Most tricky Java Interview

Questions are given below :

1. Which two methods you need to implement for key Object in HashMap?

In order to use any object as Key in HashMap, it must implements equals and hashcode
method in Java.

hashCode(): This method returns a hash code value for the object. It is used by hash-
based data structures such as HashMap to determine the bucket location for storing the
key-value pair. The general contract of hashCode() is that equal objects must produce the
same hash code. However, it’s important to note that different objects can produce the
same hash code (known as hash collisions), so it’s crucial to implement hashCode()
effectively to minimize collisions.equals(Object obj): This method compares the current
object with the specified object for equality. In the context of HashMap, it is used to
determine if two keys are equal. The equals() method should be overridden to provide
custom equality comparison based on the key’s attributes. The general contract of equals()
specifies that it must be reflexive, symmetric, transitive, and consistent.

Most tricky Java Interview Questions

2. What is immutable object? Can you write immutable object?

Immutable classes are Java classes whose objects can not be modified once created. Any
modification in Immutable object result in new object. For example is String is immutable in
Java. Mostly Immutable are also final in Java, in order to prevent sub class from overriding
methods in Java which can compromise Immutability. You can achieve same functionality
by making member as non final but private and not modifying them except in constructor.

3. What is the difference between creating String as new() and literal?

When we create string with new() Operator, it’s created in heap and not added into string
pool while String created using literal are created in String pool itself which exists in
PermGen area of heap.

String s = new String(“Test”);

does not put the object in String pool , we need to call String.intern() method which is used
to put them into String pool explicitly. its only when you create String object as String
literal e.g. String s = “Test” Java automatically put that into String pool.

4. What is difference between StringBuffer and StringBuilder in Java?

StringBuffer StringBuilder

This class is thread-safe, meaning it is designed to be safely Unlike StringBuffer, StringBuilder is not thread-safe. Its
used by multiple threads concurrently. All of its public
methods are synchronized, ensuring that only one thread can methods are not synchronized, making it more efficient
access the StringBuffer object at a time. While this thread
safety guarantees consistency in a multi-threaded
environment, it comes with a performance cost. for single-threaded scenarios. However, if multiple threads
synchronization, it can lead to unexpected behavior and

data corruption.

Due to its thread safety, StringBuffer tends to be slower in Because it is not thread-safe, StringBuilder does not incur
single-threaded scenarios compared to StringBuilder. The
synchronization overhead incurred by StringBuffer’s the synchronization overhead of StringBuffer. As a result,
methods can impact performance, especially in high-
throughput applications.
StringBuilder generally offers better performance than

StringBuffer, especially in single-threaded environments

where thread safety is not a concern.

It is recommended to use StringBuffer when working in a StringBuilder is preferred in single-threaded scenarios

multi-threaded environment where thread safety is required.
For example, in scenarios involving concurrent access to where performance is a priority and thread safety is not a
shared data structures across multiple threads.
concern. It is commonly used for string manipulation in

situations where only one thread accesses the object.

Most tricky Java Interview Questions

5. Write code to find the First non-repeated character in the String.

import java.util.HashMap;

import java.util.Map;

public class FirstNonRepeatedCharacter {

public static char findFirstNonRepeatedCharacter(String str) {

// Create a map to store the frequency of each character

 Map<Character, Integer> charFrequency = new HashMap<>();

// Populate the map with character frequencies

for (char ch : str.toCharArray()) {

charFrequency.put(ch, charFrequency.getOrDefault(ch, 0) + 1);

// Iterate through the string to find the first non-repeated character

for (char ch : str.toCharArray()) {

if (charFrequency.get(ch) == 1) {

return ch; // Return the first non-repeated character

// If no non-repeated character found, return a placeholder character

return ‘\0’; // ‘\0’ represents null character

public static void main(String[] args) {

String str = “hello”;

char firstNonRepeatedChar = findFirstNonRepeatedCharacter(str);

if (firstNonRepeatedChar != ‘\0’) {

System.out.println(“First non-repeated character in \”” + str + “\” is: ” +

firstNonRepeatedChar);

} else {

System.out.println(“No non-repeated character found in \”” + str + “\””);

}
}

6. In how many ways you can create a string objects in Java?

There are two ways to create string objects in java. One is using new operator and another
one is using string literals. The objects created using new operator are stored in the heap
memory and objects created using string literals are stored in string constant pool.

String s1 = new String(“hello”);

//Creating string object using

new operator

String s2 = “hello”;

//Creating string object using

string literal

Most tricky Java Interview Questions

7. What is String Pool ?

String pool is the memory space in heap memory specially allocated to store the string
objects created using string literals. In String pool, there will be no two string objects
having the same content.

Whenever you create a string object using string literal, JVM first checks the content of the
object to be created. If there exist an object in the string pool with the same content, then it
returns the reference of that object. It doesn’t create a new object. If the content is different
from the existing objects then only it creates new object.

8. what are static blocks and static initializers in Java?

Static blocks or static initializers are used to initialize static fields in java. we declare static
blocks when we want to intialize static fields in our class. Static blocks gets executed
exactly once when the class is loaded . Static blocks are executed even before the
constructors are executed.

9. How to call one constructor from the other constructor ?

With in the same class if we want to call one constructor from other we use this() method.
Based on the number of parameters we pass appropriate this() method is called.
Restrictions for using this method :
 1) this must be the first statement in the constructor

2)we cannot use two this() methods in the constructor

Interview questions for Tech mahindra for freshers new Joinee

10. What is super keyword in java?

Variables and methods of super class can be overridden in subclass . In case of overriding
, a subclass object call its own variables and methods. Subclass cannot access the
variables and methods of superclass because the overridden variables or methods hides
the methods and variables of super class. But still java provides a way to access super
class members even if its members are overridden. Super is used to access superclass
variables, methods, constructors. Super can be used in two forms :

1) First form is for calling super class constructor.

2) Second one is to call super class variables,methods.

Super if present must be the first statement.

11. Difference between method overloading and method overriding in java ?

Method overloading Method overriding

Method Overloading occurs with in the same class Method Overriding occurs between two classes superclass and

subclass

Since it involves with only one class inheritance is not involved. Since method overriding occurs between superclass and

subclass inheritance is involved.

In overloading return type need not be the same In overriding return type must be same.

Parameters must be different when we do overloading Parameters must be same.

Static polymorphism can be acheived using method overloading Dynamic polymorphism can be acheived using method

overriding.
In overloading one method can’t hide the another In overriding subclass method hides that of the superclass

method.

Most tricky Java Interview Questions

12. Why java is platform independent?

The most unique feature of java is platform independent. In any programming language
soruce code is compiled in to executable code . This cannot be run across all platforms.
When javac compiles a java program it generates an executable file called .class file. class
file contains byte codes. Byte codes are interpreted only by JVM’s . Since these JVM’s are
made available across all platforms by Sun Microsystems, we can execute this byte code
in any platform. Byte code generated in windows environment can also be executed in
linux environment. This makes java platform independent.

13. What is bytecode in java ?

When a javac compiler compiler compiles a class it generates .class file. This .class file
contains set of instructions called byte code. Byte code is a machine independent
language and contains set of instructions which are to be executed only by JVM. JVM can
understand this byte codes.

14. Difference between this() and super() in java ?

this() is used to access one constructor from another with in the same class while super()
is used to access superclass constructor. Either this() or super() exists it must be the first
statement in the constructor.

15. What is a class ?

Classes are fundamental or basic unit in Object Oriented Programming .A class is kind of
blueprint or template for objects. Class defines variables, methods. A class tells what type
of objects we are creating. For example take Department class tells us we can create
department type objects. We can create any number of department objects. All
programming constructs in java reside in class. When JVM starts running it first looks for
the class when we compile. Every Java application must have atleast one class and one
main method. Class starts with class keyword. A class definition must be saved in class file
that has same as class name. File name must end with .java extension.

16. What is an object ?

An Object is instance of class. A class defines type of object. Each object belongs to some
class.Every object contains state and behavior. State is determined by value of attributes
and behavior is called method. Objects are alos called as an instance. To instantiate the
class we declare with the class type.

17. Why main() method is public, static and void in java?

public : “public” is an access specifier which can be used outside the class. When main
method is declared public it means it can be used outside class.

static : To call a method we require object. Sometimes it may be required to call a method
without the help of object. Then we declare that method as static. JVM calls the main()
method without creating object by declaring keyword static.

void : void return type is used when a method does’nt return any value . main() method
does’nt return any value, so main() is declared as void.

Most tricky Java Interview Questions

18. What is constructor in java?

we use constructors to initialize all variables in the class when an object is created. As and
when an object is created it is initialized automatically with the help of constructor in java.
We have two types of constructors Default Constructor Parameterized Constructor

19. What is ASCII Code?

ASCII stands for American Standard code for Information Interchange. ASCII character
range is 0 to 255. We can’t add more characters to the ASCII Character set. ASCII
character set supports only English. That 6 | Page is the reason, if we see C language we
can write c language only in English we can’t write in other languages because it uses
ASCII code.

20. What is Unicode?

Unicode is a character set developed by Unicode Consortium. To support all languages in

the world Java supports Unicode values. Unicode characters were represented by 16 bits
and its character range is 0- 65,535.