Questions
8 of 8
1Explain the difference between := and var declarations in Go.
2How does Go handle multiple return values, and what are named returns?
3What is the difference between pass-by-value and pass-by-pointer in Go?
4Explain type assertion and type switch with real-world examples.
5How do generics (Go 1.18+) change API and library design? Where would you use or avoid them?
6How does Go's compilation model (static linking, no VM) affect deployment and performance in a backend context?
7What are zero values in Go, and why do they matter?
8When and how would you use the reflect package in production Go code?
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08 / 08

When and how would you use the reflect package in production Go code?

Use reflect for building generic utilities like struct validators, ORM field mappers, and serializers when generics or interfaces are insufficient. Avoid reflection in hot paths due to performance cost.

Practical reflection: struct validator
Reflection guidelines
  1. 1

    Use for: serialization libraries, ORMs, dependency injection containers, test assertion helpers

  2. 2

    Prefer generics (Go 1.18+) for type-safe containers and utility functions — generics are faster and safer

  3. 3

    Prefer interfaces for runtime polymorphism — interfaces are idiomatic and compile-time safe

  4. 4

    Reflection bypasses compile-time checks — panics at runtime for type mismatches

  5. 5

    Benchmark before using in hot paths: reflect.ValueOf() allocates and is 10-100x slower than direct access