20 High Level Design Interview Questions and Answers

High Level Design (HLD) is a process that helps developers create a detailed plan for a software system. This process is often used in conjunction with Low Level Design (LLD), which focuses on the more technical aspects of the system. When interviewing for a position that requires HLD, expect to be asked questions about your experience and knowledge of the process. In this article, we review some of the most common HLD interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them.

High Level Design Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked High Level Design interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. Can you explain what high-level design is?

High-level design is a process of taking a complex system and breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. This process is often used in software engineering, as it can help to simplify the development process and make it easier to identify potential problems. The goal of high-level design is to create a blueprint for the system that can be used to guide the development process.

2. What are the steps involved in designing a large system?

There are many steps involved in designing a large system, but some of the most important include understanding the problem domain, understanding the requirements, designing the architecture, designing the individual components, and testing the system.

3. How does the process of developing an application differ from that of designing a system?

The main difference between designing an application and designing a system is that, when designing an application, you are focused on a specific set of functionality that the application needs to provide, whereas when designing a system, you are focused on the overall structure of the system and how all of the different components will work together.

4. What’s the difference between low level and high level design?

Low level design is more focused on the individual components of a system and how they work together, while high level design is more focused on the overall architecture of the system and how it will meet the needs of the users.

5. What do you understand about use case diagrams?

A use case diagram is a type of behavioral diagram that shows the different ways that a user can interact with a system. This is a high-level view of the system that can be used to identify the different types of users and the different functionality that they need.

6. What is your understanding of UML?

UML is a modeling language that is used to create diagrams that represent the structure and behavior of a system. UML diagrams can be used to represent anything from simple systems to complex ones, and they can be used to help developers to visualize the system and to understand how it works.

7. What are some common types of use cases used in software development?

Some common types of use cases used in software development include:

– Functional: These use cases describe the functionality that the software must provide.
– Non-Functional: These use cases describe the constraints and requirements that the software must meet, such as performance, security, etc.
– User: These use cases describe the interactions that users will have with the software.
– System: These use cases describe the interactions that the software will have with other systems.

8. What are the different types of relationships possible within a class diagram?

The different types of relationships possible within a class diagram are: association, aggregation, and composition. Association is a relationship between two classes that does not have a clear owner, while aggregation is a relationship between two classes where one class is the owner of the other. Composition is a relationship between two classes where one class contains the other and the relationship is exclusive.

9. Do you have any experience with creating detailed activity diagrams?

I do have experience creating detailed activity diagrams. I typically use them to map out the steps in a process, so that I can ensure that all the necessary steps are accounted for and that they are performed in the correct order. I find that activity diagrams are especially helpful when there are a lot of different stakeholders involved in a process, as they can provide a clear and concise overview that everyone can easily understand.

10. Why are state charts important?

State charts are important because they provide a graphical representation of the different states that a system can be in, and the transitions between those states. This can be helpful in understanding the behavior of a system, and in designing new systems.

11. Can you give me an example of when it might be useful to create a deployment diagram?

A deployment diagram is a type of diagram used in computer science to visualize the physical components of a system and how they are connected. This can be useful in a number of scenarios, such as when designing a new system, understanding an existing system, or troubleshooting a system.

12. What is the purpose of the sequence diagram?

A sequence diagram is a type of UML diagram that shows how objects in a system interact with each other over time. They are useful for modeling the flow of information and data in a system, and can be used to help design or debug software.

13. What are the different types of collaboration diagrams?

There are four different types of collaboration diagrams:

1. Class collaboration diagrams
2. Object collaboration diagrams
3. Sequence collaboration diagrams
4. Use case collaboration diagrams

Class collaboration diagrams show the relationships between classes and their methods, while object collaboration diagrams show the relationships between objects and their methods. Sequence collaboration diagrams show the order in which methods are called, while use case collaboration diagrams show the relationships between use cases and the actors that interact with them.

14. How do data flow diagrams help us to understand complex systems?

Data flow diagrams help us to understand complex systems by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. By understanding how data flows through a system, we can more easily identify bottlenecks and potential areas of improvement.

15. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using CASE tools?

CASE tools can be very helpful in designing and managing large software projects. They can help to automate some of the design process, and can also provide a way to visualize the project and track progress. However, CASE tools can be expensive, and may require training to use effectively. Additionally, they may not be well-suited for smaller projects.

16. What are the main components of a robust test plan?

There are four main components to a robust test plan: test objectives, test strategy, test schedule, and test budget.

Test objectives are the goals that you want to achieve with your testing. This could include finding a certain number of bugs, testing a specific feature, or improving the overall quality of the software.

The test strategy outlines the approach that you will take in order to achieve your test objectives. This could involve manual testing, automated testing, or a combination of both.

The test schedule details when each phase of testing will take place and how long it is expected to take. This is important in order to ensure that the software is ready for release on the planned date.

The test budget outlines the costs associated with the testing process. This includes the cost of hiring testers, the cost of any tools that will be used, and the cost of any other resources that are needed.

17. What are functional requirements? Why are they important?

Functional requirements are a set of specific, measurable, and testable functions that a system must be able to perform. They are important because they help to define what the system is supposed to do, and they provide a way to test whether or not the system is actually doing what it is supposed to do.

18. What are non-functional requirements? Why are they important?

Non-functional requirements are those that don’t directly relate to the functionality of the system being designed, but instead relate to how that system will be used and operated. They can include things like performance, security, scalability, and maintainability. Non-functional requirements are important because they can have a big impact on the overall quality of the system, even if they don’t directly relate to its functionality.

19. What do you understand about the V Model?

The V Model is a graphical representation of the software development process. It is called a “V” because it looks like a V when you view it from the top down. The V Model is used to show the relationship between different stages of development, and how they are all connected. Each stage of development has its own set of deliverables, and each stage must be completed before the next stage can begin.

20. What is Agile methodology?

Agile methodology is a type of software development process that is focused on delivering software in a quick and iterative manner. This approach is different from traditional waterfall methodology, which is focused on delivering software in one large release.