Landing a job as a Safari browser engineer requires deep knowledge of the browser’s workings. With Safari being one of the top browsers globally, expect its interview questions to thoroughly assess your skills.
As a long-time Safari user and engineer, I’ve compiled some of the most common and critical Safari interview questions to help you prep. Let’s get right to them!
Understanding Safari Browser Basics
These fundamental questions test your core knowledge of Safari
1. What are some key features and capabilities of Safari browser?
Safari offers many useful features like:
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Intelligent Tracking Prevention – Limits cross-site tracking and cookies for better privacy.
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Password monitoring: Lets users know if their saved passwords are used in a hack.
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Real-time phishing protection – Detects fraudulent websites to warn users.
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Extensions vetted through the App Store – Reduces malware risks.
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iCloud sync – Seamlessly syncs bookmarks, history, passwords etc across devices.
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Safari Reader mode – Strips away ads and clutter to focus on article text.
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Easily customizable toolbar – Users can add useful buttons like Reader or Airplay.
2. How is Safari browser different compared to other major browsers like Chrome and Firefox?
Some key differences are:
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Safari has stricter tracking prevention and privacy protections compared to Chrome and Firefox.
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It offers seamless integration with other Apple devices and services that Chrome and Firefox lack.
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Safari uses the WebKit browser engine while Chrome uses Blink and Firefox uses Gecko.
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Extensions and add-ons for Safari undergo more vetting compared to others.
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Safari tends to consume less memory and be more power efficient especially on Macs.
3. What are the pros and cons of using Safari as a web browser?
Pros:
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Excellent privacy and security features.
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Fast and efficient browser, especially on Macs.
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Deep integration with Apple ecosystem.
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Intuitive user interface and experience.
Cons:
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Less extensibility compared to Chrome or Firefox.
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Limited compatibility with certain web applications.
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Not available on non-Apple devices.
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Smaller extension ecosystem.
4. How is the Safari browser on iOS different from Safari on macOS?
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iOS Safari uses the WKWebView rendering engine while macOS Safari uses WebKit.
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macOS Safari supports more HTML5, CSS Grid, and JavaScript features compared to iOS Safari.
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iOS Safari lacks access to local files and full PWA support due to app sandboxing.
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JavaScript performs faster in macOS Safari due to JIT compilation.
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macOS Safari allows more customization like Reader Mode button.
Debugging and Troubleshooting Safari Issues
These questions test your debugging skills:
5. How do you troubleshoot a website not loading correctly on Safari but working fine on other browsers?
Here are the steps I would follow:
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Clear cache and cookies in Safari.
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Disable any Safari extensions that may cause conflicts.
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Check if JavaScript is enabled on Safari.
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Verify site doesn’t use technology unsupported by Safari like Flash.
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Update to the latest Safari version or reinstall Safari.
6. What are some key tools in Safari Web Inspector that help debug website issues?
Some key debugging tools are:
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Elements tab – Inspect page DOM and CSS.
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Console tab – View JavaScript errors and debug via console.log().
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Network tab – Analyze network requests and resource loading.
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Debugger tab – Pause and step through JavaScript code.
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Timelines tab – Check rendering performance and bottlenecks.
7. How would you debug a slow-loading webpage in Safari?
I would:
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Open Web Inspector and record Timelines while loading the page.
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Inspect Network Requests timeline for slow assets.
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Check Layout & Rendering timeline for long paint times.
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Analyze JavaScript timeline for any long tasks blocking rendering.
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Use Audits tab to run performance checks and get recommendations.
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Enable Cached Resource Size in Network tab to identify heavy cache usage.
8. You get a blank page on loading a site in Safari. How would you investigate?
I would:
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Open Web Inspector Console to check for JavaScript errors.
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Inspect Network tab for failed requests and missing assets.
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Verify no extensions/content blockers are blocking resources.
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Check whether Safari Reader mode is enabled and turning the page blank.
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Try different troubleshooting steps like disabling JavaScript, clearing cache, using incognito mode etc.
9. A dropdown menu is not working correctly on Safari but works fine in other browsers. What should you check?
Some things to check are:
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The JavaScript handling the dropdown functionality. Debug in Web Inspector.
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The CSS styling for dropdown using Web Inspector Elements tab.
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Safari support for any HTML/CSS involved e.g. Flexbox.
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Using proper browser prefixes like
-webkit-in CSS for Safari. -
Any differences in default browser security restrictions affecting functionality.
Debugging Layout and Rendering Issues
Knowing the rendering engine is key:
10. How does the Safari browser render web pages? Explain the browser rendering process.
The key steps are:
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The HTML, CSS, JS, and assets are downloaded.
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The HTML is parsed into a DOM tree.
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CSS rules are parsed and matched to nodes in the DOM tree.
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The visual display model is created by calculating styling and geometry.
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The page is repainted and composed into layers.
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Layers are displayed on the screen by the graphics engine.
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JavaScript can manipulate the DOM and trigger re-rendering.
11. You notice fonts look blurry on a webpage in Safari. How would you fix this?
I would:
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Use Web Inspector to check if custom web fonts are loaded.
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Verify font-smoothing properties like
-webkit-font-smoothingare set. -
Check for issues with font MIME types and encoding.
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Test different
text-renderingvalues likeoptimizeLegibility. -
Enable font antialiasing in Safari advanced settings if disabled.
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Specify higher resolution web fonts if low resolution ones are used.
12. A CSS animation is jittery on Safari but not on other browsers. How would you optimize this?
Some steps are:
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Inspect animation keyframes and properties in Web Inspector.
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Reduce complexity and number of keyframes/transitions.
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Use velocity-based timing for smoother animation.
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Set -webkit prefs like -webkit-backface-visibility to values like ‘hidden’.
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Verify any transform operations used are GPU accelerated.
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Consider switching from CSS to JavaScript animations using requestAnimationFrame().
13. How would you optimize a webpage for best performance in Safari?
Some key tips:
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Minify HTML/CSS/JS assets and enable gzip compression.
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Leverage browser caching for static assets.
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Lazy load non-critical resources.
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Reduce number of HTTP requests.
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Optimize and compress images.
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Eliminate unnecessary redirects.
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Avoid synchronous JavaScript calls blocking rendering.
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Verify no misconfigured web fonts are blocking rendering.
JavaScript Debugging in Safari
JavaScript handling differs across browsers:
14. A complex JavaScript application is slow or crashes Safari but works well in other browsers. How should you debug this issue?
Some debugging steps:
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Profile in Web Inspector Timelines tab to identify slow operations.
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Enable Web Inspector Debugger to step-through JavaScript and find bugs.
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Log key values using console.log() and console.time() to narrow down issues.
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Check for JavaScript engine incompatibilities causing problems.
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Verify modern JavaScript features needed are supported or transpile code.
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Reduce unnecessary DOM manipulations and JavaScript events that may slow Safari down.
15. How would you debug an issue with incorrect data appearing on a webpage due to JavaScript?
I would:
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Use Web Inspector Console to log outputs and narrow down issue.
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Set breakpoints in Debugger and step through code to pinpoint bug.
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Check if JavaScript data isLoaded correctly from network requests.
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Inspect DOM to verify JavaScript is updating it as expected.
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Look for errors produced when manipulating DOM via JavaScript.
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Consider race conditions, caching issues, or async execution bugs.
16. What are some limitations of JavaScript engine in Safari? How can you overcome them?
Some limitations include:
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Limited support for new ECMAScript standards and syntax.
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No support for some DOM APIs compared to other browsers.
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Lack of JIT compilation on iOS slowing performance.
Solutions are:
- Use a transpiler like Babel to convert modern JavaScript down to
How do you optimize website performance on different browsers?One way of optimizing website performance on different browsers is through the use of browser-specific optimization techniques. For example, we can use CSS hacks to target specific browser versions and optimize page rendering. Additionally, we can leverage browser caching, code minification and compression, and resource bundling to reduce page load times.Another crucial step in optimizing website performance across browsers is to regularly test the website on different browsers and devices. This ensures that the website is rendering correctly and quickly on all platforms. We can use tools such as BrowserStack or Sauce Labs to test on multiple browsers at once.Additionally, we can use performance profiling tools such as Chrome DevTools or Firefox Developer Edition to identify slow-loading components and optimize them. For example, we can identify heavy images that are taking too long to load and compress them, or we can identify JavaScript that is blocking page rendering and refactor the code to improve its efficiency.Overall, optimizing website performance on different browsers requires a combination of browser-specific techniques, testing on multiple platforms, and identifying and optimizing performance bottlenecks. Through these practices, we can ensure that our website performs well across all browsers and delivers a great user experience.[Data example: By implementing these techniques, we were able to reduce page load times by an average of 30% across Firefox, Chrome, and Safari browsers.]
Debugging browser-specific issues requires a combination of tools and techniques. First, I always check the browser console to see if there are any errors or warnings that might be the cause of the problem. I also use BrowserStack to check my code on various browsers and versions to see if the problem is unique to some browsers. This allows me to identify which specific browsers are affected and plan any necessary fixes.
Another tool I use is the Chrome DevTools. This tool lets me look at and change the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It also lets me simulate mobile devices and network conditions. I can also use the performance panel to find any slowdowns or bottlenecks that could be the cause of the problem.
When I’m having trouble with layout, I use the Firefox Grid Inspector to quickly see and fix CSS Grid layouts. I also use React Developer Tools to debug React components and their states, which are often the cause of problems that only happen in certain browsers.
Finally, I always ensure that my code is accessibility compliant. If the problem is with how accessible a browser is, I use tools like the Lighthouse Accessibility Audit to help me find the problems and plan how to fix them.
- Tools and techniques used for debugging browser-specific issues:
- BrowswerStack
- Chrome DevTools
- Firefox Grid Inspector
- React Developer Tools
- Lighthouse Accessibility Audit
- Browser-specific issues identified and isolated
- Efficiently solved issues by using appropriate tools and techniques
- Accessibility compliance ensured
- Improved website performance and user experience
How do you ensure cross-browser compatibility with different versions of a browser?One of the primary techniques I use to ensure cross-browser compatibility is by performing extensive testing across various versions of each browser. This includes using tools such as BrowserStack and Sauce Labs to simulate different environments and examine how my application responds to specific browsers.Additionally, I am always up-to-date with the latest best practices and industry standards for front-end development. This includes staying informed about changes to each browser’s rendering engine, as well as any new and upcoming features that could affect the way my code operates.I also make use of modern testing frameworks such as Jest and Selenium WebDriver to automate and streamline my test cases. This helps me catch any incompatibilities or broken functionality early on in the development process, which can save time and resources down the line.Overall, by combining rigorous testing procedures with a deep understanding of browser technologies and best practices, I am confident in my ability to ensure excellent cross-browser compatibility for any web application I develop.
Yes, I have dealt with a browser security vulnerability in the past. During my tenure at XYZ Company, we identified a security vulnerability in the browsers cross-site scripting functionality. Attackers could use this flaw to sneak scripts into a user’s browser and run them, giving them access to private data without permission.
To resolve the issue, I led a cross-functional team of developers and security experts. We first performed a thorough analysis of the vulnerability, including its impact and severity. We then created a patch to fix the vulnerability and implemented it across all versions of the browser.
We also did a full security review of the entire browser codebase to find and fix any other holes we found. Through our work, we were able to greatly improve the browser’s overall security and lower the likelihood of future security problems.
- Identified the security vulnerability in the browsers cross-site scripting functionality
- Performed an impact and severity analysis
- They fixed the vulnerability with a patch that was added to all versions of the browser.
- Conducted a security review of the entire browser codebase
- Identified and fixed other vulnerabilities found
Our patch resulted in a significant reduction in the number of security incidents related to the vulnerability. Our security review also made the browsers safer overall, making it less likely that they will be attacked or have security holes in the future.
Common Google Interview Question – Full Answer Explained
FAQ
Why doesn t Safari work?
What is the star method when interviewing?
What is the best answer for “Tell me about yourself”?
How to use Web Inspector in Safari browser?
Open the Web Inspector: Go to Develop, click on “Show Web Inspector.” Here are some of the key tools available in the developer mode of Safari browser: The Inspector tool allows developers to examine and modify the Document Object Model (DOM) of a webpage.
How to activate Safari developer mode?
Activating Safari Developer Mode requires a few simple steps: Activate Safari Developer Mode: Open Settings> Advanced in Safari, then tick “Show Develop in Menu bar”. Open the Web Inspector: Go to Develop, click on “Show Web Inspector.” Here are some of the key tools available in the developer mode of Safari browser:
What tools are available in developer mode of Safari browser?
Here are some of the key tools available in the developer mode of Safari browser: The Inspector tool allows developers to examine and modify the Document Object Model (DOM) of a webpage. This helps in understanding the structure of the HTML and CSS, as well as making real-time changes to see their effects.
How do you explain a framework in an interview?
Explain with a proper code. In such types of questions, the interviewer wants to assess how clear your understanding is of the framework. It is a good practice to explain the code while you write it so that the interviewer is engaged at all points and does not feel left out. We will be considering an example on MakeMyTrip.
