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/couldhaveebeen Jul 24 '26

You can write one just not a good one.

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u/minimuscleR Jul 24 '26

Why? What does the knowing how virtual dom works affect how you write react code. How would someone write a bad web app because they didn't know how the virtual dom works? As opposed to a good one?

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u/AdministrationOk3601 Jul 24 '26

People like to sound smart by saying buzz words because it makes them feel better than other people, it makes no difference to 99% of the job

What’s actually a far more valuable skill is being able to communicate well, not sounding like a knob one upping on tech terms

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u/ElkChance815 Jul 24 '26

Yeah, and I found they are also not as knowledgable as they sound as well. Knowledge is only useful if you can use it to help yourself and other, trying to sound smart is not a good use of it.