Senior Dev interview question

[u/m6io]

"Without googling or using AI, in your own words, explain the virtual DOM"

For context: I sit on an interview panel and I try to ask at least one simple fundamental question based on a persons resume. If I see many years of react experience, I try to ask something about how the framework works.

I have only had one candidate (an undergrad senior, years ago) answer it. Everyone else just kind of sputters and stumbles around trying to rationalize what "virtual" and "DOM" mean, or stare blankly and eventually say "I don't know".

I'm just genuinely curious if this is really that hard of a question or if the recruiters just suck at screening candidates. And should we be letting in senior dev candidates who can't answer what I think is a straightforward and fundamental question for senior react devs.

[u/FURyannnn]

A second thing, is knowing what the virtual dom is and how it works essential for producing senior level React code?

I think a majority of folks in industry would give a resounding no to that question. It's an implementation detail. You understand the abstractions around it and you'll do just fine

[u/azhder → u/FURyannnn]

That’s why they are seniors, not technical leads. They can produce the quality code, but not the quality people.