30 Mobile Developer Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Mobile Developer interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
Behavioral
1. Tell about a time when you worked on a project to improve an existing application.
How to Answer
An interviewer will ask you this question to learn about your ability to analyze existing applications and identify issues or improvement opportunities. Many developers are skilled at writing their own code but struggle when analyzing code written by somebody else. Programming is as much of an art as it is a science. Every developer has their own style and uses a different approach to creating software, even though they use the same language and platforms. When answering a question like this, you should be specific and provide an example to illustrate your answer.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"In my last job, one of my first assignments was to analyze a program the company had already released to the market and determine what improvements could be made. This required me first to understand the programming style of the team that originally wrote the program, so I could determine their approach to accomplishing the functions of software performed. I was then able to find ways to make the code more efficient and enhance the user experience. This resulted in a new revision of the program, which created new revenue opportunities for the organization."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Behavioral
2. Tell about a time when you were part of a development team and had to handle disagreements or differences in development strategies.
How to Answer
This is an example of a behavioral question. While most of the questions you will be asked during an interview for a mobile application developer position will be either technical or operational, you will likely be asked other types of questions, including behavioral, situational, and general. When responding to a behavioral question, you can use the STAR framework. State the situation, describe the task you were trying to achieve, discuss the actions you took, and then talk about the results.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"Every developer has their own style, preferences, the methodologies. Most of the time, developers working on a team can integrate these to create a cohesive development strategy. However, occasionally disagreements occur. When this happens, my strategy is to listen to my teammates' suggestions and determine if we can compromise. If we can't do this, I suggest that we engage our manager to arbitrate the disagreement. This usually resolves the issue and allows us to move forward."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
General
3. What has been your most challenging experience creating a mobile app?
How to Answer
An interviewer will ask you this question to learn about the challenges you have encountered in your previous jobs and how you overcame them. When preparing for an interview, you should research the company and the type of application they develop. This will allow you to respond to these types of questions in the context of the work that the organization is interviewing you for.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"Probably the greatest challenge I face when developing an application for mobile devices is making the interface adaptable to different devices. This has become even more challenging with the advent of wearable devices. I've taken several courses and practiced my skills in developing adaptable applications that perform well across a wide range of devices. I also maintain the library of code applicable to this type of challenge."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
General
4. What's the most important thing I should know about your app development experience?
How to Answer
This is an example of a general question the interviewer will ask to learn more about your background. Interviewers will ask a variety of questions throughout the interview. These will include general, technical, operational, situational, and behavioral questions. Recognizing the type of question you are being asked will help you determine how to best answer it. A general question allows you to discuss your qualifications for the position without answering a specific question.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"The most important thing you should know about my experience developing mobile applications is that I am flexible and adaptable. While I have preferences about the language and platforms I code in and the types of applications I prefer to develop, I can adapt my style and code to any environment. I enjoy the challenge of developing an application that is new to me and which I haven't worked on in the past. This allows me to learn new techniques and new application development methodologies."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
General
5. How do you keep current on developments in the mobile app development industry?
How to Answer
Maintaining your knowledge of current trends, technologies, and tools used in the mobile software development industry is a critical responsibility of any developer. You should have a detailed plan of how you go about doing this and describe it to the interviewer. You may want to follow up your answer with a question, asking the interviewer what continuing education programs and opportunities the organization offers to its software development team.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"Staying current on developments within the mobile software industry is challenging due to how quickly the industry moves and things change. However, I enjoy doing this because I am passionate about my profession and want to learn as much as possible and stay on top of current developments. I do this by reading industry publications, following the leading bloggers, attending online conferences, and discussing developments with other programmers within my organization. I am confident that my knowledge about creating mobile software applications is current and up to date."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
General
6. Can you compare the Android and iOS mobile platforms and discuss their advantages and disadvantages?
How to Answer
As a mobile application developer, you will likely be working in the two major operating platforms, which are Android and iOS. While there are some other environments, such as Google and Amazon, hiring managers will expect you to have direct experience and intimate knowledge of both major mobile device OSs. Even if you have only developed one of these, you should be able to compare and contrast it to the other, discussing its advantages and disadvantages. Your pre-interview research will help you determine the type of applications the organization develops and their preference for mobile platforms. This will help you to formulate your answers in the appropriate context.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"As a mobile application developer, I have developed for both the iOS and Android environments. Each of these has distinct differences along with many similarities. The similarities involve developing quality user interfaces, requirements for lean applications, and the ability to interact with other applications on the same platform. I find it easier to develop in the iOS environment due to its uniformity, device standardization, and libraries of code that can be repurposed. The Android environment provides more flexibility, opportunities to develop different types of devices, and large reusable code libraries. However, the Android OS presents challenges regarding the wide variety of hardware devices in use, different screen sizes, and other features I need to adjust for since there are many hardware device manufacturers in this market segment."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
General
7. Where can I see some examples of mobile apps you have helped develop?
How to Answer
Even if you're applying for an entry-level mobile developer position, you should have already developed some mobile applications, either for commercial, educational, or personal use. Organizations will expect you to have previous experience developing applications and provide them with either URLs or downloadable applications they can view. As a mobile application developer, you should begin developing your portfolio of applications as soon as possible, preferably during your training or education. Producing the portfolio on demand is essential to succeeding in the job search process and responding to questions like this.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"I have developed dozens of mobile applications for a variety of uses. My first applications were developed during my time in college. I then went on to develop many commercial and personal apps. Most of these are noted in my resume. Several of the applications I developed are similar to those your organization produces, so my experience will be directly applicable to this job. You can view my complete portfolio at (insert URL here), or I can send some applications to your phone."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
General
8. What is your experience working on applications similar to the ones our company develops?
How to Answer
It is natural for an organization to expect you have experience developing the type of applications they are hiring you to work on. You should anticipate this question and be prepared to respond to it. You can research the type of applications the organization creates using the job posting, their website, and conversations with current and former members of their software development team. If you don't have direct experience with the type of applications the company creates, admit this, and then discuss how your previous experience working on similar applications will transfer to this role.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"One of the reasons I applied for this position is that my experience developing mobile applications aligns perfectly with the job posting. I have collaborated on mobile applications exactly like those you are looking to develop and write code for several different parts of the application. These include the user interface, the backend, database connectivity features, and several other elements of the applications. I'm confident I can quickly come up to speed on the applications currently under development and provide suggestions for application features you may not have already thought of."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
General
9. Can you talk about the mobile apps you've developed?
How to Answer
This is a typical opening question that the interviewer will use to begin the conversation, learn more about your background, and collect information they can use throughout the interview. This question allows you to guide the interview toward a subject matter area you are comfortable talking about. When answering this or any other question, keep your response brief and to the point. The interviewer will ask follow-up questions if they need more information or want to explore the topic in more depth.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"I've developed a wide range of mobile apps for the Android environment. The majority of my work has been in productivity apps. These allow users to track their activity, set up lists of tasks, and integrate these into their calendar applications. Many of the applications I have developed all are similar to the ones that your company produces. I believe this experience and the skills I have acquired will apply to the type of work your organization performs."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
10. Tell me about some best practices when designing icons for a mobile product.
How to Answer
When asked to discuss best practices, the interviewer seeks to understand your techniques when developing a mobile application. Your answer to this question will qualify you for the position and help the interviewer understand if your techniques and methodologies align with those of their team. You should perform a great deal of research before the interview to understand the type of applications the company develops and the techniques they use. You may also want to contact some of the organization's current or former developers to discuss these topics.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"Icons are significant when developing mobile applications. Icons can replace long strings of text and economize on the device's interface space. Certain icons will be standardized based on the development platform or the mobile device's operating system. Others can be customized within a specific application. If the application is part of a group or family, the icon should be standardized across each product within the group. Icons can also function as standalone graphic elements of the application. These will have no function but will enhance the application's appearance and user experience."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
11. What features do you include in the mobile apps you develop to enhance their security?
How to Answer
Second, only to the functionality of an application is its security. Mobile application vendors are extremely aware of this and strive to ensure that their applications do not compromise the end-user's personal information or provide access to other parts of the end user's environment on their mobile device. As a mobile developer, it is your responsibility to include these security features and minimize their impact on the user experience. The interviewer will seek to understand how you accomplish this and to confirm that you feel security is an important component of any mobile application you develop.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"During the mobile application development process, I incorporate several security features into the application. These include user logins, authentication, encryption, and other methods to keep the user information secure and prevent hackers or malware from accessing their personal information and other applications on their mobile devices. I include both black and white hacking test procedures in the development process to verify that my security measures function properly."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
12. What do you feel is a mobile developer's responsibility concerning the ongoing maintenance of the applications they develop?
How to Answer
Many developers feel that their job is finished once the application is released into production or commercial use. They feel that the ongoing maintenance and support for the application is the responsibility of the end-user support team or other members of the software development organization. However, interviewers will want to ensure that you will continue to be available to whichever group is responsible for maintaining the application and that you are interested in both maintenance and application updates. When responding to this question, you should discuss the importance of this responsibility and how you use feedback from the users and the support staff to modify and improve the application.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"My responsibility as a mobile application developer does not end once the application is released into production or for commercial use. This extends beyond simple patches and bug fixes. I am responsible for maintaining and improving the application during its entire life cycle. I accomplish this by soliciting feedback from the end-user support team and directly from the end-users themselves. I focus on the user interface, the overall user experience, how well the application functions, and whether it interacts with other applications effectively. I periodically create code and released new versions of the application to address these issues."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
13. Can you discuss onboarding and how you manage the user onboarding process?
How to Answer
User onboarding involves introducing applications to the end-users, having them quickly understand how to use them, and reducing the time it takes for end-users to benefit from the mobile applications. Part of a mobile application developer's responsibility is to reduce the amount of time it takes for a user to come up to speed on a new application and began to become familiar with its functions and features. The interviewer will be interested in learning how you accomplish this, and you understand the need to onboard users as quickly and effortlessly as possible.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"User onboarding begins with the user interface for an application. I focus on designing user interfaces that are intuitive, easy to use, and leverage the look and feel of other applications users are likely to be familiar with. Another way I accelerate the onboarding process is to create a set of FAQs and a robust help feature in my applications which the users can easily access if they encounter something they are unfamiliar with or need assistance with. I test these features before releasing the application into production to ensure users understand how to access the application and its features. This testing and feedback process is critical to the final product being intuitive and having a minimal onboarding cycle."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
14. How important is collaboration in the mobile application development process?
How to Answer
Organizations like team players. Even though some mobile developers will readily admit that they work best on their own, organizations prefer developers who are good at collaboration. This is because application development is a synergistic process, and the more input from different people with varied backgrounds, the more robust the application is likely to be. Of course, at some point during the application development process, the functions and features need to be locked in, and input from many developers can have a negative impact. Interviewers will expect you to have perspectives on when collaboration is effective and when it isn't.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"I place a great deal of value on collaboration during the development of a mobile application. Even though I have a strong background in this area and the skills needed to develop an application on my own, I appreciate the input and perspective other developers bring to the process. Even if I am assigned to work on an application by myself, I share my work with my colleagues to get their feedback and ideas on improving the application. I also insist on collaborating with other project stakeholders and potentially the end-users for the application to make sure that their needs are being addressed."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
15. What is your experience developing Progressive Web Applications or PWAs?
How to Answer
As an application developer, you can have either very focused experience or broad experience across many different application types. Both of these are beneficial but also determine the type of developer jobs you're qualified for. If the organization creates a wide range of applications, your experience should match this. If their focus is narrower, having in-depth experience in one area is advantageous. The key is to only apply for roles that you're qualified for and which your experience demonstrates your ability to perform the job.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"I have a great deal of experience creating Progressive Web Applications, or PWAs. I prefer working in this area because it enables me to collaborate with the backend developers who create the foundation of the application which the PWA accesses. Updating the PWA becomes easier because it relies on the backend code. Since I preferred developing applications in a team environment, this is perfect for me. My experience developing native applications also contributes to my skill set in this area."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
16. Tell me how you go about designing a menu and how the user's device interprets it?
How to Answer
When designing menus used by applications native to a computing platform or web browser, the developer has a great deal of latitude due to the user interface's size and flexibility. This changes when developing applications and menus for mobile devices. Your face is generally smaller, so the information needs to be provided in a specific manner. This question incorporates both technical and operational elements of mobile application development. Remember to keep your answer brief and to the point and anticipate follow-up questions if the interviewer wants to explore this topic in more detail.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"The key to developing menus for mobile applications is to minimize the content and to present the most relevant information first. How menus are structured is usually determined in the UX and UI design process. Some elements of the menu may be kept hidden from the user. This technology is known as a hamburger menu. Keeping the menu simple and only presenting information the user needs is critical for mobile application development. You can also cascade menus to guide the user to the information they are seeking."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
17. What is your strategy for keeping the team updated during a development project?
How to Answer
One of the critical elements of a software development project is keeping all of these stakeholders up to date on the project status. The benefits of this include ensuring that the resources you need are available and informing the team of any issues that will impact the schedule. You should be able to define the methodology you use to communicate regularly with the project stakeholders. As with any operational question like this, you should anticipate follow-up questions when providing your answer.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"Keeping project stakeholders informed about the status of the project and any challenges we are encountering that may impact both the schedule and budget of the project is critical. The Scrum project management methodology I commonly use in the projects I work on includes regular team meetings to discuss the project status, required resources, issues, and challenges. I will also notify project stakeholders of any significant project changes as soon as they occur."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
18. Can you describe your development methodology for mobile applications?
How to Answer
This is an operational question. The interviewer will ask operational questions to determine how you perform the work required by the job you're interviewing for. Operational questions should be answered directly and briefly. The interviewer will ask a follow-up question if they need additional information or want to explore the topic in more depth.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"I primarily use agile development when creating applications. This methodology enables me to identify issues at each stage of the development process and correct them before impacting other parts of the software application. The agile development methodology also incorporates the Scrum project management process, which helps to keep the project on schedule and ensures that the resources I need are available when I need them."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Operational
19. What development platform do you prefer to use when creating a mobile app?
How to Answer
Although you may have a favorite development platform you prefer to work with, your answer to this question should align with the software platforms the hiring organization uses. You should state that you are comfortable working across many platforms. You can determine the type of software development environments the company uses by researching before the interview. This can include looking at their website, reviewing their current applications, and speaking with both current and former developers who have worked at the company.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"I am comfortable writing code on a wide variety of development platforms. These include Android, IOS, Linux, Unix, and Pearl. My favorite platform is Android since it is widely used across a wide range of mobile devices. There are also robust libraries of code available for this environment, which can be repurposed in the applications I create. If I'm not mistaken, this is the platform that your developers use the most, correct?"
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
20. When creating a mobile design, how do you deal with input fields?
How to Answer
This operational question asks you about a process you use as a mobile application developer. Interviewers use operational questions to evaluate your skills, explore your experience, and determine if the methodologies you use align with those their current development team employs. When answering operational questions, one method you may consider is stepping the interviewer through the process in a logical fashion. Make sure to keep your answer brief and concise. The interviewer will follow up with another question if they need additional information.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"When creating a mobile design and developing the input fields, the criteria I use are to empathize the important input elements and minimize features that are not critical or distract the user. I accomplish this by using clear labels, graphics, prompts, and default keypads based on the type of information the user is imputing. An example of this is defaulting to a numeric keypad when the user is asked to enter their phone number or area code. I also provide previews of standard information the user has already entered into other parts of the application, allowing them to quickly create the entry."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
21. How are user interfaces extended when using pre-built actions for mobile devices?
How to Answer
The interviewer is asking you about a process or methodology you use to develop mobile applications. During an interview for this role, you can anticipate that most questions will be operational or technical. These types of questions are best answered briefly and to the point. If you elaborate too much, you will not allow the interviewer to ask follow-up questions. Follow-up questions are important because they indicate an interviewer's interest in a specific topic and give you a clue as to what is important to the organization. You can use this information when structuring your responses to other questions.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"User interfaces can be extended when using pre-built actions by incorporating features such as gesture recognition, previews, suggestions, and repetitive actions. Elements of artificial intelligence and learning are starting to be incorporated into mobile applications to predict user activities and direct the user towards a specific part or function. Application developers need to work closely with device manufacturers to understand any upcoming pre-built actions they plan to release."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
22. How do you balance the need to compress information displayed in a mobile app and presenting the full application as it was designed?
How to Answer
The interviewer is continuing to ask operational questions. Throughout the interview, an interviewer will ask various types of questions. No two interviewers are alike, so the question they ask and the order they ask them in will differ. Additionally, the questions will become more complex as the interview progresses. This indicates that the hiring manager is gaining confidence in your ability and is seeking to explore your background in more detail.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"Unlike web browsers or computer-based applications, mobile devices have limited user interfaces. Therefore the information presented needs to be compressed and economized. However, the users expect the same experience they get when accessing applications on larger devices. This requires the developer to carefully decide what information will be presented on each screen and how it will be displayed. Techniques I use to accomplish this include carefully choosing typefaces and font sizes, using various colors and backgrounds, incorporating whitespace into the application, and using graphics and icons throughout the application."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
23. Give me examples of when you elect to use infinite scroll and pagination.
How to Answer
Another way an interviewer can ask you a technical or operational question his request that you provide examples. The answer to this question is similar to when you are asked to discuss or describe a technique or methodology. If possible, you should try to provide examples similar to the features of the applications you are likely to be working on for the organization. Remember to keep your answers brief and to expect follow-up questions from the interviewer.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"I am incorporating infinite scrolling into my applications more frequently. This is because infinite scrolling provides users with a better experience since they can use simple gestures to advance the page. An example of this is an article or blog which contains ads. The user is more likely to click on the ads when scrolling rather than advancing to a new page. I still use pagination if there are distinct artifacts or components within the application the user is searching for or may want to access. Pagination works better than infinite scrolling for this type of activity. An example of this is e-commerce applications or informative articles similar to Wikipedia."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
24. How do you use audio to enhance the user experience of your apps?
How to Answer
Audio in mobile applications is becoming more prevalent due to advances in mobile devices' audio technologies. Since this is an emerging technology, the interviewer will ask you about it to determine if you are staying up to date on developments in your field and incorporating new technologies and methodologies into your programming. Even if you have not used the audio in your applications, you should be prepared to speak about it and discuss how it enhances the user experience. Even though the interviewer did not ask for examples, you should feel free to provide them to illustrate your answer and make it clearer.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"Incorporating audio into mobile applications is becoming more popular within the industry. I experimented with this by featuring audio in the user interface for both prompts and user input. The technology I use is similar to that of Apple Siri or Amazon Alexa. I've only used limited voice prompts and recognition to date, but I'm learning how to expand on this and make it even more robust. I'm also incorporating audio to confirm user actions and enhance the animations I use in my applications. I adapt the applications, depending on the type of device they are running on and its audio capabilities."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
25. How can you improve User Experience (UX) without changing the application's interface?
How to Answer
This is a hybrid technical and operational question. The interviewer is asking about a process you would use that involves elements of technology. Keep in mind that your answer should be brief and to the point when answering these types of questions. You should also anticipate follow-up questions from the interviewer indicating that they have a specific interest in this topic and want to explore it in more detail.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"It is important to standardize the user interface for applications on mobile devices. This is because users expect a common look and feel across all the applications for a specific device. The easiest way to improve the user experience is to standardize the interface of applications on mobile devices. This is because users expect a standard look and feel across all their applications, making them easier to use and navigate. One way you can enhance the user experience without impacting the application's interface is to add animation. This makes the application more dynamic and captures the attention of the user. Elements that can be animated include how the menu opens and closes, the way the application transitions once the user provides input, zooming in and out of the interface, and confirming user inputs."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
26. What search pattern do you prefer for mobile phones?
How to Answer
This question asks you about a specific preference you have when creating a mobile application. You can answer this question in two ways. The first is to provide an answer that aligns with the employer's preference. You can determine this by researching the employer's current applications or conversing with their current or former application developers. The alternative is to state your preference even if it is not the same as that of the employer. The first response will help the employer perceive that your preferences are the same as theirs. The second will demonstrate that you can bring new ideas to its programming environment.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"I have used a variety of different search patterns for mobile phone applications. The one I prefer is displaying faceted-search controls in overlays. This technique's benefit is users can employ filters to their search to locate more accurate information quicker. Elements of this include simple controls such as drop-down menus and simultaneously displaying the controls and results. These are typical of many web-based search engines. A common application for this type of search is in e-commerce applications."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
27. What are the key UI features you feel are important to mobile applications?
How to Answer
Organizations hire mobile application developers for two reasons. The first is to work on applications already under development or planned for the future. The other is to provide new perspectives on application development that the organization can incorporate into its practices. Interviewers will ask questions to determine what new ideas you will bring to the organization and your willingness to contribute to the growth of the development team. Be prepared to discuss these, but only offer suggestions after being asked to do so. Providing unsolicited recommendations can actually work against you during an interview.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"In my opinion, the user interface, or UI, is the most important feature of a mobile application. My main focus when developing a mobile application involves how the user interacts with the application and the user experience it creates. Some of the features I pay special attention to include the graphics, sound, haptic features, and the responses users get when entering information or selecting options within the application. Before I release an application into production, I test the user interface to ensure that the features are working properly and that it creates the intended experience."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
28. What are cards in the context of mobile design, and how are they used?
How to Answer
This technical question asks you to define the technology used by mobile application developers and then describe how it is used. Technical questions always follow a specific format. They will ask you to define a term or concept, describe how technology is used, compare two or more technologies or terminologies, or any combination of these. It is vitally important that you listen to the complete question the interviewer is asking before you begin your answer to provide the information they are looking for.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"Cards are a relatively new technology used in the design of mobile applications. Cards work by collecting individual pieces of information and aggregating them. They then present only the information the user needs, based on the requests they make through the interface. This approach enables programmers to adapt their applications across many devices and interfaces."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
29. Can you discuss the difference between native mobile app design and responsive web design?
How to Answer
This is an example of a technical question. Technical questions ask about concepts, terminology, techniques, and processes used in this job. The best way to respond to technical questions is briefly and directly. Make sure you listen to the entire question before formulating your answer. This is a common error many people make during an interview. Failing to do this may result in you not answering the interviewer's question or answering it incorrectly.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"The difference between a native mobile app design and a responsive web design is how the software presents itself to the user interface across different devices and environments. Native design is written for a specific platform or web browser to optimize the user interface. Adaptive designs present a common look and feel across various devices and web browsers. Adaptive designs sometimes require the programmer to compromise the program's performance or graphical interface features."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Technical
30. Do you advocate employing push notifications in your mobile apps, and if so, why?
How to Answer
Push notifications within a mobile application are a double-edged sword. They can be useful to notify the user of issues they need to be aware of, input the application requires, and other actions the user needs to take. However, they can also be intrusive, distracting the users and degrading the user experience. Since you don't know how the interviewer views push notifications, you should answer this question directly and honestly, based on the experience you've had developing other mobile applications. It would be best to emphasize that you try to maintain a delicate balance between useful and annoying push notifications. Your answer should also include how you and enable end-users to disable certain types of push notifications.
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021
Answer Example
"While I believe that push notifications can be valuable and sometimes necessary for certain applications, I also recognize that some end users view these as being intrusive and that they can reduce the end-user experience. When developing mobile applications, I seek a balance between when push notifications can be helpful and when they become intrusive. I only use push notifications to alert the end-user of critical actions they need to take, the information they need to input, or if the application may do something harmful. I also provide the end-user the ability to disable certain types of push notifications as long as this will not create a liability or lessen the end-user experience."
Written by William Swansen on September 5th, 2021