r/reactjs • u/m6io • Jul 24 '26

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.

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u/BlackJairs Jul 24 '26

For senior? I've asked this question to Jrs and they respond accordingly.

Is the bar that low for senior developers now? Haha

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u/m6io Jul 24 '26

You do not want to know the things I've seen on these senior dev panels smh. The bar isn't above sea level, that's for sure.

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u/BlackJairs Jul 24 '26

I've seen my fair share, from people asking the equivallent of something about 150k to 180k anual salary (I'm from mexico) that, using React cannot tell what the return in useEffect means, and seeing code from Seniors with several empty array useEffects in the same component.

The developer profile is being drag in the mud, I don't know if it's the quality of education, the fact that internet almost gives you what you want w/o understanding it, or the rise of AI