Are you looking to land a job in the .NET Core development space? If so, you’ll need to be prepared to answer a variety of questions during the interview process. Knowing the right answers to .NET Core interview questions can be the difference between getting the job and being passed over.
In this blog post, we’ll provide an overview of the types of questions you may be asked and how to answer them. We’ll also provide some tips and tricks to help you stand out from the competition and make a great impression. With the right preparation, you’ll be ready to ace your .NET Core interview and land the job of your dreams.
General Questions
What motivated you to pursue a development career in .NET Core?
In your answer, you can mention you are pursuing a development career in .NET Core because of its flexibility, scalability, and wide range of use cases. You can mention that it is a powerful and modern platform that offers a great combination of stability, performance, security and the support for cross-platform development makes it an ideal choice, especially if you have experience in developing applications for both Windows and Linux. Additionally, you can say .NET Core is constantly evolving, making it easy to stay up-to-date and benefit from the latest features.
What experience do you have in developing, deploying, and maintaining applications built with .NET Core?
Describe your experience in developing, deploying, and maintaining applications built with .NET Core. For example, you created multiple web applications, Windows services, and Windows applications, as well as CLI tools. You have also worked on projects to deploy and maintain applications on Azure and AWS. In addition to this, you are familiar with the .NET Core development process, including setting up a development environment, debugging, and deploying applications.
What features of the .NET Core platform do you find the most useful?
Mention any features of .NET Core that you find the most useful. These can be its cross-platform capabilities, its powerful development tools, and its scalability. After mentioning the features, describe how useful they are. For example, cross-platform development allows you to create applications that can run on Windows, Mac, and Linux without needing to rewrite code. The development tools, such as Visual Studio, make it easy to create and debug applications quickly. Finally, the scalability of .NET Core allows you to create applications that can easily handle high volumes of traffic.
What challenges have you faced while developing applications with .NET Core?
Explain a challenge you have faced while developing applications with .NET Core. Let’s say you found it hard to understand the differences between .NET Core and .NET Framework. Both frameworks have similar capabilities, but .NET Core often requires a different approach. You can mention another challenge you have faced, for example there are still some third-party libraries and frameworks that are not yet supported in .NET Core, so you had to research alternatives to ensure that the application meets all of its requirements.
What do you think is the biggest benefit of using .NET Core?
The interviewer wants to test your knowledge of the benefits gained by using the service their product offers. In order to answer this question successfully, mention the biggest benefit of using .NET Core, which is its flexibility and portability. Mention it is a modern and powerful platform that can be used to develop applications for Windows, Mac, and Linux, without needing to rewrite code. Additionally, mention .NET Core applications can easily be deployed to the cloud, giving them greater scalability and reliability.
Tell us about a project that you have developed using .NET Core.
Mention one of the projects and describe how you developed it using .NET Core. For example, you developed a web application that provides a platform for users to create and manage their own websites by using .NET Core. The application was developed using ASP.NET Core MVC and was connected to a SQL Server database. The application was configured for cross-platform development and was successfully deployed to Azure. Furthermore, you used Entity Framework Core for data access and included authentication and authorization, to ensure user security.
What have you done to stay up to date on the latest .NET Core technologies?
This question tests your interest in their .NET Core technologies. Mention different ways you stay up to date on the latest .NET Core technologies. For example, you can say you read blogs, watch tutorials, and attend webinars. You can also say you use the Microsoft docs website provides comprehensive information on the latest features and updates. Additionally, you actively participate in discussion forums and Stack Overflow, to learn from other developers.
Describe the .NET Core development process you typically follow.
Chronologically describe the .NET Core development process: first, you create a project structure and defining the requirements; second, you design and implement the application; third, you test the application to ensure that it meets the requirements; fourth, you deploy the application; and fifth, you maintain and monitor the application. Additionally, you ensure that the application is properly documented and that the code is written in a way that is easily understandable and maintainable.
What strategies do you use to ensure high performance of .NET Core applications?
There are different strategies used to ensure high performance of .NET Core applications. You could mention that you use a combination of strategies, including optimizing code and leveraging caching. Optimizing code involves refactoring and reducing complexity while leveraging caching ensures that data is quickly accessible and reduces the load on the server. Additionally, using minification, bundling, and compression reduces the size of files and improve performance. Finally, regularly monitor the performance of the application to quickly identify and address any issues.
C# .NET Core Questions
What is the difference between abstract classes and interfaces in C# .NET Core?
Abstract classes and interfaces are two of the main building blocks of object-oriented programming in C# .NET Core. An abstract class is a class that cannot be instantiated, and it usually contains a mix of abstract and concrete methods. An interface is a pure abstract type that contains only abstract methods, which are methods with no implementation. Abstract classes can inherit from other abstract classes, whereas an interface can only inherit from other interfaces. Abstract classes can contain the implementation of methods, whereas interfaces cannot.
Describe the various access modifiers available in C# .NET Core.
C# .NET Core provides several access modifiers to control access to members of classes and other types. These modifiers are public, private, protected, internal, protected internal, and privacy protected. Public members can be accessed by any code within a project or another project that references the current project. Private members can only be accessed within the class they are declared. Protected members are accessible from within the class they are declared and from any class that inherits from the declaring class. Internal members are accessible from within the current project. Protected internal members are accessible from within the current project and any class that inherits from the declaring class. Private protected members are accessible from within the declaring class and any class that inherits from the declaring class within the same project.
What is the purpose of the using statement in C# .NET Core?
The purpose the using statement is to make sure that resources are disposed of correctly. It ensures that any objects created within the using block are disposed of at the end of the block. It also simplifies the syntax of working with resources, such as when accessing a database.
How do you implement inheritance in C# .NET Core?
Inheritance in C# .NET Core is implemented using the ‘:classname’ syntax. This syntax allows a class to inherit from a base class by specifying the name of the base class after a colon. For example, ‘class MyClass : BaseClass’ will declare a class called ‘MyClass’ that inherits from a class called ‘BaseClass’.
What are the benefits of using generics in C# .NET Core?
Generics allow for the creation of type-safe data structures, which are structures that can only contain specific types of data. This helps to prevent errors from occurring at compile-time, as opposed to runtime. Generics also help to increase the performance of code, as the code does not need to perform type-checking at runtime.
What is the difference between a value type and a reference type in C# .NET Core?
Value types, such as integers and structures, are stored in memory on the stack. This means that when a value type is passed to a method, a copy of the value is made, and that copy is passed to the method. Reference types, such as classes and strings, are stored in memory on the heap. This means that when a reference type is passed to a method, a reference to the object is passed, not a copy.
Explain the difference between IEnumerable and IQueryable in C# .NET Core.
IEnumerable is an interface that provides a standard way of iterating over a collection of objects, such as with a for each loop. IQueryable is an interface that provides a way of creating LINQ queries on a collection of objects. IQueryable allows for the creation of more efficient queries, as the query can be converted to an optimized SQL statement and executed on the database.
What is the purpose of async and await keywords in C# .NET Core?
The async and await keywords are used to implement asynchronous programming concepts in C# .NET Core. The async keyword marks a method as being asynchronous and allows the code within the method to be executed in an asynchronous manner. The await keyword tells the compiler to wait for an asynchronous operation to complete before continuing with the execution of the method.
Describe the different collections available in C# .NET Core.
C# .NET Core provides several collection classes to store and manipulate data. These include the List class, which stores a list of objects, the Dictionary class, which stores key-value pairs, the Queue class, which implements a first-in-first-out (FIFO) data structure, the Stack class, which implements a last-in-first-out (LIFO) data structure, the LinkedList class, which stores a doubly linked list of objects, and the HashSet class, which stores a set of unique objects.
ASP.NET Core Questions
What is the purpose of the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern in ASP.NET Core?
The Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern is a design pattern used to divide the application into three distinct sections: the Model, the View, and the Controller. The Model is responsible for managing the data, the View is responsible for displaying the data, and the Controller is responsible for responding to user input. This pattern allows for the efficient separation of concerns and allows developers to easily maintain and update the application.
Describe the different components of an ASP.NET Core web application.
An ASP.NET Core web application is typically composed of the following components: a web server, a web framework, the .NET Core framework, application code written in C# or Visual Basic, and the Microsoft ASP.NET Core libraries. The web server is responsible for hosting and serving the web application, the web framework is responsible for providing a web development environment, the .NET Core framework provides a runtime for applications, the application code is written in either C# or Visual Basic, and provides the functionality to the application, and the Microsoft ASP.NET Core libraries provide the necessary tools for developing web applications.
What are the benefits of using the Razor view engine in ASP.NET Core?
The Razor view engine allows developers to create dynamic webpages using the lightweight and easy-to-use Razor syntax. Razor allows developers to easily mix HTML and C# in the same file, making the development of webpages simpler and faster. Razor also allows developers to build components that can be easily reused in other applications, making development more efficient.
What is the purpose of the Startup.cs file in ASP.NET Core?
The Startup.cs file is responsible for configuring the services and middleware that the application will use. The Startup.cs file is also where the developer can configure the application’s routes and configure the application for the hosting environment.
How does the dependency injection pattern work in ASP.NET Core?
Dependency injection is a pattern used to provide loosely coupled code. Dependency injection works by allowing classes to declare their dependencies, which are then provided to the class by an external source such as a framework or a container. This allows the class to depend on abstractions instead of concrete implementations, which makes the code more maintainable and testable.
How do you secure an ASP.NET Core web application?
Security is an important consideration when developing an ASP.NET Core web application. Security measures such as authentication and authorization should be implemented in order to protect the application from unauthorized access. Additionally, measures such as data encryption and input validation should be implemented in order to protect the application from malicious attacks.
What is the difference between ASP.NET Core Web API and ASP.NET Core MVC?
ASP.NET Core Web API is an HTTP-based programming framework for building web APIs, whereas ASP.NET Core MVC is an MVC-based web application framework. ASP.NET Core Web API is focused on providing a robust and secure way to expose data and services over the web, while ASP.NET Core MVC is focused on building websites and web applications.
How do you deploy an ASP.NET Core application?
ASP.NET Core applications can be deployed to a variety of hosting environments, including on-premises servers, cloud services, and containers. The deployment process varies depending on the hosting environment. Generally, the process includes creating a deployment package, configuring the hosting environment, and deploying the package to the hosting environment.
What is the purpose of the appsettings.json file in ASP.NET Core?
The appsettings.json file is used to store application settings, such as connection strings and other application configurations. This file is used to provide configuration information to the application, which can be accessed via the appsettings.json file. This helps to reduce the amount of code that needs to be written to configure the application.
Entity Framework Core Questions
What is the purpose of Entity Framework Core?
Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is an open-source object-relational mapper (ORM) for .NET Core developed by Microsoft. It simplifies database access and object-relational mapping for developers working with .NET Core applications. EF Core is optimized for working with a variety of data stores, including relational databases such as SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, as well as cloud-based servers such as Azure SQL Database. EF Core is lightweight and efficient and enables developers to write database queries using C# instead of raw SQL.
Describe the different components of Entity Framework Core.
Entity Framework Core consists of four major components: the Core libraries, Entity Framework Core Designer, Database Providers, and Database Migrations. The Core libraries are the primary components of EF Core and consist of a model, a context, and provider classes. The Entity Framework Core Designer is a graphical tool used to create models and generate code. Database providers enable EF Core to communicate with different types of databases. Database Migrations allow developers to make changes to the database schema as the application evolves.
What is the difference between EF Core and EF 6?
Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is the latest version of the Entity Framework, Microsoft’s object-relational mapper (ORM) for .NET. EF Core is a complete redesign of the original Entity Framework (EF 6) and is optimized for working with a variety of data stores, including relational databases such as SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, as well as cloud-based servers such as Azure SQL Database. EF Core also supports NoSQL data stores, such as MongoDB and Redis. EF 6 is limited to working with relational databases, and does not support NoSQL data stores.
Explain the process of creating a database with Entity Framework Core.
The process of creating a database with EF Core involves three main steps: designing the database model, configuring the database provider, and performing database migrations. The first step is to design the database model using the Entity Framework Core Designer, which is a graphical tool used to create models and generate code. The next step is to configure the database provider, which is responsible for communicating with the chosen database. Finally, database migrations allow developers to make changes to the database schema as the application evolves.
What is the difference between a database-first and code-first approach in EF Core?
The database first approach is used to create an EF Core model based on an existing database schema. In this approach, the database structure is designed first and EF Core is used to generate the model code. The code-first approach is used to create an EF Core model based on existing classes. In this approach, the classes are designed first and EF Core is used to generate the database schema.
How do you perform CRUD operations with Entity Framework Core?
CRUD (create, read, update, and delete) operations can be performed with EF Core using the context class. The context class provides access to all of the entities in the model and enables developers to query, insert, update, and delete data from the database. EF Core also provides a set of methods for performing bulk operations, such as Insert and Update, which can be used to perform multiple CRUD operations in a single transaction.
How do you handle database migrations in EF Core?
Database migrations allow developers to make changes to the database schema as the application evolves. EF Core provides a set of command-line tools and API to manage database migrations, including Add-Migration, Update-Database, and Drop-Database. Add-Migration creates a new migration that updates the database schema to match the model, Update-Database applies pending migrations to the database, and Drop-Database drops all migrations from the database.
What is the purpose of the DbContext in EF Core?
The DbContext class is the primary class used to interact with an EF Core database. It provides access to all of the entities in the model and enables developers to query, insert, update, and delete data from the database. The DbContext also provides ways to configure the database connection, control transactions, and detect changes.
What strategies do you use to optimize EF Core performance?
There are a number of strategies that can be used to optimize EF Core performance, including caching, eager loading, lazy loading, batching, and using stored procedures. Caching allows data to be stored in memory, reducing the need to query the database. Eager loading and lazy loading are used to load related entities in the same query, reducing the number of queries required. Batching is used to group multiple statements into a single database call, reducing database round trips. Stored procedures can be used to encapsulate database logic and reduce the amount of code that needs to be sent over the wire.
.NET core interview questions: FAQs concisely answered
What is .NET Core?
.NET Core is an open-source, cross-platform framework used for developing applications. It is a free and open-source software development framework that is used for building applications for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is a new version of the .NET framework that is optimized for cloud and web applications and is also suitable for mobile and IoT applications. .NET Core is an open-source and modular framework that allows developers to easily create and deploy applications across a variety of platforms. It provides a unified programming model that can be used to build applications for any platform, including web, mobile, cloud, and IoT.
What are the benefits of using .NET Core?
.NET Core offers many benefits for developers, including improved performance, scalability, portability, and security. It is a highly modular and extensible framework that enables developers to create applications that are highly optimized for any platform. Additionally, .NET Core is open source and free, making it an attractive option for developers who need to save money on development costs. It also provides a unified programming model that allows developers to create applications for any platform, including web, mobile, cloud, and IoT.
What are the features of .NET Core?
.NET Core features a number of features that make it attractive for developers. It includes a unified programming model, which allows developers to create applications for any platform, including web, mobile, cloud, and IoT. Additionally, .NET Core is highly modular and extensible, allowing developers to easily create and deploy applications across a variety of platforms. It also features improved performance, scalability, portability, and security. Additionally, .NET Core is open source and free, making it an attractive option for developers who need to save money on development costs.
What are the different types of applications that can be built with .NET Core?
.NET Core can be used to build a variety of applications, including web applications, mobile applications, cloud applications, and IoT applications. Additionally, .NET Core can be used to build enterprise applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, e-commerce solutions, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. It can also be used to build games and other interactive applications.
What are the tools used for developing applications with .NET Core?
.NET Core provides a wide range of tools for developing applications. The most popular tool is the .NET Core CLI (Command Line Interface), which is used to create, build, and deploy .NET Core applications. Additionally, .NET Core also provides an integrated development environment (IDE) called Visual Studio Code, which is used for writing, debugging, and testing code. Additionally, .NET Core provides a number of libraries and frameworks, such as ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework Core, and Xamarin, which can be used to develop applications.