allows for encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism

• Examples of OOPs languages include Java, C++, and Python

Abstraction is the process of hiding complex details and showing only the essential features of an object or system.

• Abstraction allows us to focus on what an object does instead of how it does it

• It helps in reducing complexity and improving efficiency

• Examples include using a car without knowing the internal combustion engine details, or using a smartphone without understanding the hardware components

To create an LVM, you need to initialize physical volumes, create a volume group, and then create logical volumes within the volume group.

• Initialize physical volumes using pvcreate command

• Create a volume group using vgcreate command

• Create logical volumes within the volume group using lvcreate command

LVM stands for Logical Volume Manager, a tool used in Linux to manage storage by creating logical volumes from physical volumes.

• LVM allows for dynamic resizing of logical volumes without disrupting data.

• It provides features like snapshots, striping, mirroring, and thin provisioning.

• Common LVM commands include pvcreate, vgcreate, lvcreate, lvextend, and lvresize.

Scaling a web app involves optimizing resources, load balancing, and implementing caching strategies.

• Use load balancers to distribute traffic across multiple servers

• Optimize database queries and use caching to reduce server load

• Implement auto-scaling to add or remove resources based on traffic

• Use content delivery networks (CDNs) to serve static assets

• Consider using microservices architecture to break down the app into smaller components

• Monitor performance and make adjustments...read more

Classes and objects in C++ are used to create user-defined data types with their own properties and behaviors.

• Classes are used to define the blueprint for objects, containing data members and member functions.

• Objects are instances of classes, created using the 'new' keyword.

• Encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism are key concepts in object-oriented programming with C++.

Booting process is the sequence of events that occur when a computer is turned on and starts up.

• Power on self-test (POST) is performed to check hardware components

• BIOS or UEFI firmware is loaded to initialize hardware

• Boot loader is loaded to start the operating system

• Operating system kernel is loaded into memory

• User login prompt is displayed

Merge sort is a divide and conquer algorithm that divides the input array into two halves, sorts them separately, and then merges them.

• Divide the array into two halves

• Recursively sort each half

• Merge the sorted halves back together

Quick sort is a divide-and-conquer algorithm that sorts an array by selecting a pivot element and partitioning the array around the pivot.

• Select a pivot element from the array

• Partition the array into two sub-arrays: elements less than the pivot and elements greater than the pivot

• Recursively apply the same process to the sub-arrays

• Combine the sorted sub-arrays to get the final sorted array

Java 8 introduced several new features including lambda expressions, functional interfaces, streams, and default methods.

• Lambda expressions allow you to write code in a more concise way.

• Functional interfaces are interfaces with a single abstract method, used for lambda expressions.

• Streams provide a way to work with sequences of elements.

• Default methods allow interfaces to have method implementations.

• Example: Lambda expression - (a, b) -> a + b

• Example: Functional interface - C...read more

Scenario Outline is a feature in Cucumber that allows for running the same test scenario with different inputs

• Scenario Outline is used in Cucumber to create a template for a scenario that can be run multiple times with different inputs

• It uses placeholders (e.g. ) in the scenario steps that are replaced with actual values from a data table

• Each row in the data table represents a set of inputs that will be used to run the scenario

• Scenario Outline is useful for testing the same f...read more

I have used various Python libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and Scikit-learn.

• NumPy for numerical computing and array manipulation

• Pandas for data manipulation and analysis

• Matplotlib for data visualization

• Scikit-learn for machine learning algorithms

Arrays are fixed-size data structures that store elements of the same data type, while lists are dynamic data structures that can store elements of different data types.

• Arrays have a fixed size determined at the time of declaration, while lists can dynamically grow or shrink in size.

• Arrays store elements of the same data type, while lists can store elements of different data types.

• Arrays are accessed by index, while lists are accessed by iterators or pointers.

• Example: Array -...read more

System design in microservices involves breaking down a large application into smaller, independent services.

• Decompose the application into smaller services that are loosely coupled

• Each service should have a specific function and communicate with other services via APIs

• Use containers like Docker for easy deployment and scaling

• Implement service discovery and load balancing for efficient communication

• Monitor and manage services using tools like Kubernetes

Binary search is a divide and conquer algorithm that efficiently finds the target value within a sorted array.

• Start by defining the low and high indices of the array.

• Calculate the mid index as (low + high) / 2.

• Compare the target value with the value at the mid index and adjust the low and high indices accordingly.

• Repeat the process until the target value is found or the low index surpasses the high index.

OOPs concepts include inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and abstraction.

• Inheritance: Allows a class to inherit properties and behavior from another class.

• Polymorphism: Ability for objects of different classes to respond to the same method.

• Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on the data into a single unit.

• Abstraction: Hiding the complex implementation details and showing only the necessary features.

Dijkstra algorithm is a graph search algorithm that finds the shortest path between nodes in a graph.

• Dijkstra algorithm starts at a selected node and explores the neighboring nodes to find the shortest path.

• It uses a priority queue to keep track of the nodes to be explored next based on their distances from the starting node.

• The algorithm continues until all nodes have been visited and the shortest path to each node has been determined.

Design patterns are reusable solutions to common problems encountered in software design.

• Design patterns provide a template for solving recurring design problems in software development.

• They help in creating maintainable, scalable, and efficient code.

• Examples include Singleton, Factory, Observer, and Strategy patterns.