Ruby on Rails is a framework for developing open-source web applications. The framework is based on the Ruby programming language. Ruby on Rails provides many tools required to develop modern-day web applications. 

It is among the most sought-after skills in present-day web development companies. An interviewer will ask several Ruby on Rails interview questions to evaluate your expertise in this program and framework. 

You can be an experienced developer or a fresher who is about to embark on a journey in the corporate world. 

If you want to ace your Ruby on Rails interview, you must have a deep knowledge of the technical aspects of the program. Practice and hard work is the key to success. However, you must prepare smartly to win the confidence of your interviewer.

Hence, we have curated this blog post to give you an interview guide. This blog post contains common concepts to be asked in Ruby on Rails interview questions for both freshers and experienced candidates.

Practice all the mentioned Ruby on Rails concepts to answer the interview questions to prepare for your job interview!

An interviewer checks if a candidate knows a program and framework they will work on daily. Here is a list of topics to help you prepare for your job. Scroll down and start preparing. 

Areas to be Covered for Ruby on Rails Interview Questions

You must constantly review the 10 critical fundamentals for your next Ruby on Rails interview. 

  • Learn About the Operators Well

In Ruby, everything other than false and nil is taken as accurate. 

Multiple operators work uniquely in Ruby. Ensure you are well aware of all the operators, especially their differences. It is better to know everything about the following operators:

  1. == : It examines the disparity between two objects
  2. eql?: It is utilized by hash to examine for that same hash key
  3. equal?: It sees whether two operands indicate an identical object.
  4. ===: It checks if the object on the right side is a component of the left side object. 
  • Practice Object-Oriented Programming

Ruby is an object-based programming language, meaning everything in Ruby is an object. The numbers, strings, modules, classes, etc., are all objects. Please ensure that you are clear about this concept. 

  • Improve your Code Quality

One of the most crucial parts of Ruby on Rails interview questions is coding. Learn to script clean code in a Ruby program. You can get help from an experienced programmer if you are a newbie. Practice even more if you are an experienced programmer. Learn to use smell-detecting codes of Ruby like Reek, Brakeman and Rubocop. 

  • Check and apply Design Patterns.

If you are fresher, please ensure that you have practiced a good hand in multiple design patterns. You can start with SOLID. Do not forget to review Structural, Creational, and Behavioural design patterns. Knowing these patterns will prove your credibility in understanding others’ code and your ability to solve problems, which positively impacts your interview. 

  • Master the Necessary Skills for Mocking

You must learn the nits and grits of mocking. Writing simple test cases for your TDD/BDD is insufficient for a Ruby on Rails interview. Please be sure that you know well about stubs, spies, mock and test doubles, especially their definitions. 

  • Important Modules and Mixins

In Ruby, a programmer can inherit a class from only one class. However, they can get over the restriction using modules and mixins. You can import a module to a class in three ways:

  1. via include keyword
  2. via extend keyword
  3. via prepend keyword

Learn about all these three methods of class import approaches. 

  • Take note of Rails Security

Programmers often face cross-site request forgery attacks from hackers. There is a high chance that your interviewer would like to know your expertise in this concept. 

You need to know the CSRF token and how to use it. Well, the CSRF token is used by programmers to avoid unwanted attacks. Likewise, learning about application_controller.rb. and application.html.erb is imperative. 

  • Essential Rails on Rails Tools

A programmer may face excess inefficient or dead code accumulation in the meantime. Your interviewer would want to know the necessary tools to keep your code clean and optimized. Learn everything about the following tools for optimizing Ruby on Rails code. 

  1. traceroute
  2. bullet
  3. brakeman
  4. rack-mini-profiler
  5. rails-best-practices
  6. deadweight
  7. rubycritic
  8. Rubocop

These are considered the gems of Ruby on Rails. Knowing about them will add brownie points to your performance in the interview.  

  • Rack Applications

While Ruby is one of the most suited programming languages for developing sophisticated and multi-layered web applications, Rack is behind almost everyone in the Ruby program. The underlying technology delivers a modular, adaptable, and minimal interface to Ruby during web development. Hence, a deep knowledge of Rack applications is inevitable to practice for Ruby on Rails interview questions. 

  • Go Through the Latest Features

Programming languages never stop updating. If you are fresher, you must learn about the latest features of Ruby on Rails. 

However, if you are an experienced programmer, you need to update yourself with those recent features to stay relevant in the programming world. Some of the new features are as follows:

  1. You do not need Node and Webpack anymore.
  2. Ruby on Rails now offers an encrypted database layer
  3. It has asynchronous querying features
  4. All applications in the latest version of Rails 7 will work in only the Zeitwerk mode.
  5. All applications of Rails 7 will have Stimulus and Turbo pre-installed in place of UJS and Turbolinks. 
  6. You can asset a query to fit a single record by first_by or first rather than first_sole_by or sole. 
  7. You can stream generated files using the new Rails 7 controller actions. 
  8. You can now name variants with the help of ActiveStorage in the newest Rails 7 version. 

Learn and practice these concepts hard to excel in your Ruby on Rails interview. You must also be well-trained in Ruby compiler online. 

General Tips

While you get ready for your interview, keep these tips in mind:

  • Practice hard

Practice is the only way to ace an interview. Appear for several mock interviews. You can ask anyone to help you with that. Ensure that when you sit before interviewers, you are confident about yourself. 

  • Know the company

It is a general thing to know about the whereabouts of the company you aspire to work at. This will prove that you are interested in working at that company. 

  • Use flashcards

Prepare flashcards to memorize certain aspects of Ruby on Rails. These will help you take a quick look before you sit for an interview. 

  • Stay positive

It is scary not to know what the interviewer is going to ask. But you must be prepared with our positive attitude. Your answers should reflect your positive outlook in dealing with different situations. 

While stating your weaknesses and future goals, your positive attitude should be reflected in your answer. 

Wrapping up

The above-discussed set of concepts on Ruby on Rails includes the most commonly asked Ruby on Rails interview questions. Use this blog post as your preparation guide. Brace up and get ready for your next Ruby on Rails interview. Good luck!