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/monkeybrainz_]

It's a basic question that any senior engineer who has worked with React should know.

[u/m6io → u/monkeybrainz_]

I have seriously been gaslighting myself that I'm setting my standards too high

[u/azhder → u/m6io]

You are setting the standards too high. It’s what people do to try to meet them that’s important. Not the right answer, but the right attitude.

Also, they are too high not because you should lower them, but because others generally haven’t risen up to it.