Guide · Open source
How to use front-end-interview-handbook for interview prep
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The Front End Interview Handbook is an MIT-licensed collection of study material for front end job interviews, written by the GreatFrontEnd team and published as a website. It covers HTML, CSS, JavaScript, interview formats, system design, trivia and questions grouped by company. This guide shows you how to read it, which parts to use first, and where it points you for hands-on practice.
Front End Interview Handbookyangshun/front-end-interview-handbook · ★ 44k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Open the handbook. Go to frontendinterviewhandbook.com and open the introduction to see the interview formats overview.
- 2Clone the repo if you want a local copy. Run the git clone command from the README to get the source files on your machine.
- 3Review HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Work through the front end questions to refresh core browser and domain knowledge.
- 4Check company formats. Read the company interview questions pages for the employers you plan to apply to.
- 5Prepare for system design. Read the front end system design section and practise explaining your answers.
- 6Move to hands-on practice. When you want tested coding practice, use GreatFrontEnd, which the README describes as a paid platform.
What the handbook covers
The README explains that front end interviews put less emphasis on algorithms than typical software engineer interviews. They focus more on detailed knowledge of the domain, such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
The repository lists five main areas: interview formats (including formats used by different companies), front end system design, trivia questions, front end coding questions covering JavaScript, DOM and algorithms, and questions grouped by company.
- Various formats of front end interviews, including by company
- Front end system design interviews
- Front end trivia questions, with answers to the h5bp Front-end Developer Interview Questions
- Front end questions: JavaScript, DOM, algorithms and more
- Front end interview questions by companies
Read the handbook online or clone the repository
The simplest way to use it is to open the website at frontendinterviewhandbook.com and start with the introduction. The README lists no prerequisites and treats reading online as the install method.
If you want a local copy of the repository, the README gives this command:
git clone https://github.com/yangshun/front-end-interview-handbookPick a path based on your gaps
Start with the topic you are least sure of. If you need a quick review of HTML, CSS or JavaScript, use the front end questions section. If you are unsure what an interview looks like, read the formats section and then the company-specific pages for the employers you are targeting.
Use the trivia section for short factual checks across the core web topics.
- Weak on core web basics: start with the HTML, CSS and JavaScript questions
- Unsure about the interview process: read the formats and company pages
- Preparing for system design rounds: read the front end system design section
- Short review before a call: use the trivia questions
Know what the handbook does not cover
The README says the handbook is not the place for general algorithm or coding interview prep. For that it points to the separate Tech Interview Handbook, which covers algorithms and behavioural questions.
The README also points to GreatFrontEnd for interactive, tested coding practice. It describes GreatFrontEnd as a paid platform with 200+ practice questions and automated test case suites. Treat the handbook as free reading and GreatFrontEnd as the optional practice step.
Contribute or translate
The contributing guide explains how to propose improvements or translate the content. The README lists translations in Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Tagalog, with links to each language's javascript-questions page.
The project's content and packages are MIT licensed.
What people use it for
- Reviewing HTML, CSS and JavaScript topics before a front end interview
- Seeing how a specific company structures its front end interview
- Preparing answers for front end system design rounds
- Running through trivia questions in the days before an interview
Frequently asked questions
Is front-end-interview-handbook free?
The handbook is published under the MIT licence and is available to read on its website at frontendinterviewhandbook.com. The README describes GreatFrontEnd, the separate platform it links to for practice, as a paid service.
How do I install front-end-interview-handbook?
You do not need to install it to read it, since the website is the main way to use it. If you want a local copy, run git clone https://github.com/yangshun/front-end-interview-handbook as the README shows. The README lists no prerequisites.
What topics does the Front End Interview Handbook cover?
It covers HTML, CSS and JavaScript, along with interview formats, front end system design, trivia questions and questions grouped by company. The README says front end interviews focus more on browser and domain knowledge than on algorithms.
Does the handbook include algorithm or coding interview prep?
Not for general coding interviews. The README points to the Tech Interview Handbook for algorithms and behavioural questions, although the handbook's coding section does include JavaScript, DOM and algorithm questions.
Can I practise coding questions with it?
The handbook is reading material. The README points to GreatFrontEnd for hands-on practice, which it describes as a paid platform with automated test case suites.
What are alternatives to front-end-interview-handbook?
The README mentions the Tech Interview Handbook for general interview prep, and lists Lago as a JavaScript data structures and algorithms library for study. For interactive practice, the README points to GreatFrontEnd.
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Our verdict
Use the Front End Interview Handbook if you are preparing for front end interviews and want free reading on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, company formats and system design. Pick the Tech Interview Handbook for general algorithm and coding prep, or GreatFrontEnd if you need interactive, tested practice and are willing to pay.
Install options & downloads