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Cognizant Software Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Updated 28 Jun 2025

151 Interview questions

🔥 Asked by recruiter 2 times
A Software Engineer was asked 1mo ago
Q. What are the concepts of OOP?
Ans. 

OOP concepts include encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction, fundamental for object-oriented programming.

  • Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on the data within one unit (e.g., a class).

  • Inheritance: Mechanism where a new class derives properties and behavior from an existing class (e.g., a 'Dog' class inheriting from an 'Animal' class).

  • Polymorphism: Ability to present the same i...

🔥 Asked by recruiter 3 times
A Software Engineer was asked 1mo ago
Q. What is Java?
Ans. 

Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language designed for portability and performance across platforms.

  • Developed by Sun Microsystems in 1995, now owned by Oracle.

  • Java is platform-independent due to the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

  • It follows the principle of 'Write Once, Run Anywhere' (WORA).

  • Java is widely used for building enterprise applications, mobile apps (Android), and web applications.

  • Example: A...

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A Software Engineer was asked 2mo ago
Q. What is the concept of OOP?
Ans. 

OOP (Object-Oriented Programming) is a programming paradigm based on objects and classes to structure software design.

  • Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on the data within one unit (e.g., a class).

  • Inheritance: Mechanism where a new class derives properties and behavior from an existing class (e.g., a 'Dog' class inheriting from an 'Animal' class).

  • Polymorphism: Ability to present the same interfa...

🔥 Asked by recruiter 8 times
A Software Engineer was asked 2mo ago
Q. What is inheritance?
Ans. 

Inheritance is a fundamental OOP concept allowing a class to inherit properties and methods from another class.

  • Promotes code reusability by allowing new classes to use existing code.

  • Supports method overriding, enabling a subclass to provide a specific implementation.

  • Example: A 'Dog' class can inherit from an 'Animal' class, gaining its properties like 'legs' and methods like 'eat'.

  • Facilitates a hierarchical classi...

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Cognizant Notice Period: Need hacks to cut it short!
Hey everyone! 👋 I joined Cognizant in July 2021 and I'm a billable resource. My notice period is showing as 90 days, BUT my offer letter doesn't mention any notice period at all 🤨 I’m planning to resign soon and want to reduce the notice period to 60 days. I’m open to buyout or leave encashment. For those who've been through this: * Who should I approach first — manager or HR? * What worked for you? * Any tricks to speed up the release? Really need some guidance from anyone who’s navigated this 🙏
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A Software Engineer was asked 2mo ago
Q. What are the OOP concepts in Java?
Ans. 

OOP in Java is a programming paradigm based on objects, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism for better code organization.

  • Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on the data within one unit (class). Example: private variables with public getters/setters.

  • Inheritance: Mechanism where one class inherits properties and behaviors from another. Example: class Dog extends Animal.

  • Polymorphism: Abilit...

What are the roles & responsibilities of a Software Engineer at Cognizant?

Software Development

  • Develop and maintain high-quality software solutions
  • Design and implement scalable and secure applications

Read full roles & responsibilities

A Software Engineer was asked 2mo ago
Q. What is the Singleton design pattern?
Ans. 

The Singleton design pattern restricts a class to a single instance and provides a global access point to that instance.

  • Ensures a class has only one instance.

  • Provides a global point of access to that instance.

  • Useful for managing shared resources, like database connections.

  • Implemented using private constructors and static methods.

  • Example in Java: public class Singleton { private static Singleton instance; private S...

Cognizant HR Interview Questions

684 questions and answers

Q. Are you willing to work flexible hours?
Q. Tell me about a time you faced a challenge at work and how you handled it.
Q. What are you looking for in a new position?
A Software Engineer was asked 2mo ago
Q. How does a Hashmap work internally?
Ans. 

A HashMap uses a hash table to store key-value pairs, allowing for efficient data retrieval and storage.

  • HashMap uses an array of buckets to store entries, where each bucket can hold multiple entries in case of collisions.

  • A hash function computes an index based on the key, determining where to store the value in the array.

  • When two keys hash to the same index, a collision occurs, which is typically handled using cha...

Are these interview questions helpful?
🔥 Asked by recruiter 3 times
A Software Engineer was asked 2mo ago
Q. How do you handle exceptions in Java?
Ans. 

Exception handling in Java is crucial for managing errors and maintaining program flow using try-catch blocks.

  • Use try-catch blocks to catch exceptions: try { // code that may throw an exception } catch (ExceptionType e) { // handle exception }

  • Use finally block for cleanup: try { // code } catch (Exception e) { // handle exception } finally { // cleanup code }

  • Throw exceptions using '...

A Software Engineer was asked 3mo ago
Q. What is .NET?
Ans. 

.NET is a software development framework created by Microsoft, enabling developers to build applications for various platforms.

  • .NET Framework: The original version, primarily for Windows applications, supports languages like C# and VB.NET.

  • .NET Core: A cross-platform, open-source version of .NET that allows developers to build applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • .NET 5 and later: Unified platform that combin...

A Software Engineer was asked 3mo ago
Q. Explain what an executable file is.
Ans. 

An .exe file is an executable file format used to run programs on Windows operating systems.

  • Executable Format: .exe files contain a program that can be executed directly by the operating system.

  • Windows OS: Primarily used in Windows environments, .exe files are not natively supported by other operating systems like macOS or Linux.

  • Installation Packages: Many software applications are distributed as .exe files, such ...

Cognizant Software Engineer Interview Experiences

214 interviews found

I applied via Job Portal

Round 1 - Resume Shortlist 
Pro Tip by AmbitionBox:
Keep your resume crisp and to the point. A recruiter looks at your resume for an average of 6 seconds, make sure to leave the best impression.
View all tips
Round 2 - Technical 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. 1. Project description 2. Technologies used in recent project 3. What is dependency injection 4. Difference between Rest and Soap 5. Difference between Monolithic and Microservice 6. Features of Java 8 7. ...
  • Ans. 

    Interview questions for Software Engineer position

    • Describe recent project and technologies used

    • Explain dependency injection and differences between Rest and Soap

    • Differentiate Monolithic and Microservice architecture

    • List features of Java 8 and write programs using Java 8

    • Provide pseudo code for sorting a list of integers without using Java 8 sort method

    • Define functional interface and its annotation

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Focus more towards logic and basic concepts.
Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
2-4 weeks
Result
Selected Selected
Round 1 - Technical 

(5 Questions)

  • Q1. What is Adls?how is it works
  • Ans. 

    Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) is a scalable data storage service for big data analytics in the cloud.

    • ADLS is designed for big data analytics, allowing storage of large amounts of unstructured data.

    • It integrates seamlessly with Azure services like Azure Databricks and Azure HDInsight.

    • ADLS supports hierarchical namespace, enabling efficient organization of data in directories.

    • It provides fine-grained access control usin...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. What is integration pipeline?how is it work?
  • Ans. 

    An integration pipeline automates the process of integrating code changes into a shared repository, ensuring quality and consistency.

    • Continuous Integration (CI) is a key component, where developers frequently merge code changes.

    • Automated tests run on each integration to catch bugs early, e.g., unit tests, integration tests.

    • Build automation tools like Jenkins or Travis CI are often used to manage the pipeline.

    • Deployment...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. Copy data from one on premise sql server to Adls and Adls to Azure SQL?
  • Ans. 

    Transfer data from on-premise SQL Server to Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) and then to Azure SQL Database efficiently.

    • Use Azure Data Factory: Create a pipeline in Azure Data Factory to copy data from SQL Server to ADLS using the Copy Data tool.

    • Linked Services: Set up linked services in Azure Data Factory for both the on-premise SQL Server and ADLS to facilitate data transfer.

    • Integration Runtime: Use a Self-hosted Integ...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. What is Azuredata bricks?
  • Ans. 

    Azure Databricks is an Apache Spark-based analytics platform optimized for Azure cloud services.

    • Built on Apache Spark, it provides a collaborative environment for data scientists and engineers.

    • Supports multiple languages like Python, R, Scala, and SQL for data processing.

    • Integrates seamlessly with Azure services like Azure Data Lake Storage and Azure Machine Learning.

    • Offers features like auto-scaling, interactive noteb...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. What is cluster? How is it work?
  • Ans. 

    A cluster is a group of interconnected computers that work together to perform tasks as a single system.

    • Clusters improve performance by distributing workloads across multiple machines.

    • They provide redundancy; if one node fails, others can take over (e.g., database clusters).

    • Common types include load-balancing clusters and high-availability clusters.

    • Examples include Hadoop clusters for big data processing and Kubernetes...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - I am not advice the tips
Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
2-4 weeks
Result
No response

I applied via Company Website and was interviewed in Nov 2024. There were 3 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

Standard quantitative questions accompanied by logical reasoning and related topics.

Round 2 - Technical 

(4 Questions)

  • Q1. Asked about my projects.
  • Q2. What are the basic Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts, including polymorphism and inheritance?
  • Ans. 

    OOP concepts include encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

    • Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on the data into a single unit (class).

    • Inheritance: Allows a class to inherit properties and behavior from another class.

    • Polymorphism: Objects of different classes can be treated as objects of a common superclass.

    • Abstraction: Hides complex implementation details and only shows the necessa...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. Can you explain React, how it functions, and the related concepts?
  • Ans. 

    React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces.

    • React allows developers to create reusable UI components.

    • It uses a virtual DOM for efficient rendering.

    • React uses a declarative approach to define how the UI should look based on the application state.

    • It supports server-side rendering for improved performance.

    • React can be used with other libraries like Redux for state management.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. About my final year project and how would you improve it?
Round 3 - HR 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Can you introduce yourself and provide some information about your family?
  • Ans. 

    I am a software engineer with a passion for coding and problem-solving. I come from a close-knit family with supportive parents and siblings.

    • Software engineer with coding and problem-solving skills

    • Close-knit family with supportive parents and siblings

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. What are your strengths and weaknesses, and how are you addressing your weaknesses?
  • Ans. 

    My strengths include problem-solving and teamwork, while my weaknesses are time management and public speaking. I am addressing my weaknesses by taking time management courses and practicing public speaking.

    • Strengths: problem-solving, teamwork

    • Weaknesses: time management, public speaking

    • Addressing weaknesses: taking time management courses, practicing public speaking

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Be well-prepared for common interview questions and maintain a collection of these questions.

Software Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image mounika chittinni

posted on 30 Dec 2024

Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
Less than 2 weeks
Result
Not Selected

I applied via Walk-in and was interviewed in Nov 2024. There were 5 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

Aptitude is one of best round, to improve our skills knowledge technology.

Round 2 - Group Discussion 

GD is one of best round, because I love this round, sharing my knowledge ideas thinking views, to others for company growth organization growth, this round shows how much skills r there in person can be easily identified .

Round 3 - HR 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Urs work experience ?
  • Ans. 

    I have 5 years of experience working as a Software Engineer in various tech companies.

    • Worked on developing web applications using technologies like JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and React

    • Experience with backend development using Node.js and MongoDB

    • Familiar with Agile methodologies and version control systems like Git

    • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions

    • Participated in code reviews...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Urs new skills ?
  • Ans. 

    I have recently acquired skills in machine learning and data analysis.

    • Completed online courses in machine learning algorithms

    • Practiced data analysis techniques using Python and R

    • Attended workshops on deep learning models

  • Answered by AI
Round 4 - One-on-one 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Do u act as team lead?
  • Ans. 

    Yes, I have experience acting as a team lead in previous projects.

    • Yes, I have acted as a team lead in previous projects where I was responsible for coordinating tasks and ensuring project deadlines were met.

    • I have experience delegating tasks to team members based on their strengths and expertise.

    • I have also facilitated team meetings to discuss progress, address any issues, and brainstorm solutions.

    • In one project, I led...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Urs projects
  • Ans. 

    Urs projects involve collaborative software development, focusing on user requirements and iterative improvements.

    • Emphasizes user-centered design, ensuring software meets user needs.

    • Utilizes Agile methodologies for iterative development and feedback.

    • Involves cross-functional teams for diverse skill sets and perspectives.

    • Example: Developing a mobile app where user feedback shapes features.

  • Answered by AI
Round 5 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. On technical how could u work from projects to projects
  • Ans. 

    Transitioning between projects involves planning, knowledge transfer, and adapting to new technologies and team dynamics.

    • Conduct a thorough review of the new project's requirements and objectives.

    • Engage in knowledge transfer sessions with the outgoing team to understand the project context.

    • Familiarize yourself with the tech stack and tools used in the new project, such as learning a new programming language or framewor...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. How many days u will work on single project
  • Ans. 

    The duration of working on a single project varies depending on the project complexity and requirements.

    • The duration of working on a single project can range from a few days to several months or even years.

    • Factors such as project scope, team size, resources, and deadlines influence the duration of the project.

    • For example, a small project with a clear scope may take a few days to complete, while a large-scale project ma...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Topics to prepare for Cognizant Software Engineer interview:
  • Aws Devops Python
Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - U must have confidence, flexible to work in any atmosphere
Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Easy
Process Duration
Less than 2 weeks
Result
Selected Selected

I applied via Campus Placement and was interviewed in Nov 2024. There were 2 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

Simple aptitude questions, multiple-choice questions, database management systems, and data structures.

Round 2 - Technical 

(3 Questions)

  • Q1. What is the difference between a list and a tuple in Python?
  • Ans. 

    List is mutable and can be modified, while tuple is immutable and cannot be changed.

    • Lists are defined using square brackets [], while tuples are defined using parentheses ().

    • Elements in a list can be changed, added, or removed, while elements in a tuple cannot be modified once it is created.

    • Lists are typically used for collections of similar items that may need to be modified, while tuples are used for fixed collection...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Basic sql queries
  • Q3. Project in detail questions
  • Ans. 

    Discussed a software project involving a web application for task management with user authentication and real-time collaboration features.

    • Developed a task management web application using React and Node.js.

    • Implemented user authentication with JWT for secure access.

    • Integrated real-time collaboration using WebSocket for live updates.

    • Utilized MongoDB for data storage and retrieval of tasks.

    • Conducted user testing to gathe...

  • Answered by AI
Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Technical 

(5 Questions)

  • Q1. String vs Stringbuffer
  • Q2. Explain Collections
  • Q3. What is OOPS and explain
  • Q4. What is Arrays and explain
  • Q5. What is hashcode and explain
Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

A challenging session featuring mathematical questions, puzzles, and a game round.

Round 2 - Coding Test 

It is quite easy and manageable to solve.

Round 3 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Coding Question
  • Q2. HTML,CSS,Data Structure,OOPS
Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. How to declare file
  • Q2. Difference between Physical file and logical file

Skills evaluated in this interview

Interview experience
3
Average
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
2-4 weeks
Result
Not Selected

I applied via Campus Placement and was interviewed in Sep 2024. There were 3 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

General aptitude questions

Round 2 - Coding Test 

Basic coding question

Round 3 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Basics of SQL and cloud
  • Q2. Some Python programming question

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - we must be strong in basics
Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-

I applied via Campus Placement

Round 1 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Python Data types
  • Q2. What is immutability

Software Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Shubham Jadhav

posted on 11 Jun 2025

Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
2-4 weeks
Result
Selected Selected

I appeared for an interview in May 2025, where I was asked the following questions.

  • Q1. What is concept of Opps
  • Q2. What is inheritancw

Cognizant Interview FAQs

How many rounds are there in Cognizant Software Engineer interview?
Cognizant interview process usually has 2-3 rounds. The most common rounds in the Cognizant interview process are Technical, Aptitude Test and HR.
How to prepare for Cognizant Software Engineer interview?
Go through your CV in detail and study all the technologies mentioned in your CV. Prepare at least two technologies or languages in depth if you are appearing for a technical interview at Cognizant. The most common topics and skills that interviewers at Cognizant expect are Spring Boot, Software Engineering, Java, Microservices and Javascript.
What are the top questions asked in Cognizant Software Engineer interview?

Some of the top questions asked at the Cognizant Software Engineer interview -

  1. 2.What programming language are you proficient with...read more
  2. two puzzles: 1. how can you cut a cake in 8 pieces in minimum number of cuts(an...read more
  3. 1. Project description 2. Technologies used in recent project 3. What is depend...read more
What are the most common questions asked in Cognizant Software Engineer HR round?

The most common HR questions asked in Cognizant Software Engineer interview are -

  1. What are your strengths and weakness...read more
  2. Where do you see yourself in 5 yea...read more
  3. Tell me about yourse...read more
How long is the Cognizant Software Engineer interview process?

The duration of Cognizant Software Engineer interview process can vary, but typically it takes about less than 2 weeks to complete.

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Overall Interview Experience Rating

4.2/5

based on 163 interview experiences

Difficulty level

Easy 28%
Moderate 71%
Hard 1%

Duration

Less than 2 weeks 58%
2-4 weeks 32%
4-6 weeks 6%
6-8 weeks 1%
More than 8 weeks 3%
View more

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Cognizant Software Engineer Salary
based on 18.4k salaries
₹2.3 L/yr - ₹17 L/yr
At par with the average Software Engineer Salary in India
View more details

Cognizant Software Engineer Reviews and Ratings

based on 1.2k reviews

3.7/5

Rating in categories

3.6

Skill development

3.7

Work-life balance

3.3

Salary

3.4

Job security

3.6

Company culture

3.0

Promotions

3.4

Work satisfaction

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