7 Interview Questions for a Java Architect (With Example Answers)
A Java architect manages the systems that run or support Java applications. This job requires specific technical knowledge and skills that are likely to be tested during an interview. If you answer these questions, your chances of getting hired will go up. Reviewing common interview questions that cover these requirements can help you come up with answers that are both complete and effective.
This article gives you examples of questions and explains how to answer them well.
Interview questions for core Java architects
When getting ready for this interview, look over the job description to see if there are any duties or skills that might come up in conversation. Use this information to help you write your answers so that your skills match up best with what the employer is looking for.
During an interview for a job as a Java architect, you might be asked questions like:
1. What’s different about Hibernate and JDBC?
Hibernate and Java Database Connectivity are two different ways that developers can connect a Java application to a database. Your answer should show the hiring manager that you know how and when to use these interfaces. You can list a few of the most important ways in which the two frameworks are different.
Example: “In my experience, there are differences in the way Hibernate and JDBC are built that affect how they are used. One of the biggest differences is that Hibernation is an object-relational mapping (ORM) tool, while JDBC doesn’t have one.
The programming language used by Hibernate, called Hibernate Query Language, is different from the programming language used by JDBC, which is called Structured Query Language. This is another big difference. Hibernate is more scalable than JDBC when it comes to adding more users.
Caching is another difference between the two. When Hibernate’s automatic object mapping is used with its caching feature, data can be saved for later use. JDBC, on the other hand, does not have any built-in caching features. JDBC is a little faster than Hibernate when it comes to starting up.
2. Why is it better to use Hibernate than JDBC?
To build the best systems, a Java architect must use the best parts of different technologies, like the Hibernate and JDBC frameworks. Your answer should show that you know the advantages and disadvantages of each technology. Compare the two interfaces and list the main benefits of using Hibernate.
Example: “Hibernate uses HQL, or the Hibernate Query Language, which is an object-oriented language. This means that when I change the database, it will automatically update all of the queries.” If I use JDBC, I have to change each query by hand, and if the database changes, JDBC can’t handle it because it uses SQL, which is not object-oriented. Because of this difference in how they are built, JDBC is harder to use than Hibernate, and mistakes are more likely to happen.
Because HQL has more features than JDBC, Hibernate gives me more freedom than JDBC. HQL supports both HQL and SQL, which lets me work with more than one database. SQL, on the other hand, only supports SQL. With Hibernate, it is also easier to switch to a new database than with JDBC. Hibernate also works faster than JDBC because it can store data in a cache. Since there is no caching mechanism in JDBC, I have to write more code.
JDBC can work well for a small app that only a few people use, but it is not as flexible as Hibernate, which can be used for both small and large apps. This is a big plus because scalability is a key part of a smart web app that works well even when there is a lot of traffic. In general, I find that Hibernate works better than JDBC.
3. What do you do if you and a coworker disagree about how you use a Java system?
A Java architect needs to be able to deal with conflicts well. Telling a recruiter how you would act in this situation can show that you can work well with others on a team. You can also use your answer to show that you would be a good leader in the future.
Example: “I would use my active listening skills to understand why my coworker disagrees with how I use the Java system and to show that I value their feedback. I would then look over how I used it and try to figure out if there were any problems I might have missed.
I would use what I know about Java from school and work, as well as online Java resources and the Oracle support system, to see if there are ways I could improve my use based on what my coworker said. I would tell my boss or team leader right away about my coworker’s pushback and ask for advice on how to handle the situation best.
Once I have all the information I need, I’ll decide if I need to change how I use it to improve my work and meet my professional obligations. Once I made my choice, I would tell my coworker about it in a timely, professional, and diplomatic way.”
4.Does it help Java developers to use the Spring framework?
The Spring framework is a popular development framework that helps make enterprise applications, like Java apps, easier to make. Your answer should show you know how to use the Spring framework and when to use it. You can say in your answer that there are four main reasons to use this framework.
Example: “Yes, there are many benefits to the Spring framework. For example, Spring is lightweight because you don’t need an Enterprise Java Bean, or EJB, container to use it. Instead, you can use it with Plain Old Java Objects, or POJOs. Plus, you can use a strong Servlet Container if you want to. The lightweight feature of Spring lets me build or deploy enterprise applications on computers with limited core resources, like memory.
The modular design of Spring makes it easy to use, which is another reason to use it. For example, there are many classes and packages to choose from, but I only need to worry about the ones I need for my application. It also helps my work and process that it works as a layer on top of other technologies, such as ORM frameworks and logging frameworks. It also uses pieces of code, like templates and components, to make the development process easier.
I can also use Spring with confidence because it has a good web framework called MVC, which stands for model-view-controller. It is also a great framework for testing projects because of how it is built. All code that depends on the environment is moved into the framework, and I can easily inject test data using POJOs like Java Beans and dependency injection.
5. How would you improve a Java application that connects to a database and needs to be fixed?
When working with enterprise architecture, a Java architect needs to know how to fix the problems that can come up. Your answer should show that you know how to do this part of the job. To answer this question, you can list the things you would do to make the connection better.
Example: “If I am using ORM, I would review my ORM strategy, make changes to it if needed, and tune the database caching. I would also try to improve the database connection by optimizing the query, which I could do by rewriting the query if necessary. I would also change how the indexes are set up.”
6. How do you avoid a database deadlock?
A database deadlock happens when too many resources try to use its locks at the same time. An ideal candidate should know how to avoid common problems like this. Your answer should show how well you know how to use Java architecture. You can make a list of the three main ways to avoid this situation.
Example: “I would make a queue to check each request before sending it to the database. This would keep the database from getting stuck in a loop of waiting.” Another way to avoid this problem is to use less cursors to keep the tables from getting locked. Another way to avoid a database deadlock is to use a small transaction.”
7.What is sharding, and does it help?
Sharding is a way for web architects to distribute parts of a database system across multiple computers. A Java architect needs to know how to use this method when it is necessary. You should be able to show that you know how to use sharding in your answer. You can briefly explain what sharding is and list its pros and cons.
“The sharding architectural method involves splitting a database’s tables and putting them on different machines. These machines act as separate databases and are called shards. There are good reasons to use this method.
From what I’ve seen, the most important benefit is better scalability. For example, when sharding divides the tables and stores the data in different places, the number of rows in each table goes down. This makes the index smaller and speeds up searches. I can make a Java app bigger or smaller by adding or taking away shards.
As the amount of data, users, and transactions in Java applications grows, sharding also works to make more data available. I can use shards to copy the data, which makes it less likely that there will be a single point of failure. Because each shard is small, I can also use this method to make cloud deployment easier. You can also use sharding to put pieces of data in different places, which makes the data closer together.
The risk of using sharding is that it might not be a good way to split up data, which can hurt performance, and that my application won’t work right if I don’t give it the information it needs to find the shards. Overall, sharding is a great way to do things as long as I handle risks well.
