JavaScript interview questions (part -1)

JavaScript interview questions (part -1)

Let's start with the first topic: The fundamentals of JavaScript.

  1. In-depth Question: Can you explain the difference between let, var, and const in JavaScript and when to use each one?

    Explanation:

    In JavaScript, there are three ways to declare variables: var, let, and const.

    var is the traditional way of declaring variables in JavaScript, and it has function scope. This means that the variable declared with var is accessible within the function it is declared in, as well as within any nested functions.

    let was introduced in ECMAScript 6 (ES6) and has a block scope. This means that the variable declared with let is only accessible within the block it is declared in.

    const is also introduced in ES6, and it is used to declare constants in JavaScript. The value of a constant declared with const cannot be changed once it has been assigned. Const also has a block scope.

    When deciding which one to use, it depends on the use case. If you want to declare a variable that is going to be used throughout the entire function, then you can use var. If you want to declare a variable that has a limited scope, then you can use let. And if you want to declare a constant, you should use const.

    It is recommended to use const whenever possible, as it makes your code more secure and easier to maintain.

  2. In-depth Question: Can you explain how closure works in JavaScript and give an example of its usage?

    Explanation:

    A closure in JavaScript is a function that has access to variables in its outer scope even after the outer function has returned. The closure has three scope chains: it has access to its own scope, the outer function's variables, and the global variables.

    An example of closure usage is when you want to create a function that will generate multiple functions with some shared state. For example:

     function outerFunction(x) {
       return function innerFunction(y) {
         return x + y;
       };
     }
    
     const add5 = outerFunction(5);
     console.log(add5(3)); // 8
    

    In this example, the outerFunction returns the innerFunction, and the innerFunction has access to the variable x declared in the outerFunction. When we call outerFunction(5), it returns a new function that adds 5 to its argument, so add5(3) returns 8.

  3. In-depth Question: Can you explain the "this" keyword in JavaScript and how its value is determined?

    Explanation:

    The this keyword in JavaScript refers to the object that the function is a method of, or in other words, it refers to the object that owns the function. The value of this is determined at runtime, based on the context in which the function is called.

    There are four main ways that the value of this can be determined:

    1. Implicit binding: this refers to the object that the function is a method of. For example:

       const person = {
         name: 'John',
         greet: function() {
           console.log(`Hello, my name is ${this.name}`);
         }
       };
      
       person.greet();
      
      1. Explicit binding: this refers to an object that is passed as an argument to call, apply, or bind. For example:

         const person = {
           name: 'John'
         };
        
         function greet() {
           console.log(`Hello, my name is ${this.name}`);
         }
        
         greet.call(person); // Hello, my name is John
        
        1. New binding: this refers to the newly created object when a function is invoked with the new keyword. For example:

           function Person(name) {
             this.name = name;
           }
          
           const john = new Person('John');
           console.log(john.name); // John
          
          1. Window binding: If none of the above apply, this will refer to the global window object (in non-strict mode).

            It's important to understand how the value of this is determined in order to write correct and efficient code.

        2. Can you explain the difference between synchronous and asynchronous code in JavaScript, and give an example of each?

          Explanation:

          In JavaScript, there are two types of code execution: synchronous and asynchronous.

          Synchronous code is executed in a blocking manner, meaning that the next line of code will not be executed until the current line has been completed. For example:

           console.log('Start');
           const result = slowFunction();
           console.log(result);
           console.log('End');
          

          In this example, the code logs "Start", then calls the, which takes a long time to complete. The code will not move on to the next line until slowFunction has returned a result.

          Asynchronous code, on the other hand, is executed in a non-blocking manner, meaning that the code continues to execute even if the asynchronous operation has not yet been completed. For example:

           console.log('Start');
           setTimeout(() => {
             console.log('Timeout completed');
           }, 1000);
           console.log('End');
          

          In this example, the code logs "Start", then sets a timer with setTimeout, which is an asynchronous operation. The code immediately moves on to the next line and logs "End". After 1000 milliseconds have passed, the timer's callback function is executed and logs "Timeout completed".

          Asynchronous code is important for improving the performance and responsiveness of your applications, but it can also make the code more complex and harder to debug. It's important to understand the difference between synchronous and asynchronous code and use each appropriately in your code.

        3. How does javascript work behind the scene?

          JavaScript is a high-level, dynamic, and interpreted programming language that is executed in a web browser or JavaScript engine. When you write JavaScript code, it is transformed into a series of instructions that the JavaScript engine can understand and execute. Here's a high-level overview of how JavaScript works behind the scenes:

          1. Parsing: The JavaScript engine reads your code and transforms it into a tree-like structure called an abstract syntax tree (AST). The AST is a representation of the code that makes it easier for the engine to understand the structure of your code.

          2. Compilation: The JavaScript engine then compiles the AST into machine code that can be executed by the computer. This step is often performed just-in-time (JIT), which means that the code is compiled and executed as it is needed, rather than all at once.

          3. Execution: The compiled machine code is executed by the JavaScript engine, which follows the instructions in your code to perform actions, manipulate data, and interact with the web page.

          4. Memory Management: The JavaScript engine manages the memory used by your code, allocating and freeing up memory as needed to ensure that your code runs efficiently. The engine also automatically garbage collects objects that are no longer in use, freeing up memory and avoiding memory leaks.

          5. Interaction with the Web Page: JavaScript can interact with the HTML and CSS of a web page, allowing you to manipulate the page's content, style, and behavior. The JavaScript engine communicates with the web browser to update the page in response to user input and other events.

Overall, the JavaScript engine is responsible for interpreting your code, executing it, and managing the memory used by your code. By working behind the scenes, the engine allows you to write high-level code that can interact with the web page and perform complex operations with ease.