Programming Languages interview questions

Assembly language is a low-level language whose instructions map almost one-to-one onto a processor's machine code, written as short mnemonics like mov and add.

Yes, but mostly in small, specialized pieces of code. Bootloaders, operating system kernels, embedded firmware, cryptography and media libraries still contain hand-written assembly where precise control or maximum speed matters.

Machine code is the binary instructions a processor executes. Assembly language is a readable text version of those instructions, which an assembler translates into machine code.

Hand-written assembly can be faster for small, carefully tuned routines, but modern optimizing compilers usually generate code as good as or better than most people write by hand. Assembly is also tied to one CPU architecture, while C can be recompiled for many.

Bash is a Unix shell and scripting language, the default on most Linux systems, used both to type commands interactively and to automate tasks with scripts.

A shell is any program that reads commands and runs them. Bash is one specific shell; others include sh, zsh, fish and PowerShell.

Yes. It has variables, conditions, loops and functions, so it is a full scripting language, though it is designed for running and combining commands rather than for large applications.

Yes, through the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which runs a real Linux environment, or through Git Bash, which comes with Git for Windows.

C is a compiled, low-level programming language that gives direct control over memory and is used to build operating systems, drivers, and embedded software.

Yes. C is still a core language for operating systems, embedded devices, and performance-critical libraries, and many higher-level languages rely on components written in C.

C++ grew out of C and adds features such as classes, templates, exceptions, and a large standard library. C is smaller and simpler, and is often chosen where minimal runtime overhead and easy portability matter most.

C does not check array bounds or track memory for you, so bugs like reading past the end of a buffer or using memory after freeing it can crash a program or create security holes. Careful coding, sanitizer tools, and code review help reduce these risks.

C# is a statically typed, object-oriented language that runs on the .NET runtime with garbage collection and is used for web backends, desktop apps, and games.

No. Modern .NET is open source and cross-platform, so C# programs can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux, including in containers and cloud environments.

They are similar in design: both are statically typed, object-oriented, garbage-collected languages that run on a managed runtime. They differ in their ecosystems and in details such as C#'s custom value types (struct), properties, and LINQ.

Only loosely. C# borrows C-style syntax, such as curly braces and semicolons, but it is a separate language with automatic memory management and a managed runtime.

C++ is a compiled, statically typed language that extends C with classes and templates while keeping low-level control over memory and performance.

C++ is generally considered one of the more complex languages because it is large and gives you direct control over memory. Many learners start with a smaller subset of modern C++, using standard containers and smart pointers, and grow from there.

They are separate languages. C++ compiles to native code and manages memory without a garbage collector, while C# runs on the .NET runtime with automatic garbage collection.

RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization) means tying a resource, such as memory, a file, or a lock, to an object's lifetime. The resource is released automatically in the object's destructor when the object goes out of scope.

Clojure is a modern, dynamic dialect of Lisp that runs on the JVM, emphasizing immutable data, functional programming and interactive, REPL-driven development.

Clojure, like all Lisps, writes code as nested lists with the function name first inside each pair of parentheses. The uniform structure keeps the syntax very small and lets macros treat code as data, and editors balance the parentheses automatically.

Yes. Clojure encourages pure functions and immutable data and treats functions as values, but it is pragmatic: it allows side effects and offers managed ways to change state, such as atoms.

They are the same language targeting different platforms. Clojure runs on the JVM and uses Java libraries, while ClojureScript compiles to JavaScript and runs in browsers or Node.js.

COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) is a language from 1959 for business data processing that still runs critical banking and government systems.

Yes. Banks, insurers, airlines and governments still run core systems written in COBOL, mostly on mainframes, and those systems process a large share of everyday financial transactions.

It can be a niche but valuable skill, since experienced COBOL developers are in short supply. It makes most sense for people interested in mainframes, banking or modernization projects.

The programs are large, reliable and full of business rules built up over decades. Rewriting them is expensive and risky, so organizations usually maintain them or modernize them step by step.

Dart is a statically typed, garbage-collected language from Google that compiles to native code and JavaScript, best known as the language of Flutter apps.

Flutter is by far its biggest use, but Dart also runs command-line tools, server applications and web apps compiled to JavaScript or WebAssembly.

The syntax looks familiar to JavaScript developers, but Dart is statically typed with sound null safety and has its own runtime and standard library. It can compile to JavaScript, but it is a separate language.

Dart is compiled in both stages. It uses a just-in-time compiler during development to support hot reload, and ahead-of-time compilation to native machine code or JavaScript for production builds.