Rathod Ketan

Posted on Aug 6 • Updated on Aug 19

C++ Interview Questions for Beginners: Most Asked Topics – Part 1

#career #cpp #interview #beginners

C++ is a foundational programming language that many software developers encounter early in their careers. Understanding its core concepts is crucial not only for interviews but also for building a solid programming foundation. In this post, we'll explore five fundamental C++ interview questions that beginners should master.

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1. What are the basic data types in C++?

C++ provides several basic data types, including int for integers, float and double for floating-point numbers, char for characters, bool for Boolean values, and void for functions that do not return a value. These data types are the building blocks of C++ programming.

2. Explain the difference between struct and class.

In C++, both struct and class are used to define custom data types. The primary difference lies in their default access specifiers: struct members are public by default, while class members are private. This distinction is crucial when designing data structures and encapsulating data.

3. What is a pointer in C++?

A pointer is a variable that stores the memory address of another variable. Pointers are used for dynamic memory allocation, passing arrays and functions, and efficient resource access. Understanding pointers is vital for managing memory and developing complex data structures in C++.

4. How does the const keyword work in C++?

The const keyword defines variables whose values cannot be changed after initialization. It can also be applied to function parameters and return types to prevent modification. This feature helps ensure data integrity and avoid accidental changes to important values.

5. What is a reference in C++?

A reference is an alias for another variable. Once a reference is initialized to a variable, it cannot be changed to refer to another variable. References are commonly used for function arguments to avoid copying large objects, thus enhancing performance.

For More Detailed Guide Please Check Original Article C++ Interview Questions for Beginners: Most Asked Topics – Part 1

Summarizing C++ Interview Questions Part-1

Understanding these basic C++ concepts is essential for beginners preparing for interviews. By mastering data types, structures, pointers, the const keyword, and references, you can demonstrate a solid foundation in C++ programming. As you delve deeper into C++, you’ll find these concepts invaluable for writing efficient and effective code.

Good luck with your interview preparation, and keep practicing to sharpen your C++ skills!

Top comments (15)

Paul J. Lucas • Aug 6

These questions are far too easy. No real-world interviewer would ask them. If a candidate doesn't know this stuff and s/he knows s/he doesn't know this stuff, s/he shouldn't be applying for a C++ job in the first place.

A real-world interviewer would ask you to implement something like an exception-safe string copy. In order to implement that, you have to use things like const and references anyway, so there's no point in asking trivial questions.

Rathod Ketan • Aug 9

Could you please share some of good questions? that would good for me. I am targeting Indian subordinate so there are people who doing there college/high school and do exam preparation with keyword like interview questions. logic behind that they think in exam they get questions related to interview.

Paul J. Lucas • Aug 9 • Edited

One of my standard questions is, given:

class C {
public:
    // ...
    C& operator=( C const &other );
    // ...
private:
    T *_p;
    // ...
};

implement operator=() such that it deletes the T object pointed to by this->_p and makes this->_p point to a copy of the T object pointed to by other->_p — does a “deep copy.”

(The type T doesn’t matter, but assume it’s an object of some other class—but do not assume anything else about T.)

After they implement it, ask them if their implementation is thread-safe and why or why not. If not, ask them to make it thread-safe.

"Easier" but better questions include:

What problem do enum classes solve?
What problem does adding explicit to a constructor solve?
When should you add explicit to a constructor?
When should you not add explicit to a constructor?
What problem do rvalue references solve?
In a multithreaded program, if you have a simple bool flag that needs to be shared among threads, is it OK just to use the bool as-is, or do you need something else to make the program thread-safe? Why or why not? If something else is needed, what is that something else?

Rathod Ketan • Aug 11

Magnificent indeed. @pauljlucas since I am creating list or article so i will use this content for my future post with advanced level tag. could you please share some beginner level questions.

Paul J. Lucas • Aug 11

Those are beginner-level questions. To me, a "beginner" is someone who knows the entire C++ language, but lacks experience.

Rathod Ketan • Aug 12 • Edited

Yes your definition is correct. however in my opinion cover basic details called "beginner". are you welling to guest post on my site ? regarding c++?

Paul J. Lucas • Aug 12

A "beginner" by your definition doesn't know enough to be able to fill a C++ role. They would never interview for such a role. So making up interview questions for them is a complete fiction.

I know nothing about your site.

Rathod Ketan • Aug 13

this is my site interviewspreparation.com based on my experience and asking every new person about they experience in technical round of interview I write post to cover there experience.

Your are correct. since I am creating a sequence of post regarding "beginner" i will cover these questions. beside you can check my site.

Paul J. Lucas • Aug 13

I'm not about to review your entire site.

That said, I think you may have prompted me to get around to writing an article about the C++ questions I've asked candidates (with answers). If/when I do that, I'd grant you permission to post the same article to your site provided that:

You give proper credit to me by name.
You do not modify the content of my article in any way.
You preserve all formatting as-is.
You link back to my article via a "This was originally published to dev.to" link.