Top 25 Python Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers (2026 Edition)

Introduction: Why Python Matters in 2026 Interviews

Python continues to dominate the programming world in 2026 due to its simplicity, flexibility, and wide industry adoption. From startups to global tech giants, Python is used in web development, data science, artificial intelligence, automation, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.

For freshers and entry-level developers, Python interviews usually focus on:

• Core language fundamentals
• Data structures and memory concepts
• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
• Practical understanding of libraries and real-world use cases

This comprehensive guide explains the Top 25 Python Interview Questions and Answers with clear reasoning, examples, and real interview expectations, helping you walk into interviews with confidence.

Python Basics – Interview Questions

1. What is Python?

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language designed to emphasize code readability and developer productivity. It was created by Guido van Rossum and released in 1991.

Python supports multiple paradigms:

• Procedural programming
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Functional programming

Because Python code is easy to read and write, it is widely preferred for rapid application development and beginner-friendly learning paths.

2. What are the key features of Python?

Interviewers expect you to mention both technical and practical benefits:

• Simple syntax similar to English, reducing learning time
• Interpreted language, meaning code runs line by line
• Cross-platform, works on Windows, Linux, and macOS
• Rich standard library, reducing the need for external code
• Huge ecosystem, especially in AI, ML, and Data Science

3. What are the advantages of Python?

Python is popular because it:

• Requires fewer lines of code than Java or C++
• Has strong community support, documentation, and tutorials
• Is platform-independent, saving deployment effort
• Integrates well with C/C++, Java, and cloud platforms
• Improves developer productivity, which companies value highly

4. What are the limitations of Python?

Every language has trade-offs. Python’s include:

• Slower execution speed compared to compiled languages
• Higher memory usage
• Not ideal for mobile apps
• Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) limits CPU-bound multithreading

Mentioning limitations shows balanced understanding, which interviewers appreciate.

5. What are Python’s built-in data types?

Python offers multiple built-in data types to handle different kinds of data efficiently:

• Numeric: int, float, complex
• Text: str
• Sequence: list, tuple, range
• Mapping: dict
• Set: set, frozenset
• Boolean: bool
• NoneType: None

These data types form the foundation of Python programming.

6. How does Python handle memory management?

Python uses automatic memory management, which means developers don’t manually allocate or free memory.

Key components:

• Private heap space managed internally
• Reference counting to track object usage
• Garbage Collector (GC) to clean unused objects
• Cycle detection to prevent memory leaks

This approach reduces errors and improves program stability.

Data Structures & Comparisons (Frequently Asked)

7. Difference between list, tuple, and set?

This question tests your understanding of mutability and data organization.

Feature	List	Tuple	Set
Order	Ordered	Ordered	Unordered
Mutability	Mutable	Immutable	Mutable
Duplicates	Allowed	Allowed	Not allowed

list1 = [1, 2, 2, 3]
tuple1 = (1, 2, 2, 3)
set1 = {1, 2, 3}

8. What are mutable and immutable objects?

• Mutable objects can be modified after creation (list, dict, set)
• Immutable objects cannot be changed (tuple, string, int)

Understanding this helps avoid unexpected bugs in real applications.

9. Difference between Python 2 and Python 3?

Python 2 is deprecated. Python 3 is the industry standard.

Key differences:

• print is a function in Python 3
• Better Unicode handling
• True division by default
• Improved libraries and security

10. What is PEP 8 and why is it important?

PEP 8 is Python’s official style guide.

It defines:

• Naming conventions
• Indentation rules
• Line length limits

Following PEP 8 ensures clean, readable, and maintainable code, especially in team projects.

Scope, Functions & Logic

11. What are Python namespaces?

Namespaces help avoid naming conflicts by grouping variables logically.

Types:

• Local
• Enclosing
• Global
• Built-in

12. What is the LEGB rule?

Python searches variables in this order:

1. Local
2. Enclosing
3. Global
4. Built-in

This explains how Python resolves variable names.

13. Difference between is and ==?

• == compares values
• is compares memory identity

Using is incorrectly is a common fresher mistake.

14. What are Python decorators?

Decorators allow you to extend or modify function behavior without changing its code.

def decorator(func):
    def wrapper():
        print("Before function call")
        func()
        print("After function call")
    return wrapper

They are widely used for:

• Logging
• Authentication
• Performance measurement

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

15. What are the principles of OOP?

Python follows core OOP principles:

• Encapsulation – binding data and methods
• Inheritance – reusing code
• Polymorphism – same interface, different behavior

16. Instance method vs class method?

• Instance methods work on object data (self)
• Class methods work on class-level data (cls)

Class methods are useful for factory patterns and configuration logic.

17. What is the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL)?

The GIL allows only one thread to execute Python bytecode at a time.

• Helps simplify memory management
• Limits CPU-bound multithreading
• Use multiprocessing for heavy computation

Advanced Yet Fresher-Friendly Concepts

18. Shallow copy vs deep copy?

• Shallow copy: Copies references
• Deep copy: Copies all nested objects

Important when working with complex data structures.

19. Iterators vs generators?

• Iterators: Implement __iter__() and __next__()
• Generators: Use yield, more memory-efficient

Generators are preferred for large datasets.

20. What is a lambda function?

Lambda functions are anonymous, short functions used for temporary operations.

square = lambda x: x * x

21. What are comprehensions?

Comprehensions provide a concise syntax for creating lists, sets, and dictionaries.

squares = [x*x for x in range(5)]

They improve readability and performance.

22. Python exception handling keywords?

• try
• except
• else
• finally
• raise

Exception handling prevents program crashes and improves reliability.

23. How does Python handle multithreading?

• Uses threading module
• Best for I/O-bound tasks
• Limited by GIL for CPU-bound work

24. Popular Python libraries?

• Web: Django, Flask
• Data Science: Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib
• AI/ML: TensorFlow, PyTorch
• Automation: Selenium

25. Real-world applications of Python?

Python is used in:

• Data Science & AI
• Web Development
• Automation
• Game Development
• Cloud Computing & IoT

Final Conclusion

Python interviews focus on clarity of concepts, not just syntax. By understanding these Top 25 Python Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers (2026 Edition) in depth, you position yourself strongly for entry-level roles, internships, and graduate developer positions.

📌 Interview Tip: Always explain answers with examples and real-world relevance.

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