What is a negative index in Python?
Interviewer Expectations for this Question
01
Core Competency
Assesses fundamental understanding of Python conventions, runtime behavior, and memory/performance considerations.
02
Evaluation Criteria
Hiring managers look for precision, avoidance of ambiguous jargon, and ability to explain trade-offs under real production conditions.
Comprehensive Model Answer
Verified Solution
Python arrays and list items can be accessed with positive or negative numbers. A
negative Index accesses the elements from the end of the list counting backwards.
Example:
a=[123]
printa[-3]
printa[-2]
Outputs:
1
2
Candidate Response Strategy & Interview Tips
- Start with a concise one-sentence summary: Deliver a direct, confident answer first before expanding into nuances.
- Demonstrate real-world trade-offs: Discuss where this approach excels and when you would avoid it in production systems.
- Discuss complexity & edge cases: Proactively explain time/space complexity or boundary conditions (null values, scale limits).
- Prepare for interviewer follow-ups: Technical hiring panels frequently probe deeper into concurrency, backward compatibility, or alternative libraries.