Flexbox and ___________ are two layout models in CSS used for designing web layouts.

  • Floats
  • Grid
  • Position
  • Table
Flexbox and Grid are two layout models in CSS used for designing web layouts. Flexbox is a one-dimensional layout method for laying out items in rows or columns, while Grid is a two-dimensional layout method for complex layouts.

How does journaling improve the reliability of a file system?

  • Improves file compression
  • Prevents data loss in case of system crashes
  • Reduces disk space usage
  • Speeds up file access
Journaling in a file system involves recording changes to data in a journal before actually writing them to the main storage. This technique enhances reliability by preventing data loss in case of unexpected system crashes or power failures. When a system crashes, the journal can be used to replay transactions that were not yet committed to the main storage, ensuring data consistency and integrity. As a result, journaling helps maintain the reliability and consistency of file systems, making them more resilient to failures and ensuring data integrity.

Explain the Banker's algorithm for deadlock avoidance.

  • Allocating resources based on available units
  • Detecting circular wait situations and resolving them
  • Initiating priority-based process scheduling
  • Preventing processes from holding resources forever
The Banker's algorithm is a resource allocation and deadlock avoidance technique used in operating systems. It works by keeping track of the available resources and the maximum resources that each process may request. The algorithm then simulates resource allocation to avoid deadlock by only granting resource requests that can be satisfied without leading to a circular wait condition. By ensuring that the system remains in a safe state (i.e., no deadlock can occur), the Banker's algorithm helps in efficient resource utilization and preventing situations where processes hold resources indefinitely, leading to system deadlock.

You're tasked with optimizing a database query that is running slow. What steps would you take to identify and resolve the performance bottleneck?

  • Analyze query execution plan
  • Check server hardware
  • Implement caching mechanisms
  • Optimize database schema
Analyzing the query execution plan involves examining how the database engine executes the query, including the order of operations, use of indexes, and resource consumption. Checking server hardware involves ensuring that the server has sufficient resources like CPU, RAM, and disk I/O for optimal performance. Optimizing the database schema includes normalization, indexing, and proper data types. Implementing caching mechanisms can reduce the need for repeated querying by storing frequently accessed data temporarily. These steps collectively help identify and address the performance bottleneck in a database query.

What is the SOLID principle in OOP? Explain one of its principles.

  • Dependency Inversion Principle
  • Interface Segregation Principle
  • Open/Closed Principle
  • Single Responsibility Principle
The SOLID principle in Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a set of five principles aimed at making software designs more understandable, flexible, and maintainable. The Single Responsibility Principle (SRP) states that a class should have only one reason to change, meaning it should have only one job or responsibility.

You're working on a project where the input data is nearly sorted. Which sorting algorithm would you choose and why?

  • Bubble Sort
  • Insertion Sort
  • Merge Sort
  • Quick Sort
Insertion Sort is the most suitable choice for nearly sorted data. It has a time complexity of O(n) in the best-case scenario, making it efficient when data is already close to its final sorted position. Merge Sort, Quick Sort, and Bubble Sort, on the other hand, have higher time complexities for nearly sorted data, making them less efficient in this scenario.

What is the primary difference between a process and a thread?

  • Concurrency
  • Independence
  • Memory usage
  • Resource ownership
A process is an independent entity that has its own address space and resources, while a thread is a lightweight entity that exists within a process and shares the same address space and resources with other threads in that process. This difference in independence and resource sharing is crucial for understanding how processes and threads operate within an operating system.

Which normal form ensures that each attribute is dependent only on the primary key?

  • First Normal Form (1NF)
  • Fourth Normal Form (4NF)
  • Second Normal Form (2NF)
  • Third Normal Form (3NF)
Third Normal Form (3NF) ensures that each non-key attribute is dependent only on the primary key, which helps in eliminating transitive dependencies and achieving a more organized database structure.

You're working on a project where multiple team members are collaborating to develop different modules. How would you utilize OOP concepts like inheritance and interfaces to facilitate code reusability and maintainability?

  • Use interfaces to define contracts for module interactions, ensuring a consistent interface for diverse implementations.
  • Utilize inheritance to create a base module class and derive specific modules, inheriting common functionalities.
  • Implement interfaces to enable communication between modules, enhancing code modularity and extensibility.
  • Combine inheritance and interfaces, where base modules define interfaces and specific modules inherit and implement them.
Option 1 suggests using interfaces to define contracts, ensuring a consistent interface for module interactions, which facilitates code reusability and maintainability. This approach allows different team members to work on modules independently while adhering to a predefined interface, promoting code consistency and reducing dependencies between modules. Interfaces also enhance flexibility by enabling polymorphic behavior and easy integration of new modules into the system without affecting existing functionalities.

What is the basic function of a switch in a network?

  • Assigning IP addresses dynamically
  • Creating virtual private networks
  • Filtering packets based on IP addresses
  • Forwarding data to specific devices based on MAC addresses
A switch's basic function in a network is to forward data packets to specific devices based on their MAC addresses. Unlike hubs, which broadcast data to all connected devices, switches maintain a MAC address table to determine where to send incoming packets. This improves network efficiency by reducing unnecessary traffic and collisions. Switches operate at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model.