file-system Interview Questions
5 interview questions in our bank cover file-system, most of them Coding & Leetcode-style Questions. They average 3.0/5 difficulty — medium — and each one was reported by a candidate after a real interview. Companies known to ask about file-system: Clay, Google, Rippling.
Practice these on the problems board →Companies that ask about file-system
Question mix
- Coding & Leetcode-style Questions5
Difficulty
- 2/5 — easy1
- 3/5 — medium3
- 4/5 — hard1
Questions tagged file-system
Design a Workspace Folder Tree (File-System-like API)
3/5In this system design and data structure challenge reported from Clay, you are tasked with architecting an in-memory hierarchical directory tree that supports recursive creation, ordered listing, relocation, and deletion of paths. The prompt evaluates your capability to design clean object-oriented APIs, manage tree-based pointer mutations, and handle edge cases involving nested path hierarchies. Read the full problem requirements and study the production-ready model implementation by obtaining a subscription.
Coding & Leetcode-style QuestionsClayImplement deleteDirectory in a Virtual File System
3/5This Google interview question places you inside a simulated directory architecture where you must manage hierarchical nodes and recursive cleanups. You are tasked with implementing directory removal logic that safely dismantles nested folders and eliminates all enclosed files without leaving orphan references. The problem evaluates your familiarity with tree-like structures, recursive traversal patterns, and memory management concepts in virtualized environments. Discover the complete problem statement and professional solution code with a subscription.
Coding & Leetcode-style QuestionsGoogleRippling SDE-2 Loop: File System, Access Control, Payroll
4/5This extensive low-level design interview loop, frequently seen at Rippling, tests your ability to architect foundational enterprise modules from scratch. You will build an in-memory hierarchical file storage utility, implement granular permission structures for resource access control, and handle payroll logic within a unified object-oriented framework. The evaluation focuses on clean class hierarchies, encapsulation, and robust error management. Unlock the complete system specifications and professional implementation guide through our paid subscription.
Coding & Leetcode-style QuestionsRipplingDesign a Workspace File System (Folders and Tables)
3/5This Clay interview question challenges you to build a memory-based directory structure supporting directories and tabular data elements. You will need to implement core management actions including generation, direct enumeration, and cascading removal of hierarchical items. Candidates must focus on efficient tree traversal and state management. Access to the complete problem breakdown and verified code implementation requires a subscription.
Coding & Leetcode-style QuestionsClayCompute Total Size of a File System
2/5This classic Google interview question requires calculating the aggregate storage space consumed by all files within a hierarchical file system directory tree. Candidates must navigate nested directories and files efficiently to ensure every component is accounted for without duplication. The exercise tests foundational tree traversal algorithms and recursive programming techniques. Access the complete problem statement and optimized model solution with a paid subscription.
Coding & Leetcode-style QuestionsGoogle
Studied alongside
file-system interview FAQ
- How many file-system interview questions are there?
- 5 reported questions, mostly Coding & Leetcode-style Questions.
- Which companies ask file-system questions?
- Clay (2), Google (2), Rippling (1).
- How hard are file-system questions?
- They average 3.0 out of 5: 1 at 2/5, 3 at 3/5, 1 at 4/5.