Object-Oriented Programming (OOPs) - Complete Interview

Guide
Table of Contents
1. Basic OOPs Concepts
2. Core Principles

3. Advanced Concepts
4. Java-Specific OOPs

5. C++ Specific OOPs

6. Design Patterns
7. Practice Questions

Basic OOPs Concepts

1. What is Object-Oriented Programming?

Answer: Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that organizes code around
objects rather than functions. It's based on the concept of "objects" which contain data (fields/attributes)
and methods (functions) that operate on that data.

2. What is a Class?
Answer: A class is a blueprint or template for creating objects. It defines the structure and behavior that
the objects will have. It contains:

Attributes (data members)

Methods (member functions)

Constructors
Destructors (in C++)

Example:

java

public class Car {

brand;;
private String brand
speed;;
private int speed

Car((String brand
public Car brand)) {
this..brand = brand
this brand;;
this..speed = 0;
this
}

accelerate(() {
public void accelerate
10;;
speed += 10
}
}

3. What is an Object?
Answer: An object is an instance of a class. It's a concrete entity created from a class blueprint that has
actual values for its attributes and can execute methods.

4. What is the difference between Class and Object?

Answer:

Class: Blueprint/template, no memory allocated, logical entity

Object: Instance of class, memory allocated, physical entity

One class can have multiple objects

5. What are the main features of OOPs?

Answer: The four main pillars of OOPs are:

1. Encapsulation - Data hiding and bundling

2. Inheritance - Code reusability through parent-child relationship

3. Polymorphism - Same interface, different implementations

4. Abstraction - Hiding complex implementation details

Core Principles

Encapsulation

6. What is Encapsulation?
Answer: Encapsulation is the bundling of data (attributes) and methods that operate on that data within
a single unit (class). It also involves data hiding by making attributes private and providing public
methods to access them.

7. How is Encapsulation achieved?

Answer:

Make data members private

Provide public getter and setter methods

 Control access to internal data

Example:

java

public class BankAccount {

balance;; // Private data
private double balance

getBalance(() {
public double getBalance // Public getter
balance;;
return balance
}

public void deposit(

deposit(double amount)
amount) { // Public method
if((amount > 0) {
if
amount;;
balance += amount
}
}
}

8. What are Access Modifiers?

Answer:

Public: Accessible from anywhere

Private: Accessible only within the same class

Protected: Accessible within package and subclasses

Default/Package: Accessible within the same package

Inheritance

9. What is Inheritance?
Answer: Inheritance is a mechanism where a new class (child/derived) acquires properties and behaviors
of an existing class (parent/base). It promotes code reusability.

10. Types of Inheritance?

Answer:

1. Single Inheritance: One parent, one child

2. Multiple Inheritance: One child, multiple parents (not in Java)

3. Multilevel Inheritance: Chain of inheritance

4. Hierarchical Inheritance: One parent, multiple children

5. Hybrid Inheritance: Combination of above types

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11. What is the difference between Inheritance and Composition?
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Inheritance (IS-A): Child class is a type of parent class

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Composition (HAS-A): Class contains objects of other classes

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class Animal { }
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class Dog extends Animal { } // Dog IS-A Animal

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class Engine { }
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class Car {
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12. What is Method Overriding?

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14. What is Polymorphism?

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of a common base type, with each type implementing behavior differently.
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15. Types of Polymorphism?

Answer:
 1. Compile-time Polymorphism (Static):
Method Overloading

Operator Overloading

2. Runtime Polymorphism (Dynamic):

Method Overriding

Virtual functions

16. What is Method Overloading?

Answer: Method overloading allows multiple methods with the same name but different parameters
(number, type, or order) in the same class.

Example:

java

public class Calculator {

public int add(
add(int a,
a, int b)
b) {
b;;
return a + b
}

add((double a
public double add a,, double b
b)) {
b;;
return a + b
}

add((int a
public int add a,, int b
b,, int cc)) {
return a + b + cc;;
}
}

17. Difference between Overloading and Overriding?

Answer:

Overloading Overriding

Compile-time Runtime

Same class Different classes (inheritance)

Different parameters Same parameters

Static polymorphism Dynamic polymorphism

Abstraction

18. What is Abstraction?

Answer: Abstraction is the process of hiding implementation details while showing only essential
features to the user. It focuses on what an object does rather than how it does it.

19. How is Abstraction achieved?

Answer:

Abstract classes - Cannot be instantiated, can have abstract and concrete methods
Interfaces - Contract that classes must follow

20. Difference between Abstract Class and Interface?

Answer:

Abstract Class Interface

Can have concrete methods Only abstract methods (Java 8+ allows default)

Can have constructors Cannot have constructors

Can have instance variables Only constants (final static)

Single inheritance Multiple inheritance

extends keyword implements keyword

Advanced Concepts

21. What is a Constructor?

Answer: A constructor is a special method that initializes objects when they are created. It has the same
name as the class and no return type.

22. Types of Constructors?

Answer:

1. Default Constructor: No parameters

2. Parameterized Constructor: Takes parameters

3. Copy Constructor: Creates object from another object (C++)

23. What is Constructor Chaining?

Answer: Constructor chaining is calling one constructor from another constructor in the same class
(this()) or parent class (super()).

24. What is a Destructor?

Answer: A destructor is a special method that cleans up resources when an object is destroyed. Available
in C++ (~ClassName()), Java has finalize() but uses garbage collection.
25. What is Method Overriding vs Method Hiding?

Answer:

Overriding: Instance methods, runtime polymorphism

Hiding: Static methods, compile-time resolution

26. What is Dynamic Binding?

Answer: Dynamic binding (late binding) is when the method to be called is determined at runtime based
on the actual object type, not the reference type.

27. What is Static Binding?

Answer: Static binding (early binding) is when the method to be called is determined at compile time.
Used for static methods, private methods, and final methods.

28. What is the Diamond Problem?

Answer: The diamond problem occurs in multiple inheritance when a class inherits from two classes that
both inherit from the same base class, creating ambiguity. Java solves this by not allowing multiple class
inheritance.

29. What is Composition vs Aggregation?

Answer:

Composition (Strong HAS-A): Parent owns child, child cannot exist without parent

Aggregation (Weak HAS-A): Parent uses child, child can exist independently

30. What is Association?

Answer: Association represents a relationship between two separate classes through their objects. It can
be one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, or many-to-many.

Java-Specific OOPs

31. What is the super keyword?

Answer: The super keyword refers to the immediate parent class object. Used to:

Call parent class methods: super.methodName()

Call parent class constructor: super()

Access parent class variables: super.variableName

32. What is the this keyword?

Answer: The this keyword refers to the current object instance. Used to:

Refer to current class variables

Call current class methods

Call current class constructors: this()

33. What is final keyword?

Answer:

final variable: Cannot be reassigned (constant)

final method: Cannot be overridden

final class: Cannot be inherited (e.g., String class)

34. What is static keyword?

Answer: Static members belong to the class rather than any instance:

static variable: Shared among all instances

static method: Can be called without creating object

static block: Executed when class is first loaded

35. Can we override static methods in Java?

Answer: No, static methods cannot be overridden. They can be hidden if redefined in subclass, but it's
not true overriding.

36. What is instanceof operator?

Answer: The instanceof operator tests whether an object is an instance of a specific class or implements
an interface.

java

String)) {
if (obj instanceof String
// obj is a String
}

37. What is Object class in Java?

Answer: Object is the root class of all classes in Java. Every class directly or indirectly inherits from Object
class. Key methods:

toString()
equals()

hashCode()
 getClass()
clone()

38. What is Method Overriding rules in Java?

Answer:

Method signature must be same

Return type must be same or covariant

Access modifier cannot be more restrictive

Cannot override final, static, or private methods

Must handle same or fewer exceptions

C++ Specific OOPs

39. What is Virtual Function?

Answer: Virtual functions enable runtime polymorphism. When a virtual function is called through a base
class pointer/reference, the actual method of the derived class is called.

cpp

class Base {
public:
public:
show(() {
virtual void show
cout << "Base class";
class";
}
};

class Derived : public Base {

public::
public
show(() override {
void show
cout << "Derived class";
class";
}
};

40. What is Pure Virtual Function?

Answer: A pure virtual function is declared by assigning 0 to the virtual function. Classes with pure virtual
functions become abstract and cannot be instantiated.

cpp

display(() = 0; // Pure virtual function

virtual void display

41. What is Virtual Destructor?

Answer: Virtual destructors ensure that the destructor of derived class is called when deleting object
through base class pointer.

42. What is Multiple Inheritance in C++?

Answer: C++ supports multiple inheritance where a class can inherit from multiple base classes.

cpp

class A { };
class B { };
class C : public A, public B { }; // Multiple inheritance

43. What is Virtual Base Class?

Answer: Virtual base class is used to avoid multiple copies of the same base class in diamond inheritance
problem.

cpp

class A { };
class B : virtual public A { };
class C : virtual public A { };
class D : public B, public C { }; // Only one copy of A

Design Patterns

44. What is Singleton Pattern?

Answer: Singleton ensures that a class has only one instance and provides global access to it.

java
 public class Singleton {
instance;;
private static Singleton instance

Singleton(() {} // Private constructor

private Singleton

getInstance(() {
public static Singleton getInstance
null)) {
if (instance == null
Singleton(();
instance = new Singleton
}
instance;;
return instance
}
}

45. What is Factory Pattern?

Answer: Factory pattern creates objects without specifying their exact classes. It provides an interface for
creating objects in a superclass.

46. What is Observer Pattern?

Answer: Observer pattern defines a one-to-many dependency between objects so that when one object
changes state, all dependents are notified automatically.

Practice Questions

47. Can we have multiple main methods in Java?

Answer: Yes, we can have multiple main methods through method overloading, but JVM will only call the
one with signature: public static void main(String[] args)

48. What happens if we don't provide a constructor?

Answer: The compiler automatically provides a default no-argument constructor that initializes objects
with default values.

49. Can constructors be private?

Answer: Yes, private constructors are used in Singleton pattern and utility classes to prevent instantiation.

50. What is Constructor Overloading?

Answer: Having multiple constructors in the same class with different parameter lists.

51. Can we override constructors?

Answer: No, constructors cannot be overridden because they are not inherited. However, they can be
overloaded.

52. What is the difference between == and equals()?

Answer:

== compares references (memory addresses)

equals() compares content/values

53. What is hashCode() method?

Answer: hashCode() returns an integer representation of the object's memory address. Objects that are
equal must have the same hash code.

54. What is Covariant Return Type?

Answer: Covariant return type allows overridden method to return a subtype of the return type declared
in the overridden method.

55. What is Method Hiding?

Answer: When a subclass defines a static method with the same signature as a static method in the
superclass, it hides the parent method.

56. What is Early Binding vs Late Binding?

Answer:

Early Binding: Method calls resolved at compile time (static, private, final methods)
Late Binding: Method calls resolved at runtime (virtual methods)

57. What is Shadowing?

Answer: When a subclass variable has the same name as a superclass variable, the subclass variable
shadows the superclass variable.

58. Can we have abstract methods in non-abstract class?

Answer: No, if a class has abstract methods, the class must be declared abstract.

59. What is the use of protected access modifier?

Answer: Protected members are accessible within the same package and by subclasses, even if they're in
different packages.

60. What is IS-A and HAS-A relationship?

Answer:

IS-A (Inheritance): Dog is an Animal

HAS-A (Composition): Car has an Engine

61. What is Multiple Inheritance and why Java doesn't support it?
Answer: Multiple inheritance allows a class to inherit from multiple classes. Java doesn't support it to
avoid:

Diamond problem
Complexity in method resolution

Ambiguity in multiple parent methods

62. What is Interface in Java?

Answer: Interface is a contract that defines what methods a class must implement. It achieves multiple
inheritance of type.

63. Can interface have constructors?

Answer: No, interfaces cannot have constructors because they cannot be instantiated.

64. What are default methods in Java 8?

Answer: Default methods allow interfaces to have method implementations without breaking existing
implementations.

java

interface MyInterface {
defaultMethod(() {
default void defaultMethod
System..out
System out..println
println(("Default implementation")
implementation");
}
}

65. What is Marker Interface?

Answer: An interface with no methods. Examples: Serializable, Cloneable, Remote. Used to mark classes
for special treatment.

66. What is Functional Interface?

Answer: An interface with exactly one abstract method. Can be used with lambda expressions. Examples:
Runnable, Callable, Comparator.

67. What is Abstract Class vs Concrete Class?

Answer:

Abstract Class: Cannot be instantiated, may have abstract methods

Concrete Class: Can be instantiated, all methods implemented

68. Can abstract class have constructors?

Answer: Yes, abstract classes can have constructors. They're called when a subclass object is created.

69. What is Nested Class?

Answer: A class defined inside another class. Types:

Static nested class

Inner class (non-static)

Local class
Anonymous class

70. What is Anonymous Class?

Answer: A class without a name, defined and instantiated at the same time. Often used for implementing
interfaces or extending classes for one-time use.

71. What is SOLID Principles?

Answer:

S - Single Responsibility Principle

O - Open/Closed Principle
L - Liskov Substitution Principle
I - Interface Segregation Principle

D - Dependency Inversion Principle

72. What is Liskov Substitution Principle?

Answer: Objects of a superclass should be replaceable with objects of a subclass without breaking the
application.

73. What is Dependency Injection?

Answer: A design pattern where objects receive their dependencies from external sources rather than
creating them internally.

74. What is Tight Coupling vs Loose Coupling?

Answer:

Tight Coupling: Classes are highly dependent on each other

Loose Coupling: Classes have minimal dependencies, easier to maintain

75. What is Object Cloning?

Answer: Creating an exact copy of an object. Java provides clone() method in Object class. Types:

Shallow Copy: Copies object references

Deep Copy: Copies actual objects

76. What is Serialization?

Answer: Converting object state into byte stream for storage or transmission. Class must implement
Serializable interface.

77. What is transient keyword?

Answer: transient keyword prevents variables from being serialized. Transient variables are not included
in serialization process.

78. What is volatile keyword?

Answer: volatile ensures that variable value is always read from main memory, not from thread's local
cache. Used in multi-threading.

79. What is synchronized keyword?

Answer: synchronized provides thread safety by allowing only one thread to access the method/block at
a time.

80. What is Immutable Class?

Answer: A class whose objects cannot be modified after creation. Example: String class.

Rules for Immutable Class:

Make class final

Make all fields private and final

Don't provide setter methods

Return copies of mutable objects

81. What is String Pool?

Answer: String pool is a special memory area where String literals are stored. It helps in memory
optimization by reusing strings.

82. Why String is immutable?

Answer:

Security (used in network connections, file paths)

Thread safety
Caching (hashcode)
String pool optimization

83. What is StringBuilder vs StringBuffer?

Answer:

StringBuffer: Thread-safe, synchronized

StringBuilder: Not thread-safe, faster performance

84. What is Garbage Collection?

Answer: Automatic memory management that reclaims memory used by objects that are no longer
reachable or referenced.

85. What is finalize() method?

Answer: finalize() is called by garbage collector before destroying object. Used for cleanup operations.
Deprecated in newer Java versions.

86. What is Memory Leak in Java?

Answer: When objects are not being garbage collected despite being unused, usually due to
unintentional references.

87. What is Association vs Aggregation vs Composition?

Answer:

Association: General relationship between objects

Aggregation: Weak "has-a" relationship

Composition: Strong "has-a" relationship

88. What is Upcasting and Downcasting?

Answer:

Upcasting: Converting subclass reference to superclass (automatic)

Downcasting: Converting superclass reference to subclass (explicit casting required)

89. What is instanceof operator?

Answer: Tests whether an object is an instance of a specific class or interface.

90. What is ClassCastException?

Answer: Runtime exception thrown when trying to cast an object to a class of which it's not an instance.
91. What is Multiple Inheritance of Implementation vs Type?

Answer:

Implementation: Inheriting method implementations (not allowed in Java)

Type: Inheriting method signatures through interfaces (allowed in Java)

92. What is Cohesion and Coupling?

Answer:

Cohesion: How closely related elements within a module are

Coupling: How much one module depends on another

93. What are Access Modifiers in different contexts?

Answer:

Class level: public, default

Member level: public, private, protected, default

94. What is Package in Java?

Answer: Package is a namespace that organizes related classes and interfaces. Provides access control
and prevents naming conflicts.

95. What is import statement?

Answer: import allows using classes from other packages without fully qualified names.

96. What is static import?

Answer: Allows importing static members of a class so they can be used without class name qualification.

97. What is Reflection?

Answer: Reflection allows examining and modifying class structure at runtime. Can access private
members, invoke methods dynamically.

98. What is Generic Programming?

Answer: Generics provide type safety at compile time and eliminate need for typecasting. Example:
List<String> instead of raw List.

99. What is Type Erasure?

Answer: Process where generic type information is removed at runtime. Java generics are implemented
using type erasure.

100. What is Wildcard in Generics?

Answer:

? extends T: Upper bounded wildcard

? super T: Lower bounded wildcard

?: Unbounded wildcard

101. What is POCS (Plain Old Class/Object)?

Answer: Simple class with private fields, public getters/setters, no-argument constructor, and follows
JavaBean conventions.

102. What is Inner Class types?

Answer:

1. Member Inner Class: Non-static nested class

2. Static Nested Class: Static class inside another class

3. Local Inner Class: Class defined inside method

4. Anonymous Inner Class: Class without name

103. What is Lambda Expression?

Answer: Lambda expressions provide a concise way to implement functional interfaces. Introduced in
Java 8.

java

// Traditional
Runnable r1 = new Runnable(
Runnable() {
public void run(
run() {
System..out
System out..println
println(("Hello"
"Hello"));
}
};

// Lambda
System..out
Runnable r2 = () -> System out..println
println(("Hello"
"Hello"));

104. What is Method Reference?

Answer: Method reference is a shorthand notation of lambda expression to call a method.

java
 // Lambda
list..forEach
list forEach((x -> System
System..out
out..println
println((x));

// Method Reference
list..forEach
list forEach((System
System..out
out::::println
println));

105. What is Stream API?

Answer: Stream API provides functional-style operations on collections. Supports operations like filter,
map, reduce.

Key Interview Tips

Common Coding Questions:

1. Implement inheritance hierarchy (Vehicle -> Car -> SportsCar)
2. Create abstract class with abstract and concrete methods
3. Demonstrate polymorphism with method overriding

4. Implement Singleton pattern

5. Show encapsulation with getter/setter

6. Create interface and implementing classes

7. Demonstrate constructor chaining

Important Points to Remember:

Always explain with examples

Mention real-world applications

Know the differences between concepts clearly

Practice coding implementations

Understand memory management aspects

Be familiar with both Java and C++ implementations

Most Asked OOPs Questions in Interviews:

1. Explain OOPs principles with examples

2. Difference between abstract class and interface

3. Method overloading vs overriding

4. Inheritance types and their use cases
5. Polymorphism implementation

6. Exception handling in inheritance

7. Design patterns implementation

This comprehensive guide covers all essential OOPs concepts that are frequently asked in technical
interviews, especially for companies like NRI Fintech!