# Pair programming interview

A pair-programming interview has a candidate and an interviewer write code together, in real time, on the same problem, with the interviewer acting more like a collaborating engineer than a silent judge reading off a script.

It's meant to simulate real day-to-day engineering work, where most code doesn't get written entirely alone.

**Pair programming interview** — A pair-programming interview has a candidate and an interviewer write code together in real time on the same problem. Roles can be split, with one person navigating while the other types, and often swap partway through, giving the interviewer a direct read on how the candidate communicates while working, not just whether the final code is correct.

The format shows up most at companies that practice pair programming as part of their engineering culture, since it tests for a working style the team already uses. It differs from a whiteboard interview by being genuinely interactive and code-executing, and it differs from a solo live coding test by requiring active back-and-forth rather than occasional questions.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who writes the code in a pair programming interview?

It varies. Some formats have the candidate type the whole time with the interviewer offering input; others alternate who's typing and who's navigating, mirroring how the roles rotate in real pair programming.

### What is being evaluated in a pair programming interview?

Both the code and the collaboration. Interviewers watch how a candidate responds to suggestions, whether they explain their reasoning clearly, and how they handle a partner catching a mistake, in addition to whether the solution works.

### Is a pair programming interview harder than solo coding?

It's different rather than strictly harder. Talking through a problem while writing code in front of someone can feel more exposing than solo coding, but it also gives a candidate the chance to think out loud and catch mistakes collaboratively, rather than being judged on a silent final submission.

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