C++ Interview Questions & Answers (Sample)
Q1. What is C++?
Answer: C++ is a general-purpose programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup. It is an extension of C
language with Object-Oriented Programming features like classes, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and
abstraction.
Q2. What are the main features of C++?
Answer: Key features include: Object-Oriented Programming, templates, Standard Template Library (STL),
operator overloading, function overloading, exception handling, and memory management using new/delete.
Q3. Difference between C and C++?
Answer: C is a procedural language, while C++ is a multi-paradigm language supporting both procedural and
object-oriented programming. C++ also supports templates, function overloading, and stronger type checking.
Q4. What is Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)?
Answer: OOP is a paradigm that uses objects and classes. It focuses on code reusability, scalability, and
modularity. Core concepts include Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism, and Abstraction.
Q5. What is the difference between a class and an object?
Answer: A class is a blueprint or template, whereas an object is an instance of a class. For example, 'Car' can be a
class, and 'HondaCity' is an object of that class.
Q6. What are access specifiers in C++?
Answer: Access specifiers define the scope of class members. Types: public (accessible everywhere), private
(accessible only within the class), protected (accessible within the class and derived classes).
Q7. What is inheritance in C++?
Answer: Inheritance allows one class (derived class) to acquire properties and methods of another class (base
class). Example: A 'Dog' class can inherit from an 'Animal' class.
Q8. Types of inheritance in C++?
Answer: Single, Multiple, Multilevel, Hierarchical, Hybrid.
Q9. What is polymorphism?
Answer: Polymorphism means 'many forms'. In C++, it is achieved using function overloading (compile-time) and
virtual functions (runtime).
Q10. What is the difference between function overloading and function overriding?
Answer: Overloading: Same function name, different parameter list (compile-time). Overriding: Redefining a base
class function in a derived class using virtual functions (runtime).
Q11. What is a constructor?
Answer: A constructor is a special member function with the same name as the class. It is automatically called
when an object is created. Used for initializing objects.
Q12. What is a destructor?
Answer: A destructor is a special member function with the same name as the class, preceded by ~. It is
automatically invoked when an object goes out of scope, to release resources.
Q13. Can constructors be overloaded?
Answer: Yes, constructors can be overloaded with different parameter lists.
Q14. Can constructors be virtual?
Answer: No, constructors cannot be virtual. However, destructors can be virtual.
Q15. What is operator overloading?
Answer: Operator overloading allows redefining operators (like +, -, *) to work with user-defined types (classes).
Example: Adding two complex numbers using + operator.
Q16. What is the difference between new/delete and malloc/free?
Answer: new/delete are C++ operators, whereas malloc/free are C functions. new calls constructors and delete
calls destructors, while malloc/free do not.
Q17. What are pointers in C++?
Answer: A pointer is a variable that stores the address of another variable. Syntax: int *ptr; ptr = &a;
Q18. What is a reference in C++?
Answer: A reference is an alias for another variable. Must be initialized at declaration and cannot be null. Syntax:
int a=10; int &ref;=a;
Q19. Difference between pointers and references?
Answer: Pointers can be reassigned, can be NULL, and require dereferencing (*). References must be initialized
when declared, cannot be NULL, and act as aliases.
Q20. What is a virtual function?
Answer: A virtual function is a member function declared with the keyword 'virtual' in the base class. It allows
runtime polymorphism by enabling function overriding.
Q21. What is a pure virtual function?
Answer: A pure virtual function is declared with '=0'. It makes the class abstract. Example: virtual void draw() = 0;
Q22. What is an abstract class?
Answer: A class containing at least one pure virtual function is abstract. Objects of abstract classes cannot be
created.
Q23. What is a friend function?
Answer: A friend function is not a member of a class but has access to its private and protected members. Declared
using 'friend' keyword.
Q24. What is a namespace in C++?
Answer: A namespace is used to avoid name conflicts by grouping entities like classes, functions, and objects
under a name. Example: namespace MySpace { int a; }
Q25. What is the Standard Template Library (STL)?
Answer: STL is a library in C++ providing common data structures (vector, list, map, set) and algorithms (sort,
search) implemented as templates.
