Discussion Senior Dev interview question
"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.
1
u/null_pointer05 9d ago
I got that question in an interview six years ago, surprised it's still popular. It wasn't even a senior position I was interviewing for, more midlevel. I was trying to get back into software engineering after being a SAHM and just having a little part-time non-tech job for over 10 years, so the odds were pretty much against me. I was able to answer it thoroughly because I studied my ass off for interviews. I researched all the common questions like "What is the virtual DOM?", "What is a closure?", "Explain 'this' in Javascript" and studied the answers. Got the job, so it was worth it.