Looking to put your problem-solving skills to the test during a software developer or engineer interview? Our collection of top 20 interview puzzle questions has got you covered!
We’ve compiled the most commonly asked puzzles during SDE interviews and tailored them specifically for software engineers. With these brain teasers and logic puzzles, you’ll be able to showcase your ability to think creatively and critically, as well as demonstrate your aptitude for problem-solving under pressure. Take a look at our top interview puzzle questions for software developers and engineers and get ready to impress your interviewer!
Top Interview Puzzle Questions for Software Developers
Here are 20 puzzle examples to help you get started with your interview preparation:
- Gold Bar Lowest Cut Puzzle: A worker is to perform work for you for seven straight days. In return for his work, you will pay him 1/7th of a bar… Read More »
- 3 Ants and Triangle Puzzle: Three ants are sitting at the three corners of an equilateral triangle. Each ant starts randomly picks a direction and starts to move along the… Read More »
- 3 cuts to cut the round cake into 8 equal pieces: Learn how to cut a round cake into 8 equal pieces with only 3 cuts! This puzzle will test your spatial reasoning and critical thinking… Read More »
- 3 Bulbs and 3 Switches Puzzle: This puzzle involves trying to figure out which switch controls each of the three light bulbs in a room, with the catch that you can… Read More »
- Crossing the Bridge Puzzle: The Crossing the Bridge puzzle is a classic logic puzzle that goes as follows: Four people need to cross a bridge at night. They have… Read More »
- The 3-Gallon Jug and 5-Gallon Jug Puzzle: You have a 3-gallon jug and a 5-gallon jug. How can you measure exactly 4 gallons of water? Here are more details: You have two… Read More »
- The Two Ropes Burning Puzzle: The “Two Ropes Burning” puzzle is a classic problem that challenges your ability to measure time intervals with limited resources. Here’s how it goes: You… Read More »
- 2 eggs and 100 floors puzzle: The 2 eggs and 100 floors puzzle is a classic problem in mathematics and computer science. The problem goes as follows: You are given 2… Read More »
- Torch and Bridge Puzzle: The Torch and Bridge Puzzle is a classic logical puzzle that goes as follows: At night, four individuals (A, B, C, and D) need to… Read More »
- Find the fastest 3 horses Puzzle: What is the minimum number of races required to determine the fastest 3 horses from a group of 25, given that races can only be… Read More »
- The 12 Balls and Balance Scale Puzzle: You have 12 balls and a balance scale. 11 balls weigh the same, but one is heavier than the rest. You can use the scale… Read More »
- Rat And Poison Puzzle: There are 1000 wine bottles in your possession, but unfortunately, one of them is poisoned. To identify the poisoned bottle, you plan to use 10… Read More »
- Short Man and the Elevator Puzzle: Discover the solution to the intriguing puzzle of the short man and the elevator. This brain teaser will challenge your critical thinking skills and leave… Read More »
- Heaven or Hell Puzzle: Discover the solution to a classic riddle: how to find the door to heaven when facing two guards, one always lying and the other always… Read More »
- Man Fell in Well Puzzle: The “Man Fell in Well” puzzle is a classic riddle that goes like this: After falling into a well that is 30 meters deep, a… Read More »
- Clock Angle Puzzle: What is the angle between the hour hand and minute hand of a clock if it shows 3:15? Here is an image that displays the… Read More »
- Tomato Soup Puzzle: Suppose you have a glass of tomato soup, and you need to divide it equally between two children. However, you have only one additional glass… Read More »
- Black and White Hats Puzzle: This is a classic puzzle known as the “Black and White Hats” puzzle. The solution involves the students devising a strategy beforehand to maximize the… Read More »
- 3 Glasses and 10 Coins Puzzle: The 3 glasses and 10 coins puzzle is a classic logic puzzle that goes like this: You have three glasses on a table. The first… Read More »
- Handshake Puzzle: What is the number of people who attended a party where every person shook hands with every other person if the total number of handshakes… Read More »
It’s important to note that not all interview puzzle questions have a single, definitive solution. In fact, many may have multiple possible solutions. During the interview, the interviewer is likely looking to see how you approach the problem and how you arrive at the most efficient solution.
They want to see your problem-solving process and how you think through challenges. So, while it’s important to arrive at a solution, it’s equally important to explain your reasoning and thought process behind your answer. By demonstrating your analytical and critical thinking skills, you’ll be able to impress the interviewer and stand out as a top candidate for the job.