7 Web Developer Interview Questions and Answers

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Web Developer interview questions and answers.

Q-1 - What are the responsibilities of a web developer?

Answer - A web developer should fully understand their role and how they contribute to web design and development. This question will help you find out how a candidate plans to support the team and what tasks they will take ownership of.

What to look for in an answer:
• Clear understanding of web development processes
• What tasks they emphasize
• How they plan to contribute

Example: “A web developer designs, develops, enhances, tests and deploys web applications with an end goal of creating engaging and user-friendly site layout and function. A developer gathers and defines requirements, maintains websites, troubleshoots and fixes bugs, follows best practices and collaborates with other teams.”

Question-2 - What sparked your interest in web development?

Answer - Did the candidate want to become a web developer at an early age? Are they self-taught? Learning why a candidate chose web development can help determine their level of passion and commitment to the profession.

What to look for in an answer:
• Enthusiasm
• Motivation
• Experience

Example: “As a previous marketing coordinator, I frequently used an online tool to create and customize email campaigns. I found the drag-and-drop feature buggy and discovered that I could achieve the look I was going for if I edited the HTML instead. I became fascinated the ability a web developer has to be imaginative, artistic and technical, while developing a product that benefits and inspires others.”

Question-3 -What is W3C and why is it important?

Answer - A web developer should take responsibility for the content they produce, see that it is accessible by all users and follows W3C standards. This question will let you know if a candidate has a working knowledge and respect of W3C.

What to look for in an answer:
• General knowledge
• Consideration of standards
• Specifics on how they adhere to standards

Example: “W3C stands for World Wide Consortium and it is an international community that focuses on developing and standardizing the web. As a web developer, enforcing these standards ensures that web content is accessible in all browsers to reach all audiences, as well as optimizes the user experience. For example, using W3C-compliant CSS and XML allows every website to function similarly, but also improves SEO.”

Question-4 -Explain how you optimize and reduce web application load time.

Answer - Almost half of all users want a web page to load within two seconds. Ask this question to learn if a candidate is aware of the impact that page load time has on the user experience, and how a web developer should analyze data and track improvements to optimize load time.

What to look for in an answer:
• How much importance they place in optimizing web applications
• Understanding of tools they can use to analyze website speed
• Evidence they have successfully reduced load time

Example: “Although there are numerous techniques a web developer can use in reducing load time, I always rely on optimizing images, enabling browser caching and minimizing HTTP requests. My go-to tool for evaluating site speed is Google PageSpeed Insights. In one instance, I successfully reduced page load time from 2.1 seconds to .7 seconds by soley enabling browser caching.”

Question-5 -What are the differences of using HTTP/2 as opposed to HTTP 1.1?

Answer - Knowing if a candidate understands the main differences and advantages to using HTTP/2 will reveal their level of understanding, cluing you in to how their methods will align with the web developer role.

What to look for in an answer:
• Overall HTTP knowledge
• Ability to recall specific information
• Insight into their approach

Example: “HTTP/2 was designed to improve web application performance. A web developer can appreciate how it makes applications simpler and faster by reducing load times and improving communication between browsers and servers. I’m a strong advocate for using HTTP/2, as I’ve analyzed data and seen how HTTP/2 can decrease page load time by up to 20%.”

Question-6 -In what programming languages are you proficient?

Answer - HTML, CSS, SQL, PHP, Ruby, Python and JavaScript are a few of the common coding languages a web developer should be able to navigate comfortably. This question will tune you into a candidate’s experience, preferences, strengths and weaknesses.

What to look for in an answer:
• Familiarity with coding languages
• Level of interest in specific languages
• Fit with the role and company

Example: “I’m proficient in HTML, CSS and PHP, and I have beginner-level proficiency in SQL and JavaScript. I would love to expand my web developer skills to include Python and am currently researching the right Python course to take in my free time.”

Question-7 -What steps do you take to balance demanding client requirements?

A web developer may face unexpected challenges, including short turnaround times and overly-ambitious clients. Gaining a clear understanding of how a candidate handles this type of situation will help you understand their priorities and thought processes.

What to look for in an answer:
• Performance under pressure
• Communication skills
• Commitment to releasing high-quality products

Example: “In balancing demanding requirements as a web developer, I take steps to fully understand what is expected of me, prioritize my tasks and keep an open line of communication with the client. Keeping a client pleased is a high priority, although I am not interested in producing buggy code and taking ineffective shortcuts to damage the final product. I keep the client informed of my progress and work efficiently to complete the task.”