Top 50 Full Stack Development Interview
Questions & Answers (2025)
Prepared by:
Deep Ghinaiya
[Software Developer]
LinkedIn Profile: 🔗 linkedin.com/in/deep-ghinaiya
LinkedIn Group: 🔗 linkedin.com/groups/10085043
Full Stack Fundamentals
1. What is Full Stack Development?
o Full Stack Development means building both the frontend (client-side) and
backend (server-side) parts of a web application. A full stack developer handles
the user interface, server, APIs, databases, and deployment.
2. What is the MERN Stack?
o MERN stands for MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js—a popular
JavaScript-based stack for building modern web apps.
3. Difference between Frontend and Backend?
o Frontend: What the user sees (HTML, CSS, JS, React)
o Backend: Server logic, APIs, database (Node, Express, MongoDB).
4. What is RESTful API?
o RESTful APIs are standardized interfaces that use HTTP methods (GET, POST,
PUT, DELETE) for interacting with resources using predictable URLs, typically
returning JSON data.
5. What is MVC architecture?
o MVC stands for Model-View-Controller. It separates app logic into data (Model),
user interface (View), and control logic (Controller), making apps scalable and
maintainable.
Frontend Questions
6. Difference between HTML, CSS, and JavaScript?
o HTML structures the web content, CSS styles it, JavaScript adds interactivity.
7. Explain the CSS Box Model.
o It consists of content, padding, border, and margin.
8. What are Promises in JavaScript?
o Promises handle asynchronous operations like data fetching, with .then() and
.catch() for result/error handling.
9. What is the DOM and how do you manipulate it?
o DOM (Document Object Model) is the tree structure of the webpage.
Manipulated via JavaScript (e.g., getElementById, addEventListener).
10. React: What is JSX?
o JSX lets you write HTML-like syntax inside JavaScript. Example: const el =
<h1>Hello</h1>;.
11. Props vs State in React?
o Props: Data passed from parent to child. State: Internal data managed within a
component.
12. React Hooks and useState Example?
o const [count, setCount] = useState(0); manages state inside a functional
component.
13. What is the Virtual DOM?
o React's Virtual DOM is an in-memory representation that helps efficient DOM
updates.
14. How do you pass data between React components?
o Parent to child: via props. Child to parent: via callback functions passed as
props. Distant: Context API or state management.
Backend & Database Questions
15. What is a server and how does client-server architecture work?
o Servers process requests from clients (browsers/devices) and respond with
data or HTML pages.
16. Explain APIs and their importance.
o APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) allow communication between
software systems—like a waiter between customer and kitchen.
17. What makes an API RESTful?
o Uses HTTP methods, clean URLs, stateless operations, and returns consistent
data formats.
18. What is Node.js and why use it?
o Node.js allows JavaScript use on the server—great for real-time, scalable apps.
19. What do you use Express.js for?
o To simplify Node.js server development, routing, and middleware integration.
20. What is middleware in Express.js?
o Functions that process requests before final route handlers (for authentication,
logging, etc.).
21. SQL vs NoSQL databases—When to use which?
o SQL (MySQL): Structured data, complex relationships.
o NoSQL (MongoDB): Flexible schema, fast iteration.
22. What are CRUD operations?
o Create, Read, Update, Delete—core actions for managing database data.
23. MongoDB: why use with MERN?
o Stores data as JSON-like documents; native integration with JavaScript and fast
development.
Integration & Advanced MERN Concepts
24. How do all MERN components work together?
o React (frontend) makes API calls to Express/Node (backend), which
reads/writes to MongoDB (database), returning results to the frontend.
25. How do you authenticate users in MERN?
o Use JWT tokens, password hashing (bcrypt), and protected backend routes.
26. What is CORS and how to handle it?
o CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing): controls access to resources from
different domains (handled via Express middleware).
27. How to deploy a MERN stack app?
o Frontend: Netlify, Vercel; Backend: Heroku, Railway; Database: MongoDB Atlas.
28. When do you need Redux for state management?
o For apps where multiple components share/modify complex state/data.
29. How to handle file uploads in MERN?
o Use multer middleware on Node.js/Express for file parsing and storage.
30. How do you optimize MERN applications?
o React: useMemo, lazy loading; Node: caching, gzip; DB: indexes; General:
minimize bundle size.
Java Full Stack & General Coding
31. Java Full Stack Roadmap?
o Java, Spring Boot, Hibernate (backend), React/Angular (frontend), REST APIs.
32. Key OOP Principles in Java?
o Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism, Abstraction.
33. Difference: JDK, JRE, JVM?
o JVM runs Java, JRE adds libraries, JDK adds tools for development.
34. What is Spring Framework?
o Java framework simplifying server, security, and DB work.
Security, Performance & Debugging
35. How do you secure a MERN application?
o Input validation, JWT authentication, environment variables, HTTPS, password
hashing.
36. How do you optimize performance?
o Frontend: code splitting, compress images. Backend: use indexes, cache API
results.
37. Explain database relationships in MongoDB.
o Use embedded documents or references+populate for related data.
38. How do you debug a React app?
o Browser dev tools, console.log, error boundaries, network monitoring.
39. API running slow—what do you do?
o Check database indexes, server performance, reduce payload size, cache
frequent results.
Coding & Logic Questions (with Examples)
40. Find duplicates in an array (JavaScript):
function findDuplicates(arr) {
return arr.filter((item, index) => arr.indexOf(item) !== index);
}
41. Reverse a string (JavaScript):
function reverseString(str) {
let reversed = '';
for(let i = str.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
reversed += str[i];
}
return reversed;
}
42. Fetch API data in React:
useEffect(() => {
fetch('/api/data')
.then(res => res.json())
.then(setData)
.catch(console.error);
}, []);
Soft Skills & Project Questions
43. Walk me through building a simple web application.
o Gather requirements → Design DB schema → Create APIs → Build React
components → Deploy and test.
44. How do you prioritize tasks with tight deadlines?
o Break tasks, core features first, use libraries, regular progress communication.
45. How do you ensure code quality?
o Naming conventions, modular/reusable code, thorough testing, version control
(Git).
46. Experience with version control?
o Basics (add, commit, push, pull), branching, merge conflict resolution,
meaningful commit messages.
47. How do you keep up with technology?
o Follow blogs, YouTube, personal projects, developer communities, continuous
learning attitude.
48. Best debugging experience?
o Clearly describe the challenge, approach, tools used, and lesson learned.
49. Describe a significant project and the tech used.
o Explain your role and justify tech choices, demonstrating full stack capability.
50. Why should we hire you as a full stack developer?
o Highlight your problem-solving, continuous learning, project experience, and
understanding of business needs.
