Table of contents

Introduction

Automation Testing Interview Questions for Freshers

2.1.

1. What is Automation?

2.2.

2. What is Automation testing?

2.3.

3. What things can we automate?

2.4.

4. Why do we need automation testing?

2.5.

5. When is Automation testing useful?

2.6.

6. Can we achieve 100% automation possible in any case scenario?

2.7.

7. What are the different types of automation testing?

2.8.

8. When should we avoid automated testing?

2.9.

9. Can we automate CAPTCHA or ReCAPTCHA?

2.10.

10. What are the advantages of Automation testing?

2.11.

11. What is Selenium?

2.12.

12. What is QTP?

2.13.

13. How to select a tool or a framework for automated testing?

2.14.

14. What are the different parts of a test automation framework?

2.15.

15. What is browser automation?

2.16.

16. Can automation testing be done without a framework?

2.17.

17. When should a user prefer Manual testing over Automation testing?

2.18.

18. What are the different phases in an automation testing life cycle?

2.19.

19. How would you define an automated test script?

2.20.

20. What are the advantages of a Data-Driven Testing framework?

Automation Testing Interview Questions for Experienced

3.1.

21. What are the drawbacks of automation testing?

3.2.

22. What are the factors that influence the effectiveness of automation testing?

3.3.

23. Is automation testing considered black-box testing or white-box testing?

3.4.

24. What is the test automation pyramid?

3.5.

25. What is the scripting standard while performing automation testing?

3.6.

26. Do we use agile technology in Automation testing?

3.7.

27. List down some cons of the Modular Testing framework?

3.8.

28. What is UFT?

3.9.

29. What is Appium?

3.10.

30. What criteria should we consider when selecting automation tools?

3.11.

31. What is the Page Object Model (POM) in automation testing?

3.12.

32. How do you handle dynamic web elements in automation testing?

3.13.

33. What is the difference between BDD and TDD?

3.14.

34. Explain the concept of TestNG and its advantages over JUnit.

3.15.

35. How do you implement data-driven testing in automation?

3.16.

36. What is Continuous Integration and how does it relate to automated testing?

3.17.

37. How do you manage test environments and test data for automated testing?

3.18.

38. What are some common challenges faced in automation testing and how do you overcome them?

3.19.

39. Describe the role of version control systems in automation testing.

3.20.

40. What is Selenium Grid and how is it used in automation testing?

Frequently Asked Questions

4.1.

How do I prepare for an automation test interview?

4.2.

What is a framework for automation testing interview questions?

4.3.

What is automation testing basic example?

4.4.

What is QA in automation testing?

4.5.

How many test cases can you automate per day?

4.6.

What is the basics of automation testing?

Conclusion

Last Updated: Dec 5, 2024

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Automation Testing Interview Questions 2024

Author Jaskirat Singh Saggu

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Introduction

Automation testing has is a crucial component in the software development lifecycle, ensuring that applications are robust, efficient, and bug-free. As the demand for skilled automation testers continues to rise, so does the competition for these roles. Preparing for an automation testing interview requires a solid understanding of both fundamental concepts and advanced techniques.

Software Testing is the process of finding errors in software, and its goal is to give confidence to the stakeholders to release the software. There are two types of software testing: Manual Testing & Automated Testing.

Manual Testing

In manual testing, a human tester is responsible for manually testing the software and performing all the actions that a real user is supposed to perform. The tester should have the perspective of an end-user, and the tester must ensure that all the features are working correctly, as mentioned in the documentation. In this process, the tester executes the test cases and generates the report manually without the help of any automation tools.

Automation Testing

The software performs the testing activities in automated testing and verifies the actual output with the expected results. In this process, test scripts are executed, and the results are generated automatically by the automation tools. Some popular automation testing tools are HP QTP/UFT, Selenium WebDriver, etc.
When preparing for an automation tester interview, we should go through the previously asked automation testing interview questions as many questions are repeated. This blog will discuss some of the important automation testing interview questions that an interviewer is likely to ask.

Also read: Manual Testing vs. Automation Testing

Automation Testing Interview Questions for Freshers

Some of the most common and important automation testing interview questions are:

1. What is Automation?

Automation is defined as the process of performing repetitive tasks with minimum human assistance. It reduces human efforts. For example, if a person needs to do a job multiple times, then instead of doing the same process repeatedly, we create a small piece of software that will do the job.

2. What is Automation testing?

Automation testing is defined as the process of testing software using an automation testing tool to find bugs. Execution of the test scripts and generation of the result is performed automatically by the automation tools. The main goal of automated testing is to save time and effort on performing repetitive tasks that don't change frequently.

3. What things can we automate?

The things which can be automated are:

Smoke or Sanity test suite
Build Deployment
Repetitive Tasks
Regression test cases

4. Why do we need automation testing?

Automation testing is required for various purposes like:

When we have a huge amount of regression test cases
When we want to save time and money.
When we want to run the tests anywhere and at any time.
To generate robust reports
When we want to run tests with multiple sets of data
When testing manually is not possible.

5. When is Automation testing useful?

Automation testing is useful in the following cases:

Regression testing: In case a new module is implemented, and we want to make sure that the previous/unchanged functionality is not affected by it. In such cases, we end up running the regression test case multiple times.
Non-functional testing: When testing the non-functional aspects of an application. E.g., load testing is very difficult for humans to track and analyze.
Complex calculation: it checks and tests those cases and scenarios prone to human errors.
Repeated execution of the same test: Sometimes, we have to run the same set of test cases for a different set of data on multiple hardware, software, or both.

6. Can we achieve 100% automation possible in any case scenario?

No, it is not possible to achieve 100% automation. It is impossible to automate everything. Achieving 100% automation would be difficult as many edge test cases and some cases are seldom executed. Automating these cases which aren't executed that often will not add value to the automated suite.

7. What are the different types of automation testing?

Some of the testing techniques that can be automated are:

Unit tests: These are written by software developers and test only a unit or small piece of code in isolation
Integration tests: These tests are used to determine how well different software components work with each other.
Regression tests: These tests are used to verify that the new code/functionality doesn't break any existing code/functionality.
Performance tests: It is used to check and ensure that the software is reliable, that is, it won't crash and perform reasonably under heavy load.
UI tests: It ensures that the software uses a consistent user experience and that no visual elements are broken

8. When should we avoid automated testing?

There are some scenarios where a human tester can perform better than an automated test suite for testing software. Some of those cases are:

If the software or the functionality that is to be tested changes frequently, then we need to update the automated tests often to keep them up to date. Tests in such cases can quickly become obsolete and stop providing value.
It is not suitable for exploratory testing. A human tester can explore the capabilities of the software in a much better way.
If the automated tests are not programmed to look for UI issues, they won't be able to find any problems with the UI. It's much more efficient for a human tester to spot any UI design issues.

9. Can we automate CAPTCHA or ReCAPTCHA?

No, it's not possible to automate CAPTCHA or ReCAPTCHA. CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. The reason behind creating CAPTCHA is to be able to control bots. If someone can automate CAPTCHA, then it means that the idea behind CAPTCHA, which is to tell computers and humans apart, has failed.

10. What are the advantages of Automation testing?

It is one of the most frequently asked automation testing interview questions. Following are the advantages of automation testing:

Saves time and money.
Promotes reusability of code
Generates automatic reports after test execution
It's cheaper compared to manual testing in the long run.
Allows parallel execution in the combination of different operating systems and browser environments.
It is more powerful and versatile. Allows us to integrate with cross-browser testing tools, Github, etc.
Requires minimal manual intervention.

11. What is Selenium?

Selenium is a free, open-source test automation library. It is used to automate web and mobile environments. It consists of

Selenium IDE
Selenium Web-driver
Selenium Grid

It supports scripting in multiple languages like Java, C#, Python, etc.

12. What is QTP?

QTP stands for Quick Test Professional. Nowadays known as HP UFT. It is a commercial automation tool that supports a wide range of test environments like Web, Desktop, SAP, Delphi, and many more. It uses the VBScript scripting language. The tool gels with HP ALM, a test management tool, and HP LoadRunner, a performance testing tool.

Some of the features of QTP are Business Process Testing, keyword-driven framework, XML support, etc.

13. How to select a tool or a framework for automated testing?

Some of the criteria based on which one can select a tool or a framework are:

Programmable or code-less tools: There are two types of tools, one that requires programming skills and the other that doesn't. Depending on the team's experience and skill-set, one can choose accordingly.
Commercial Vs. Open Source: Tools are available at different prices based on their features. Commercial tools are expensive as they offer technical support as and when required, whereas Open source tools are free, but the user needs to do their own research when troubleshooting.
Ease of use: Some of the automated tools are very hard and difficult to use, they require extensive training before providing any value. At the same time, some are easy to use and can be used out-of-box.

14. What are the different parts of a test automation framework?

The purpose of using a test automation framework is to make it easy to perform automation testing for the software. Different components of a test automation framework are:

Test Data Management: One of the major tasks in automation testing is to generate the test data. A good test automation framework makes building the test data for the application under the test easier.
Testing Libraries: A test automation framework must provide libraries that make test management easy, as managing and running the automated tests is a crucial component of any automated testing strategy. A good test framework should also support unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests.
Testing Tools: It includes command-line tools that make it easier for the tester to run the set of tests repeatedly. It also contains tools that enable testing the software under high load for performance testing.

15. What is browser automation?

It is defined as the technique of programmatically launching a web application in a browser and then automatically executing various actions as a regular user would. It gives you the speed and efficiency that is impossible for a human tester. Some of the popular tools used in browser testing are Protractor, Cypress, and Selenium.

Browser automation performs the following activities:

Navigates to the application URL, and then it makes sure it launches.
Test the various web page links and ensure they are not broken. If some of them are found to be broken, it keeps a record of them.
It performs load and performance testing on the web application.

16. Can automation testing be done without a framework?

When an interviewer asks the above question as an automation testing interview question, the answer should be, Yes, we can perform automation testing without a framework. A framework is just a set of rules that can be followed systematically to achieve the desired results. If the user understands the automation tools, then the user can perform the automation testing without a framework.

17. When should a user prefer Manual testing over Automation testing?

There are some cases in which a user should prefer manual testing over automation testing, which are:

When the project is short-term, writing scripts will be a time-consuming and costly thing to do as compared to manual testing.
When flexibility is required. Automated test cases are written and programmed to run in a specific way.
If the application is newly developed and has no previous test cases.

18. What are the different phases in an automation testing life cycle?

It is one of the interviewer's favorite questions when it comes to automation testing interview questions. The major phases in the automation testing life cycle are:

Figuring out the scope of automation testing
Choosing the correct automation framework and tools
Designing a test plan and test execution strategy
Setting up a test environment
Developing and executing the test cases
Analyzing and generating the test reports

19. How would you define an automated test script?

It is a short program that we write in a programming language such as Python or Java, which verifies that the application is working as per the requirements set by the developer.

20. What are the advantages of a Data-Driven Testing framework?

Here are some of the advantages of the data-driven testing framework.

The number of human resources is less.
The number of test scripts that must be executed for testing is less in comparison to other frameworks.
Prior knowledge of coding is not required for a data-driven testing framework.
We can reuse the program we made to verify the app again and again.
The time required to test the application is less in the case of a data-driven testing framework.

Automation Testing Interview Questions for Experienced

21. What are the drawbacks of automation testing?

Here are some of the drawbacks of automation testing that we should consider while using it.

The cost of developing and maintaining the automation tools might be high depending upon the need of application and type of tool required.
Skilled automation testers are required to test scripts and debug any issue while testing.
Automation testing does not work where there is a need to verify human security.
If the program written is not correct, testing might go into an infinite loop and would take more time than manual testing.

22. What are the factors that influence the effectiveness of automation testing?

The effectiveness of automation testing depends upon the following factors.

The type of application that needs to be tested.
The tool used for automation testing.
Test cases used for checking the automation script.
Stable and reliable test environment.
Test script reusability.

23. Is automation testing considered black-box testing or white-box testing?

Automation testing is mostly regarded as black box testing, as the code we write for testing are just the steps a manual tester would follow while verifying an application. We do not consider low-level design or code of the application.

Also read - Difference Between Black Box Vs White Box Testing

24. What is the test automation pyramid?

The test automation pyramid is like a way to build a strong and balanced testing approach. It's shaped like a pyramid with three levels. At the bottom, you have lots of small and fast tests that check specific things. In the middle, there are tests that cover bigger parts of the software. And at the top, there are a few tests that make sure everything works together smoothly. It's like starting with tiny puzzle pieces, connecting them into bigger chunks, and finally making sure the whole puzzle fits perfectly. This helps find issues early and keeps the software solid.

25. What is the scripting standard while performing automation testing?

Scripting standards in automation testing are like following a set of rules when writing instructions for a computer to test software. It's a bit like giving clear directions to a robot. These standards make sure that everyone understands the instructions and that they're written in a way the computer can easily follow. Just like how we have traffic rules to drive safely, scripting standards help testers create reliable and effective automation tests.

26. Do we use agile technology in Automation testing?

Yes, we use agile technology in automation testing. Agile technology is an approach mostly used in the software development process that has various stages. Using agile technology in automation testing helps us continuously evaluate our test script and code reusability, and we continuously check our application performance while using agile technology.

27. List down some cons of the Modular Testing framework?

While using the modular testing framework in automation testing, we should consider some points in mind.

In modular testing, the test cases have data embedded in them which makes them difficult to test.
The initial setup of a modular testing framework might be costly and difficult to understand.
Code duplication and reusability are difficult in a modular testing framework.

28. What is UFT?

UFT is the short form of Unified Function Testing. It is an automation tool mostly used for function testing purposes. Some features of UFT include API, web services and support for different platforms such as desktops, web applications and mobile.
Also read - Top UFT Interview Questions and Answers

29. What is Appium?

Appium is an open-source automation tool that is used for mobile application testing. Various mobile applications can be tested using Appium, such as native, hybrid or web-based.

Also, check out - Appium Interview Questions

30. What criteria should we consider when selecting automation tools?

We should always consider the cost of developing and managing the automation tool before using it. It is also important to check the performance of the tools on the type of application it needs to test. The time to learn and implement automation tools should also be considered while selecting automation tools.

31. What is the Page Object Model (POM) in automation testing?

The Page Object Model (POM) is a design pattern in Selenium that creates an object repository for web UI elements. It separates the test logic from the UI, making tests more maintainable, readable, and reusable. Each web page in the application has a corresponding page class that contains the locators and methods to interact with that page.

Also, check out - Page Object Model Interview Questions

32. How do you handle dynamic web elements in automation testing?

Handling dynamic web elements involves strategies such as using dynamic locators with XPath or CSS selectors that include patterns or partial matches, implementing explicit waits to wait for elements to appear or become interactable, and leveraging Selenium’s WebDriverWait in conjunction with ExpectedConditions.

33. What is the difference between BDD and TDD?

The difference between BDD and TDD is BDD (Behavior-Driven Development) focuses on the behaviour of an application from the end user's perspective and uses natural language constructs to define test cases. Where as TDD (Test-Driven Development) emphasizes writing tests before code and focuses on the correctness of code functionalities. BDD extends TDD by integrating more user-friendly, behavior-focused test scripts.

34. Explain the concept of TestNG and its advantages over JUnit.

TestNG is a testing framework inspired by JUnit but with more powerful features. It supports parameterized tests, dependency testing, grouping, parallel execution, and a flexible test configuration, providing a more robust testing structure for complex scenarios.

35. How do you implement data-driven testing in automation?

Data-driven testing involves running the same test case with multiple sets of data. This can be implemented using tools like TestNG or JUnit with annotations such as @DataProvider, or by integrating with external data sources like Excel files, CSV files, or databases, utilizing libraries like Apache POI or JDBC.

36. What is Continuous Integration and how does it relate to automated testing?

Continuous Integration (CI) is a development practice where developers frequently merge code changes into a shared repository, followed by automated builds and tests. Automated testing is integral to CI as it ensures that code changes do not break the application and helps maintain a stable codebase.

37. How do you manage test environments and test data for automated testing?

Managing test environments and data involves setting up isolated environments that mirror production, using configuration management tools like Docker or Vagrant. Test data management includes creating, maintaining, and refreshing test datasets using scripts or tools, ensuring data consistency and relevance.

38. What are some common challenges faced in automation testing and how do you overcome them?

Common challenges include handling dynamic web elements, dealing with asynchronous operations, managing test data, and maintaining test scripts. Overcoming these challenges involves using robust locators, implementing waits, using data-driven and modular test frameworks, and continuously refactoring test code.

39. Describe the role of version control systems in automation testing.

Version control systems (VCS) like Git are crucial in automation testing for tracking changes to test scripts, enabling collaboration among team members, managing multiple versions of test code, and integrating with CI/CD pipelines to automate testing workflows.

40. What is Selenium Grid and how is it used in automation testing?

Selenium Grid is a tool that allows the execution of parallel tests across different browsers, operating systems, and machines. It enables the distribution of test cases across multiple nodes, reducing test execution time and improving efficiency. The Grid consists of a hub, which manages the nodes (machines) running the tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prepare for an automation test interview?

While preparing for automation testing, we should have deep knowledge of the automation tools that we have used in the past or general automation tools that are mostly used. We should also keep in mind some programming languages such as Python and Ruby. We should also have basic knowledge of testing frameworks.

What is a framework for automation testing interview questions?

Framework in automation testing refers to the set of guidelines that we follow for creating and designing test cases on which we run our test scripts to verify the application.

What is automation testing basic example?

Automation testing is like using a computer program to test other programs. For example, instead of a person checking a website's links, a tool can automatically click them and say if they work or not. It saves time and makes sure things are working correctly.

What is QA in automation testing?

QA (Quality Assurance) in automation testing involves using automated tools and scripts to execute test cases, ensuring that software meets specified requirements. It focuses on improving test efficiency, accuracy, and coverage while reducing manual testing efforts.

How many test cases can you automate per day?

The number of test cases you can automate per day depends on the complexity of the test cases, the stability of the application, and the efficiency of the test framework. Typically, 2-10 test cases per day is a reasonable range.

What is the basics of automation testing?

The basics of automation testing include understanding the software development lifecycle, identifying test scenarios suitable for automation, selecting appropriate automation tools, writing and maintaining test scripts, executing tests, and analyzing results to ensure software quality.

Conclusion

In this article, we have extensively discussed Automation Testing Interview Questions. Automation testing is a critical aspect of modern software development, ensuring applications are reliable, efficient, and scalable. Preparing for an automation testing interview requires a deep understanding of various concepts, tools, and best practices.

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