JavaScript Interview Questions - Complete Solutions

Easy & Medium Level Based on 2-Week Fundamentals

EASY LEVEL QUESTIONS

JavaScript Basics
1. What is JavaScript and where is it used? JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming
language primarily used for:

Client-side web development (making web pages interactive)

Server-side development (Node.js)

Mobile app development

Desktop applications

Game development

2. How do you include JavaScript in an HTML page?

html

<!-- Inline JavaScript -->

<script>
console.log("Hello World");
</script>

<!-- External JavaScript file -->

<script src="script.js"></script>

<!-- Inline event handlers -->

<button onclick="alert('Clicked!')">Click me</button>

3. What does console.log() do? console.log() prints output to the browser's developer console,
primarily used for debugging and testing code without showing alerts to users.

4. What's the difference between alert() and console.log()?

alert() : Shows a popup dialog box to the user that must be dismissed

console.log() : Prints to the browser console (only visible in developer tools)

Variables and Data Types

5. What are the different ways to declare variables in JavaScript?

javascript

var name = "John"; // Function-scoped, can be redeclared

let age = 25; // Block-scoped, can be reassigned
const city = "NYC"; // Block-scoped, cannot be reassigned

6. Name the primitive data types in JavaScript.

string - Text data

number - Integers and floating-point numbers

boolean - true/false values

null - Intentional absence of value

undefined - Variable declared but not assigned

symbol - Unique identifier (ES6+)

bigint - Large integers (ES2020+)

7. What is the difference between null and undefined?

null : Intentionally assigned to represent "no value"

undefined : Variable exists but hasn't been assigned a value

8. How do you check the type of a variable?

javascript

typeof variable;
// Examples:
typeof "hello"; // "string"
typeof 42; // "number"
typeof true; // "boolean"

Operators
9. What are the different types of operators in JavaScript?

Arithmetic: + , - , * , / , % , **

Assignment: = , += , -= , *= , /=

Comparison: == , === , != , !== , < , > , <= , >=

 Logical: && , || , !

10. What is the difference between == and ===?

== (loose equality): Compares values with type coercion

=== (strict equality): Compares values and types without coercion

javascript

5 == "5"; // true (type coercion)

5 === "5"; // false (different types)

11. What will be the output of 5 + "3"? Output: "53" (string concatenation occurs because one
operand is a string)

Control Flow
12. Explain the if-else statement with an example.

javascript

let age = 18;

if (age >= 18) {
console.log("You can vote!");
} else {
console.log("You cannot vote yet.");
}

13. When would you use a switch statement instead of if-else? Use switch when:

Testing the same variable against multiple values

You have many conditions to check

Code readability is improved

 javascript

switch (day) {
case "Monday":
console.log("Start of work week");
break;
case "Friday":
console.log("TGIF!");
break;
default:
console.log("Regular day");
}

14. What is the ternary operator? Give an example.

javascript

// Syntax: condition ? valueIfTrue : valueIfFalse

let age = 20;
let status = age >= 18 ? "adult" : "minor";
console.log(status); // "adult"

Loops
15. What are the different types of loops in JavaScript?

for - Traditional counter loop

while - Loop while condition is true

do-while - Execute at least once, then check condition

for...in - Iterate over object properties

for...of - Iterate over iterable values

16. What's the difference between break and continue?

break : Exits the entire loop

continue : Skips current iteration and moves to next

17. Write a simple for loop to print numbers 1 to 5.

 javascript

for (let i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {

console.log(i);
}

Functions
18. What is a function? Why do we use functions? A function is a reusable block of code that performs
a specific task. Benefits:

Code reusability
Better organization

Easier debugging and maintenance

Modularity

19. What's the difference between function declaration and function expression?

javascript

// Function Declaration (hoisted)

function greet() {
return "Hello!";
}

// Function Expression (not hoisted)

const greet = function() {
return "Hello!";
};

20. What are arrow functions? Give an example.

 javascript

// Traditional function
function add(a, b) {
return a + b;
}

// Arrow function
const add = (a, b) => a + b;

// With single parameter

const square = x => x * x;

MEDIUM LEVEL QUESTIONS

Advanced Variables and Scope

21. Explain hoisting in JavaScript with examples. Hoisting moves variable and function declarations to
the top of their scope.

javascript

console.log(x); // undefined (not error)

var x = 5;

// Equivalent to:
var x;
console.log(x); // undefined
x = 5;

// let and const are hoisted but not initialized

console.log(y); // ReferenceError
let y = 10;

22. What is the difference between var, let, and const?

Feature var let const

Scope Function Block Block

Hoisting Yes (initialized with undefined) Yes (not initialized) Yes (not initialized)

Reassignment Yes Yes No

Redeclaration Yes No No
 
23. What is block scope? Give an example.

javascript

{
let blockScoped = "I'm in a block";
var functionScoped = "I'm function scoped";
}

console.log(blockScoped); // ReferenceError
console.log(functionScoped); // "I'm function scoped"

24. What is a closure? Provide a simple example. A closure is when an inner function has access to
outer function's variables.

javascript

function outerFunction(x) {
return function innerFunction(y) {
return x + y; // Inner function accesses outer's variable
};
}

const addFive = outerFunction(5);

console.log(addFive(3)); // 8

Arrays - Advanced
25. What is the difference between push() and concat() methods?

javascript

let arr1 = [1, 2, 3];

let arr2 = [4, 5];

// push() modifies original array

arr1.push(4, 5);
console.log(arr1); // [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

// concat() returns new array

let arr3 = [1, 2, 3];
let newArr = arr3.concat([4, 5]);
console.log(arr3); // [1, 2, 3] (unchanged)
console.log(newArr); // [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
26. Explain the map() method with an example. map() creates a new array by transforming each
element using a callback function.

javascript

const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4];

const doubled = numbers.map(num => num * 2);
console.log(doubled); // [2, 4, 6, 8]

27. What's the difference between map() and forEach()?

map() : Returns a new array with transformed elements

forEach() : Executes function for each element, returns undefined

javascript

const nums = [1, 2, 3];

// map returns new array

const doubled = nums.map(x => x * 2); // [2, 4, 6]

// forEach returns undefined

const result = nums.forEach(x => x * 2); // undefined

28. How does the filter() method work? filter() creates a new array with elements that pass a test
function.

javascript

const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6];

const evenNumbers = numbers.filter(num => num % 2 === 0);
console.log(evenNumbers); // [2, 4, 6]

29. Explain the reduce() method with a simple example. reduce() reduces an array to a single value
using an accumulator.

javascript

const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4];

const sum = numbers.reduce((accumulator, current) => accumulator + current, 0);
console.log(sum); // 10
Objects - Advanced
30. What is the this keyword in JavaScript? this refers to the object in the current execution context.
Its value depends on how a function is called.

javascript

const person = {
name: "John",
greet: function() {
return `Hello, ${this.name}!`; // this refers to person object
}
};

31. How do you iterate over object properties?

javascript

const person = { name: "John", age: 30, city: "NYC" };

// for...in loop
for (let key in person) {
console.log(key, person[key]);
}

// Object.keys()
Object.keys(person).forEach(key => console.log(key, person[key]));

// Object.entries()
Object.entries(person).forEach(([key, value]) => console.log(key, value));

32. What is destructuring? Give examples for arrays and objects.

 javascript

// Object destructuring
const person = { name: "John", age: 30 };
const { name, age } = person;

// Array destructuring
const colors = ["red", "green", "blue"];
const [first, second] = colors;

// With default values

const { name: personName = "Unknown" } = person;

Modern JavaScript Features

33. What are template literals? How are they different from regular strings?

javascript

// Template literals use backticks

const name = "John";
const age = 30;

// Variable interpolation
const message = `Hello, ${name}! You are ${age} years old.`;

// Multiline strings
const multiline = `This is
a multiline
string`;

// Regular strings
const regular = "Hello, " + name + "! You are " + age + " years old.";

34. Explain the spread operator with examples.

 javascript

// Array spreading
const arr1 = [1, 2, 3];
const arr2 = [...arr1, 4, 5]; // [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

// Object spreading
const obj1 = { a: 1, b: 2 };
const obj2 = { ...obj1, c: 3 }; // { a: 1, b: 2, c: 3 }

// Function arguments
function sum(a, b, c) {
return a + b + c;
}
const numbers = [1, 2, 3];
console.log(sum(...numbers)); // 6

35. What is the rest parameter?

javascript

// Collects remaining arguments into an array

function sum(...numbers) {
return numbers.reduce((total, num) => total + num, 0);
}

console.log(sum(1, 2, 3, 4)); // 10

// With other parameters

function greet(greeting, ...names) {
return `${greeting} ${names.join(", ")}!`;
}
console.log(greet("Hello", "John", "Jane", "Bob")); // "Hello John, Jane, Bob!"

36. What is optional chaining and when would you use it?
 javascript

const user = {
profile: {
social: {
twitter: "@johndoe"
}
}
};

// Without optional chaining (risky)

// console.log(user.profile.social.twitter); // Could throw error if any property is undefined

// With optional chaining (safe)

console.log(user.profile?.social?.twitter); // "@johndoe"
console.log(user.profile?.social?.facebook); // undefined (no error)

 

37. Explain the nullish coalescing operator (??).

javascript

// Returns right side only if left side is null or undefined

const name = null ?? "Default Name"; // "Default Name"
const age = 0 ?? 25; // 0 (because 0 is not null/undefined)
const score = undefined ?? 100; // 100

// Compare with || operator

const value1 = 0 || "default"; // "default" (0 is falsy)
const value2 = 0 ?? "default"; // 0 (0 is not null/undefined)

Advanced Functions
38. What are higher-order functions? Functions that either take other functions as arguments or return
functions.
 javascript

// Function that takes another function as argument

function processArray(arr, callback) {
return arr.map(callback);
}

const doubled = processArray([1, 2, 3], x => x * 2); // [2, 4, 6]

// Function that returns another function

function createMultiplier(factor) {
return function(number) {
return number * factor;
};
}

const double = createMultiplier(2);

console.log(double(5)); // 10

39. What are default parameters in functions?

javascript

function greet(name = "Guest", greeting = "Hello") {

return `${greeting}, ${name}!`;
}

console.log(greet()); // "Hello, Guest!"

console.log(greet("John")); // "Hello, John!"
console.log(greet("John", "Hi")); // "Hi, John!"

40. How do you handle variable number of arguments in a function?

 javascript

// Using rest parameters (modern approach)

function sum(...numbers) {
return numbers.reduce((total, num) => total + num, 0);
}

// Using arguments object (older approach)

function sumOld() {
let total = 0;
for (let i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) {
total += arguments[i];
}
return total;
}

console.log(sum(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)); // 15

Error Handling
41. How do you handle errors in JavaScript?

javascript

try {
// Code that might throw an error
let result = riskyOperation();
console.log(result);
} catch (error) {
// Handle the error
console.error("An error occurred:", error.message);
} finally {
// This always runs
console.log("Cleanup code here");
}

42. What is the difference between throw and return?

throw : Raises an exception and stops normal execution

return : Returns a value and exits the function normally

 javascript

function divide(a, b) {
if (b === 0) {
throw new Error("Cannot divide by zero"); // Throws exception
}
return a / b; // Returns result normally
}

43. When would you use finally block? Use finally for cleanup code that must run regardless of
success or failure.

javascript

function processFile(filename) {
let file;
try {
file = openFile(filename);
processData(file);
} catch (error) {
console.error("Error processing file:", error);
} finally {
// This always runs - cleanup
if (file) {
closeFile(file);
}
}
}

CODING CHALLENGES

Easy Coding Questions

44. Write a function to check if a number is even or odd.
 javascript

function isEven(number) {
return number % 2 === 0;
}

// Usage
console.log(isEven(4)); // true
console.log(isEven(5)); // false

45. Create a function that returns the larger of two numbers.

javascript

function findLarger(a, b) {
return a > b ? a : b;
}

// Alternative using Math.max

const findLarger2 = (a, b) => Math.max(a, b);

console.log(findLarger(10, 5)); // 10

46. Write a function to reverse a string.

javascript

function reverseString(str) {
return str.split('').reverse().join('');
}

// Alternative using loop

function reverseStringLoop(str) {
let reversed = '';
for (let i = str.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
reversed += str[i];
}
return reversed;
}

console.log(reverseString("hello")); // "olleh"

47. Create a function that counts vowels in a string.

 javascript

function countVowels(str) {
const vowels = 'aeiouAEIOU';
return str.split('').filter(char => vowels.includes(char)).length;
}

// Alternative with regex

function countVowelsRegex(str) {
const matches = str.match(/[aeiouAEIOU]/g);
return matches ? matches.length : 0;
}

console.log(countVowels("hello world")); // 3

48. Write a function to find the sum of all numbers in an array.

javascript

function sumArray(numbers) {
return numbers.reduce((sum, num) => sum + num, 0);
}

// Alternative with loop

function sumArrayLoop(numbers) {
let sum = 0;
for (let num of numbers) {
sum += num;
}
return sum;
}

console.log(sumArray([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])); // 15

Medium Coding Questions

49. Write a function that removes duplicates from an array.
 javascript

function removeDuplicates(arr) {
return [...new Set(arr)];
}

// Alternative with filter

function removeDuplicatesFilter(arr) {
return arr.filter((item, index) => arr.indexOf(item) === index);
}

console.log(removeDuplicates([1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5])); // [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

50. Create a function that finds the second largest number in an array.

javascript

function findSecondLargest(numbers) {
const uniqueNumbers = [...new Set(numbers)].sort((a, b) => b - a);
return uniqueNumbers.length >= 2 ? uniqueNumbers[1] : undefined;
}

// Alternative without sorting

function findSecondLargestEfficient(numbers) {
let largest = -Infinity;
let secondLargest = -Infinity;

for (let num of numbers) {

if (num > largest) {
secondLargest = largest;
largest = num;
} else if (num > secondLargest && num < largest) {
secondLargest = num;
}
}

return secondLargest === -Infinity ? undefined : secondLargest;

}

console.log(findSecondLargest([1, 5, 3, 9, 2])); // 5

51. Write a function that checks if a string is a palindrome.

 javascript

function isPalindrome(str) {
const cleaned = str.toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]/g, '');
return cleaned === cleaned.split('').reverse().join('');
}

// Alternative with two pointers

function isPalindromePointers(str) {
const cleaned = str.toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]/g, '');
let left = 0;
let right = cleaned.length - 1;

while (left < right) {

if (cleaned[left] !== cleaned[right]) {
return false;
}
left++;
right--;
}
return true;
}

console.log(isPalindrome("A man, a plan, a canal: Panama")); // true

52. Create a function that flattens a nested array one level deep.
 javascript

function flattenOneLevel(arr) {
return arr.flat(1);
}

// Manual implementation
function flattenOneLevelManual(arr) {
const result = [];
for (let item of arr) {
if (Array.isArray(item)) {
result.push(...item);
} else {
result.push(item);
}
}
return result;
}

console.log(flattenOneLevel([1, [2, 3], [4, [5, 6]]])); // [1, 2, 3, 4, [5, 6]]

53. Write a function that groups an array of objects by a property.

 javascript

function groupBy(array, property) {

return array.reduce((groups, item) => {
const key = item[property];
if (!groups[key]) {
groups[key] = [];
}
groups[key].push(item);
return groups;
}, {});
}

const people = [
{ name: "John", age: 25 },
{ name: "Jane", age: 30 },
{ name: "Bob", age: 25 }
];

console.log(groupBy(people, 'age'));
// { 25: [{name: "John", age: 25}, {name: "Bob", age: 25}], 30: [{name: "Jane", age: 30}] }

54. Create a function that implements a simple calculator.

 javascript

function calculator(operation, a, b) {
switch (operation) {
case 'add':
case '+':
return a + b;
case 'subtract':
case '-':
return a - b;
case 'multiply':
case '*':
return a * b;
case 'divide':
case '/':
if (b === 0) {
throw new Error("Cannot divide by zero");
}
return a / b;
default:
throw new Error("Invalid operation");
}
}

console.log(calculator('add', 5, 3)); // 8
console.log(calculator('*', 4, 2)); // 8
console.log(calculator('divide', 10, 2)); // 5

55. Write a function that converts the first letter of each word to uppercase.
 javascript

function capitalizeWords(str) {
return str.split(' ')
.map(word => word.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + word.slice(1).toLowerCase())
.join(' ');
}

// Alternative with regex

function capitalizeWordsRegex(str) {
return str.replace(/\b\w/g, char => char.toUpperCase());
}

console.log(capitalizeWords("hello world javascript")); // "Hello World Javascript"

SCENARIO-BASED QUESTIONS
56. How would you debug JavaScript code that's not working?

Use console.log() to track variable values

Use browser developer tools and debugger

Set breakpoints to pause execution

Check console for error messages

Use console.error() and console.warn() for different log levels

Validate assumptions about data types and values

57. What would you do if you get "undefined" when accessing an object property?

Check if the object exists: if (object && object.property)

Use optional chaining: object?.property

Provide default values: object.property || defaultValue

Validate object structure before accessing nested properties

Use hasOwnProperty() to check if property exists

58. How would you optimize a loop that's running slowly?

Cache array length: for (let i = 0, len = arr.length; i < len; i++)

Use appropriate array methods ( map , filter , find ) instead of manual loops

Break early when possible using break or return

 Avoid nested loops when possible
Use for...of for simple iterations over values

59. What's your approach to organizing JavaScript code?

Separate concerns into different functions

Use modules to group related functionality

Follow consistent naming conventions
Keep functions small and focused on single tasks

Use comments for complex logic

Group related variables and functions together

60. How do you ensure your JavaScript code is readable and maintainable?

Use descriptive variable and function names

Write comments for complex logic

Follow consistent coding style

Keep functions small (single responsibility)

Use proper indentation and formatting

Avoid deeply nested code

Use modern JavaScript features appropriately

QUICK FIRE ROUNDS

Easy:
What does NaN stand for? "Not a Number"
Is JavaScript case-sensitive? Yes

What symbol is used for single-line comments? //

Which method converts string to number? Number() , parseInt() , or parseFloat()

What does Array.length return? The number of elements in the array

Medium:
What happens when you access an array index that doesn't exist? Returns undefined

Can you change a const array's contents? Yes, you can modify contents but not reassign the array

What's the output of "5" - 3? 2 (string "5" is converted to number)

 Name three ways to create an empty array: [] , new Array() , Array()

What does !! operator do? Converts any value to boolean (double negation)

BEST PRACTICES QUESTIONS

61. When should you use const vs let?

Use const for values that won't be reassigned (objects, arrays, functions)

Use let for variables that will be reassigned

Prefer const by default for better code clarity

62. Why is it better to use === instead of ==?

Avoids unexpected type coercion

More predictable behavior

Prevents bugs from implicit type conversion

Makes code intentions clearer

63. How do you make your code more readable?

Use meaningful variable and function names

Write comments for complex logic

Use consistent formatting and indentation

Break complex operations into smaller functions

Use white space appropriately

64. What are some common JavaScript mistakes beginners make?

Not understanding scope (var vs let/const)

Unexpected type coercion with == operator

Not handling asynchronous operations properly

Forgetting to declare variables (creating globals)

Not understanding this context

65. How do you test your JavaScript functions?

Manual testing with console.log()

Writing simple test cases with expected vs actual output

Using browser developer tools

Testing edge cases (empty inputs, null values)
Using testing frameworks like Jest for automated testing