Interview Prep 2026
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Amazon Interview Questions & Answers 2026

Comprehensive Amazon SDE interview preparation guide. Covers coding, system design, behavioral (Leadership Principles) rounds with detailed answers.

Quick Overview — Amazon Interviews 2026

  • Total questions covered: 6+ across all rounds
  • Interview rounds: Online Assessment → Phone Screen → Onsite (4-5 rounds) → Bar Raiser
  • Question types: System Design, Coding, Behavioral
  • Difficulty: SDE-1, SDE-2, Senior SDE
6+Questions
4Rounds
3Categories

Amazon Interview Process

The typical Amazon interview process consists of 4 rounds. Understanding each round helps you prepare strategically.

1
Online AssessmentRound 1 of 4
2
Phone ScreenRound 2 of 4
3
Onsite (4-5 rounds)Round 3 of 4
4
Bar RaiserRound 4 of 4

How to Prepare for Amazon Interview

Follow this structured preparation plan to maximize your chances at Amazon.

1

Week 1-2: Fundamentals

Review core concepts for your role. For technical roles, practice DSA (LeetCode medium). For non-tech, review domain fundamentals and Amazon's business model.

2

Week 3: Company Research

Study Amazon's products, recent news, culture values, and competitors. Prepare your "Why Amazon?" answer with specific examples.

3

Week 4: Mock Practice

Do 3-5 mock interviews using our AI Interview Gyani tool. Practice explaining your projects and past experiences using the STAR method.

4

Final Days: Review & Rest

Review these 6+ questions and answers. Prepare 5-6 questions to ask the interviewer. Get proper rest the night before.

Top Amazon Interview Questions with Expert Answers

System Design Questions(2 questions)

Q1. Design a URL shortener (System Design)

Medium
View Expert Answer

Components: API Gateway, URL Generation Service (Base62 encoding), Database (NoSQL for scale), Cache (Redis), Analytics. Handle: collision, custom URLs, expiry, analytics. Scale: millions of URLs.

Q2. Design an e-commerce checkout system

Hard
View Expert Answer

Components: Cart Service, Inventory Service (with locking), Payment Gateway, Order Service, Notification Service. Handle: concurrent purchases, payment failures, idempotency.

Coding Questions(2 questions)

Q1. Find the longest substring without repeating characters

Medium
View Expert Answer

Sliding window approach with HashSet. Time: O(n), Space: O(min(m,n)). Track window start and end, expand right, shrink left when duplicate found.

Q2. Merge K sorted linked lists

Hard
View Expert Answer

Use min-heap (Priority Queue). Time: O(N log K) where N is total nodes, K is number of lists. Space: O(K) for heap.

Behavioral Questions(2 questions)

Q1. Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager (LP: Have Backbone)

Medium
View Expert Answer

Use STAR method. Describe situation where you respectfully challenged a decision with data, the discussion process, and the outcome. Show courage to speak up while being respectful.

Q2. Tell me about a time you took ownership (LP: Ownership)

Medium
View Expert Answer

Use STAR method. Describe a situation where you went beyond your role to ensure project success, took responsibility for outcomes, and drove results.

Pro Tips from Past Amazon Candidates

1

Use the STAR method consistently

Structure every behavioral answer as Situation → Task → Action → Result. Interviewers are trained to evaluate STAR responses.

2

Ask thoughtful questions at the end

Ask about Amazon's upcoming projects, team culture, or growth trajectory. Never ask about salary/benefits in the first round.

3

Research recent company news

Mention Amazon's recent product launches, earnings, or industry moves in your answers. It shows genuine interest.

4

Prepare your 'Why this company?' answer

Don't give generic answers. Be specific: 'I admire Amazon's [specific project/initiative] because...' with personal connection.

5

Follow up with a thank-you email

Send a brief, personalized thank-you within 24 hours referencing specific discussion points. It sets you apart from 90% of candidates.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not practicing out loud before the interview
Giving memorized/robotic answers instead of natural ones
Not asking any questions when given the chance
Speaking negatively about past employers
Not quantifying achievements in answers
Arriving without researching the company

Practice These Questions with AI

Get instant feedback on your answers with our AI-powered mock interview tool. Practice Amazon interview questions with real-time evaluation and scoring. Used by 50K+ candidates.