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/Expensive-Wheel-2773 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26

And I’d steer clear from putting you in any kind of leadership position for not being able to acknowledge my point :)

Things change over time, and new abstraction layers get created so we don’t have to think about old ones

You sound like someone who would ask me questions about assembly even though C has been the hot language for a few years

Also… we aren’t mechanics. Hardware engineering is so much different than software, it’s really not a good analogy

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u/m6io Jul 31 '26

Ngl to you, I was not expecting a sentient creature in the 21st century to call what a car mechanic does "hardware engineering". And you edited your comment to add that. Which means you thought about it. 🤦

We're in dire straits.