In Go, maps can be declared using the make function or by using a composite literal. The second option (myMap := make(map[keyType]valueType)) is the correct syntax for creating an empty map.

NoSQL databases often store data in JSON format due to its flexibility, ease of use, and compatibility with modern web development technologies.

In Go, the '=' operator is used for assignment, while ':=' is a short variable declaration operator. The '=' operator assigns a value to a variable that already exists, whereas ':=' both declares and assigns a value to a new variable.

In Go, a pointer is a variable that stores the memory address of another variable. It allows direct manipulation of memory, enhancing efficiency.

The correct option is "blank". In Go, if you want to execute the init functions of a package without directly using its exported symbols, you can use the blank identifier _ in the import statement. This signals to the compiler that you're importing the package solely for its side effects, such as initializing global variables or setting up the environment.

Handling CORS between microservices in Gorilla Mux involves configuring the router to include the required CORS headers in responses. This allows cross-origin requests from specific origins, ensuring secure communication between services. Implementing a reverse proxy or using JWTs may not directly address CORS issues, and WebSocket connections serve a different purpose compared to HTTP requests.

"Testify" is a popular testing framework in Go that extends the capabilities of the standard testing package. It offers advanced features such as assertion methods, mock objects, and test suites, making it suitable for more complex testing scenarios.

Utilizing profiling tools like pprof allows for the identification of CPU and memory bottlenecks in the Go HTTP server. Once identified, critical sections of code can be optimized, and caching mechanisms can be implemented to reduce processing overhead. Increasing server resources may provide temporary relief but doesn't address underlying performance issues efficiently. Implementing load balancing using a reverse proxy can improve scalability but doesn't directly optimize the server's performance. Switching to a different programming language may offer performance benefits but requires significant effort in rewriting code and doesn't guarantee better performance without proper optimization and testing.

Mocking allows individual microservices to be tested independently by simulating the behavior of dependent services. This isolation enables faster and more reliable testing, as it eliminates the need for complex setups and dependencies on external services.

Anonymous functions in Go do not have a specified name. Unlike named functions, they do not have a name associated with them.

In a complex distributed system, unexpected panics can occur due to various reasons such as network failures or resource exhaustion. Utilizing 'recover()' allows you to capture and handle these panics gracefully without crashing the entire system. By calling 'recover()' in a deferred function within critical sections of your code, you can recover from panics and resume normal execution, ensuring that the system remains operational even in the face of unexpected errors. However, it's essential to handle panics judiciously and ensure that the system can recover to a stable state after encountering errors.

In Go, 'nil' is used to represent the zero value of pointers, indicating that they are not pointing to any memory address. 'null' is not used in Go, and attempting to use it will result in a compilation error. So, the main difference is that 'nil' is used for uninitialized pointers, while 'null' has no significance in Go.