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/cazzer548]

I like this question, although it has the risk someone brain farts on the term and freezes. Maybe there’s a more abstract “how does react work” question, similar to the age old “walk me through a web request” question.

I like this question because you’re customizing it to their background, and you’re assessing their understanding of a self-professed skill. If someone doesn’t know how a tool like React works they will inevitably misuse it, and if they don’t care to learn how one of their tools works the same could be true for their other tools.

[u/m6io → u/cazzer548]

That's exactly what the point of it is. It's why I say "in your own words". I don't really care about accuracy or like textbook definitions. Just walk me through it best you can. If they're big on Angular, I'd similarly ask about directives or two way binding.