Interview Prep 2026
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Google Interview Questions & Answers 2026

Complete Google software engineer interview guide covering coding, system design, and Googleyness rounds.

Quick Overview — Google Interviews 2026

  • Total questions covered: 5+ across all rounds
  • Interview rounds: Phone Screen → Onsite (5 rounds) → Hiring Committee
  • Question types: System Design, Coding, Behavioral
  • Difficulty: L3, L4, L5, L6
5+Questions
3Rounds
3Categories

Google Interview Process

The typical Google interview process consists of 3 rounds. Understanding each round helps you prepare strategically.

1
Phone ScreenRound 1 of 3
2
Onsite (5 rounds)Round 2 of 3
3
Hiring CommitteeRound 3 of 3

How to Prepare for Google Interview

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

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 Google's business model.

2

Week 3: Company Research

Study Google's products, recent news, culture values, and competitors. Prepare your "Why Google?" 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 5+ questions and answers. Prepare 5-6 questions to ask the interviewer. Get proper rest the night before.

Top Google Interview Questions with Expert Answers

System Design Questions(2 questions)

Q1. Design Google Search Autocomplete

Hard
View Expert Answer

Trie data structure with frequency counts. Components: Query Log, Trie Service, Ranking Algorithm. Handle: real-time updates, personalization, trending queries. Scale: billions of queries.

Q2. Design YouTube video recommendation system

Hard
View Expert Answer

Collaborative filtering + Content-based. Components: User Profile Service, Video Feature Extraction, ML Ranking Model, A/B Testing Framework. Handle: cold start, diversity, real-time updates.

Coding Questions(2 questions)

Q1. Find median of two sorted arrays

Hard
View Expert Answer

Binary search approach. Time: O(log(min(m,n))). Partition both arrays such that left half contains smaller elements. Handle edge cases with empty arrays.

Q2. Implement LRU Cache

Medium
View Expert Answer

HashMap + Doubly Linked List. Get and Put in O(1). HashMap maps key to node, DLL maintains access order. Evict least recently used when capacity exceeded.

Behavioral Questions(1 questions)

Q1. What is your most significant technical achievement?

Medium
View Expert Answer

Describe a complex technical problem you solved, your approach, the impact, and what you learned. Focus on technical depth and problem-solving methodology.

Pro Tips from Past Google 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 Google's upcoming projects, team culture, or growth trajectory. Never ask about salary/benefits in the first round.

3

Research recent company news

Mention Google'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 Google'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 Google interview questions with real-time evaluation and scoring. Used by 50K+ candidates.