Top 10 interview question for node.js senior developer

Lucas Pham
5 min readSep 6, 2023

“In the world of server-side JavaScript, Node.js stands as a powerful and versatile platform, driving innovation and efficiency in web development. To find the Node.js experts who can navigate its intricacies with finesse, we’ve curated a set of ten interview questions that delve into the core concepts and best practices of Node.js. These questions, accompanied by detailed answers and code examples, will help you assess a candidate’s proficiency in event-driven programming, middleware usage, error handling, and more. Join us in exploring these questions, and discover the talent that can elevate your Node.js projects to new heights.”

Sets the stage for the interview questions:

1. What is event-driven programming in Node.js, and how does it work?

Answer: Node.js is built on an event-driven architecture. It uses the EventEmitter class to handle events and callbacks. Here’s a simple example:

const EventEmitter = require('events');

const emitter = new EventEmitter();

// Event listener
emitter.on('myEvent', (data) => {
console.log(`Event received with data: ${data}`);
});

// Emitting the event
emitter.emit('myEvent', 'Hello, World!');

2. Explain the difference between “require” and “import” in Node.js.

Answer: require is used for CommonJS modules, while import is used for ES6 modules. Node.js has added support for ES6 modules, but you can use either based on your project setup.

3. What is middleware in Express.js, and why is it important?

Answer: Middleware in Express.js are functions that have access to the request and response objects. They can perform tasks like logging, authentication, and error handling. Here’s an example:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

// Middleware function
app.use((req, res, next) => {
console.log('Middleware function');
next(); // Pass control to the next middleware
});

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
res.send('Hello, World!');
});

app.listen(3000);

4. Explain callback hell (Callback Pyramid) and how to avoid it.

Answer: Callback hell occurs when you have multiple nested callbacks. You can avoid it by using Promises, async/await, or libraries like async.js or Promise.all. Here's an example using async/await:

async function fetchData() {
try {
const data1 = await getDataFromAPI1();
const data2 = await getDataFromAPI2(data1);
const data3 = await getDataFromAPI3(data2);
// ...
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}
}

5. What is a closure in JavaScript, and how is it relevant in Node.js?

Answer: A closure is a function that has access to its own scope, outer function’s scope, and the global scope. Closures are important in Node.js for maintaining state and encapsulation. Here’s an example:

function outerFunction() {
const outerVar = 'I am from outer function';

function innerFunction() {
console.log(outerVar);
}

return innerFunction;
}

const closure = outerFunction();
closure(); // Prints "I am from outer function"

6. What is the purpose of the package.json file in Node.js projects?

Answer: package.json is used to manage project dependencies, scripts, and metadata. It's crucial for package management and script execution. Here's an example:

{
"name": "my-node-app",
"version": "1.0.0",
"dependencies": {
"express": "^4.17.1"
},
"scripts": {
"start": "node app.js"
}
}

7. How does Node.js handle asynchronous operations, and what is the Event Loop?

Answer: Node.js uses a non-blocking, event-driven architecture to handle asynchronous operations. The Event Loop is at the core of this model, managing callbacks efficiently. Here’s a simplified illustration:

const fs = require('fs');

fs.readFile('file.txt', 'utf8', (err, data) => {
if (err) throw err;
console.log(data);
});

console.log('Reading file...');

8. Explain the purpose of the process object in Node.js.

Answer: The process object provides information and control over the Node.js process. It includes properties like process.env for environment variables and process.argv for command-line arguments.

9. What is the difference between setTimeout and setImmediate in Node.js?

Answer: setTimeout schedules a callback to run after a specified delay, while setImmediate schedules a callback to run at the end of the current event loop iteration. setImmediate has higher priority.

setTimeout(() => {
console.log('setTimeout');
}, 0);

setImmediate(() => {
console.log('setImmediate');
});

Output: “setImmediate” will be logged first.

10. How can you handle errors in Node.js, and what is the purpose of the error event in streams?

Answer:
Errors in Node.js can be handled using `try/catch` for synchronous code and `.catch()` or error event listeners for asynchronous operations. The `error` event in streams is used to handle errors that occur during reading or writing operations in streams.

Conclusion:

“In the realm of Node.js, where the web’s back-end meets innovation, these ten interview questions have served as our compass to uncover true expertise. Node.js continues to revolutionize web development, offering speed, scalability, and versatility. Through this interview journey, we’ve explored essential concepts, patterns, and practices that distinguish a senior Node.js developer.

We encourage you to adapt these questions to your unique hiring process, emphasizing the traits and skills most valuable to your organization. Remember that Node.js developers are more than just codecrafters; they are architects of real-time applications, stewards of non-blocking I/O, and champions of the event loop.

As you embark on your quest for exceptional Node.js talent, may these questions guide you towards candidates who not only comprehend the intricacies of Node.js but are also prepared to harness its potential for your projects. With the right senior Node.js developer on your team, the possibilities are boundless, and your web applications can reach new heights. Wishing you successful interviews and dynamic collaborations in the exciting world of Node.js!”

Here are a few notable examples:

  1. Netflix: Netflix, the world’s leading streaming platform, uses Node.js for various purposes, including building their user interface on the server side. Node.js’s non-blocking architecture and real-time capabilities help in delivering a seamless streaming experience to millions of users.
  2. PayPal: PayPal, one of the largest online payment platforms globally, uses Node.js for various aspects of its infrastructure. Node.js’s efficiency in handling asynchronous operations is beneficial in processing numerous transactions simultaneously.
  3. Uber: Uber, the ride-sharing giant, relies on Node.js for its back-end services. Node.js’s real-time capabilities are crucial in tracking drivers, handling requests, and ensuring efficient communication between users and drivers.
  4. LinkedIn: LinkedIn, the professional networking platform, employs Node.js for its mobile and web applications. The non-blocking I/O of Node.js helps LinkedIn deliver real-time updates and notifications to its users.
  5. Walmart: Walmart, one of the world’s largest retail corporations, utilizes Node.js for its e-commerce operations. Node.js’s scalability and speed are valuable in handling the heavy traffic during peak shopping seasons.
  6. NASA: NASA has used Node.js in various projects, including data visualization and real-time monitoring of spacecraft and satellites. Its ability to handle real-time data makes Node.js a valuable tool for space exploration.
  7. Trello: Trello, a popular project management tool, uses Node.js on the server side to deliver real-time updates and collaboration features to its users.
  8. Ebay: eBay, one of the largest online marketplaces, employs Node.js for building its real-time bidding platform and chat applications for customer support.
  9. Microsoft: Microsoft uses Node.js in several projects and services, including Azure IoT Hub and Visual Studio Code, its widely-used code editor.
  10. Adobe: Adobe uses Node.js in Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes applications like Photoshop and Illustrator. Node.js helps provide a seamless and responsive user experience for cloud-based design tools

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Lucas Pham

Engineering manager with 20 years of software development experiences. Subscribe me to get update with my posts https://medium.com/@phamtuanchip