50+ Automation Test Engineer Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

I am an Automation Test Engineer with knowledge of STLC, test plan, test case, test scenario, Selenium framework, and writing Selenium test cases.

• STLC stands for Software Testing Life Cycle and is a process followed to ensure quality in software testing.

• Test plan is a document that outlines the testing strategy, objectives, and scope of testing.

• Test case is a set of steps and conditions that are executed to verify the functionality of a software application.

• Test scenario is a...read more

Interview questions for Automation Test Engineer

• Types of wait - implicit, explicit, fluent

• Locators in Selenium - ID, Name, Class Name, Tag Name, Link Text, Partial Link Text, CSS Selector, XPath

• Grid vs WebDriver - Grid allows parallel execution on multiple machines, WebDriver executes tests on a single machine

• CSS Selector vs XPath - CSS Selector is faster, XPath is more powerful

• Types of list - ArrayList, LinkedList, Vector

• Use of Action Class - performing advanced user interac...read more

Answers to common interview questions for Automation Test Engineer position.

• Const is used for constant values that cannot be reassigned, var is used for variable declaration, and char is a data type for storing characters in programming languages.

• OOPs concepts include inheritance, encapsulation, polymorphism, and abstraction. Example: Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class.

• JavaScript is an asynchronous language, meaning it can execute ...read more

Selenium grid is a tool used for parallel execution of test cases on multiple machines. WebDriver is a tool for automating web applications.

• Selenium grid allows for distributed testing across multiple machines and browsers

• WebDriver is a tool for automating web applications and supports multiple programming languages

• Daily activities include writing and executing test cases, debugging issues, and reporting results

• Framework used depends on project requirements and can vary from ...read more

Challenges in Selenium include browser compatibility, dynamic elements, and test maintenance.

• Browser compatibility issues can arise due to differences in browser versions and configurations.

• Dynamic elements can cause tests to fail if not handled properly.

• Test maintenance can be challenging due to changes in the application under test.

• Synchronization issues can occur when the test script runs faster than the application.

• Handling pop-ups and alerts can be tricky.

• Cross-domain te...read more

I would start by identifying the most repetitive and time-consuming manual tests and prioritize them for automation.

• Identify the most repetitive and time-consuming manual tests

• Prioritize the tests based on their importance and frequency

• Select the appropriate automation tool and framework

• Create test scripts and automate the identified tests

• Execute the automated tests and analyze the results

• Gradually increase the automation coverage and reduce manual testing

Eggplant can read/write data using its built-in scripting language SenseTalk.

• Use the 'put' command to write data to a file or variable.

• Use the 'read' command to read data from a file or variable.

• Eggplant also supports reading/writing data to databases and spreadsheets.

• Example: put "Hello World" into myVariable; read myVariable

• Example: put "123" into file "myFile.txt"; read file "myFile.txt"

To identify objects in Selenium, we use locators such as ID, Name, Class Name, XPath, CSS Selector, etc.

• Locators are used to identify web elements on a page

• ID and Name are the most commonly used locators

• XPath and CSS Selector are more powerful but slower

• Class Name is useful for identifying multiple elements with the same class

• Locators can be used with findElement() and findElements() methods

• Example: driver.findElement(By.id("username"));

Feature files contain high-level description of the functionality to be tested, while step definitions are the implementation of the steps in the feature file using code.

• Feature files are written in Gherkin syntax and describe the behavior of the application in plain text.

• Step definitions are written in programming languages like Java, Ruby, etc., and map the steps in the feature file to automation code.

• Feature files and step definitions together form the basis of Behavior Dr...read more

Inheritance is a mechanism in object-oriented programming where a class inherits properties and behaviors from another class. Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass.

• Inheritance allows for code reusability by defining a new class based on an existing class.

• Polymorphism enables flexibility in programming by allowing objects to be treated as instances of their parent class.

• Example of inheritance: Class B inheriting from C...read more

The question is about Selenium waits, locators, exception handling, alerts, frames, and TestNG.

• Selenium waits are used to synchronize the test script with the application under test

• Locators are used to identify web elements on a web page

• Exception handling is used to handle errors and exceptions that occur during test execution

• Alerts are used to handle pop-up windows that appear during test execution

• Frames are used to handle web pages that contain multiple frames

• TestNG is a te...read more

Test case is a set of conditions or variables under which a tester will determine whether a system under test satisfies requirements. Test plan is a document outlining the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing activities. Test scenarios are detailed descriptions of possible interactions with the system.

• Test case: specific conditions to be tested, expected results, steps to execute

• Test plan: overall strategy for testing, including objectives, resources, schedule

• T...read more

The return would be the number of tabs open in the browser.

• The return value would be an integer representing the count of open tabs.

• For example, if there are 5 tabs open, the return value would be 5.

Type coercion is the process of converting one data type to another in programming.

• Type coercion can happen implicitly or explicitly in programming languages.

• Implicit type coercion occurs when the language automatically converts data types during operations.

• Explicit type coercion occurs when the programmer manually converts data types using functions or operators.

• Example: In JavaScript, the addition operator (+) can perform implicit type coercion by converting a number to a s...read more

Code writing task for Automation Test Engineer position

• Open Notepad

• Write code for the given task

• Share screen to show the code

• Ensure code is well-structured and follows best practices

End to end testing is a methodology to test the entire system flow from start to finish.

• It involves testing all the components of the system together

• It ensures that the system is working as expected in real-world scenarios

• It helps identify any issues or bottlenecks in the system flow

• Examples include testing an e-commerce website from browsing to checkout

• Automated tools can be used to perform end to end testing

This question covers topics like reversing a string, array vs ArrayList, map and HashMap, explicit wait expected conditions, and performing mouse over on a WebElement.

• To reverse a string, you can use the StringBuilder class and its reverse() method.

• An array is a fixed-size data structure, while an ArrayList is a dynamic-size data structure.

• Map is an interface that represents a mapping between a key and a value, while HashMap is an implementation of the Map interface.

• Explicit ...read more

List of common WebDriver exceptions

• NoSuchElementException - When an element is not found in the DOM

• TimeoutException - When a command takes too long to complete

• StaleElementReferenceException - When an element is no longer attached to the DOM

• ElementNotVisibleException - When an element is present in the DOM but not visible

• ElementNotInteractableException - When an element is present in the DOM but not interactable

• InvalidElementStateException - When an element is in an invalid st...read more

Use Selenium WebDriver to capture screenshot on test case failure

• Use Selenium WebDriver's getScreenshotAs method to capture screenshot

• Save the screenshot to a specified location on the system

• Include the screenshot capture code in the test case failure handling logic

A linked list in Java is a data structure that consists of a sequence of elements where each element points to the next element in the sequence.

• Each element in a linked list is called a node.

• Nodes in a linked list are connected through pointers or references.

• Linked lists can be singly linked (each node points to the next node) or doubly linked (each node points to both the next and previous nodes).

• Example: LinkedList list = new LinkedList();

API error codes are unique identifiers used to indicate specific errors in an API response.

• API error codes are typically numeric or alphanumeric codes that correspond to specific errors in the API.

• Each error code should have a corresponding explanation in the API documentation to help developers understand the issue.

• Examples of API error codes include 400 Bad Request, 401 Unauthorized, and 404 Not Found.

Program to find character occurances in 'Hello World'

• Create a map to store character occurrences

• Iterate through each character in the string and update the map

• Print the character occurrences from the map

Challenges include conflicts with other developers' changes, incorrect file paths, and forgetting to add files.

• Conflicts with other developers' changes

• Incorrect file paths

• Forgetting to add files

TestNG annotations are used to control the flow of test methods and provide additional information about the test.

• Annotations like @Test, @BeforeSuite, @AfterSuite are used to define test methods and setup/teardown methods

• Annotations like @BeforeTest, @AfterTest are used to run setup/teardown methods before/after a test

• Annotations like @BeforeClass, @AfterClass are used to run setup/teardown methods before/after a test class

• Annotations like @BeforeMethod, @AfterMethod are use...read more

Ladder logic diagram is a graphical programming language used for PLC programming.

• Ladder logic diagrams consist of rungs representing logical control circuits.

• It uses symbols to represent different components like contacts, coils, timers, etc.

• The logic flow is from left to right, with power flowing from top to bottom.

• It is commonly used in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) for automation.

• Example: A simple ladder logic diagram for a motor control circuit.

Absolute Xpath starts from the root element, while relative Xpath starts from any node in the DOM structure.

• Absolute Xpath starts with a single forward slash (/) and starts selection from the root node.

• Relative Xpath starts with a double forward slash (//) and starts selection from the current node or any node in the DOM structure.

• Absolute Xpath is more brittle and prone to breaking if the structure of the page changes, while relative Xpath is more flexible and resilient to c...read more

Relative xpath is based on the current element's position, while absolute xpath starts from the root element.

• Relative xpath is shorter and more flexible, as it can adapt to changes in the structure of the page.

• Absolute xpath is longer and more specific, making it more prone to breaking if the page structure changes.

• Relative xpath is preferred for automation testing as it is more robust and easier to maintain.

• Absolute xpath is useful when the element's position is fixed and un...read more

OOPs is a programming paradigm based on the concept of objects, which can contain data and code.

• OOPs stands for Object-Oriented Programming.

• It focuses on creating objects that interact with each other to solve a problem.

• In OOPs, data and code are encapsulated within objects.

• Inheritance, Polymorphism, and Encapsulation are the three main pillars of OOPs.

• Overriding is when a subclass provides its own implementation of a method that is already present in its parent class.

• Overloa...read more

Abstract class is a class that cannot be instantiated and can have both abstract and non-abstract methods. Interface is a blueprint for a class and can only have abstract methods.

• Abstract class can have constructors while interface cannot

• A class can implement multiple interfaces but can only inherit from one abstract class

• Abstract class can have instance variables while interface cannot

• Abstract class is used for code reusability while interface is used for achieving abstracti...read more

Data can be input in Cucumber using feature files and step definitions.

• Data can be input in feature files using scenarios and scenario outlines

• Step definitions can be used to define the actions to be taken with the input data

• Data tables can be used in feature files to input structured data

• Examples keyword can be used in scenario outlines to provide multiple sets of input data

Types of waits in Selenium include Implicit Wait, Explicit Wait, and Fluent Wait.

• Implicit Wait: Waits for a certain amount of time before throwing a NoSuchElementException.

• Explicit Wait: Waits for a certain condition to occur before proceeding further in the code.

• Fluent Wait: Waits for a condition to be true with a defined polling frequency.

• Example: driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(10, TimeUnit.SECONDS);

Automation testing is more efficient for repetitive tasks, while manual testing allows for more exploratory and creative testing.

• Automation testing is ideal for repetitive tasks that require frequent execution.

• Manual testing is better suited for exploratory testing and scenarios that require human intuition.

• Automation can provide faster feedback and increased test coverage.

• Manual testing allows for more creativity and adaptability in testing approaches.

• A combination of both m...read more

String manipulation code

• Use string methods like split(), replace(), substring() etc.

• Loop through the string to manipulate each character

• Regular expressions can also be used for complex manipulations

Waterfall model is a linear sequential approach, while Agile model is iterative and incremental.

• Waterfall model follows a sequential process, where each phase must be completed before moving on to the next.

• Agile model breaks the project into small iterations, allowing for flexibility and continuous feedback.

• Waterfall model is best suited for projects with well-defined requirements, while Agile is ideal for projects with evolving requirements.

• Waterfall model has less flexibili...read more

My automation framework is a hybrid framework that uses both data-driven and keyword-driven approaches.

• The framework is built using Selenium WebDriver and TestNG.

• It uses Excel sheets to store test data and Apache POI library to read/write data from/to Excel.

• The framework has a modular structure with reusable functions and libraries.

• It uses Page Object Model design pattern to maintain object repository.

• The framework generates detailed HTML reports using ExtentReports library.

• I...read more

Multi node architecture refers to a system where multiple nodes work together to perform tasks and share resources.

• Involves multiple nodes connected to a central server or each other

• Allows for distributed computing and load balancing

• Common in cloud computing and big data applications

Multithreading is the ability of a CPU to execute multiple threads concurrently, allowing for better performance and resource utilization.

• Multithreading allows multiple threads to run concurrently within the same process.

• Each thread has its own stack and shares the same memory space.

• Multithreading can improve performance by utilizing multiple CPU cores efficiently.

• Examples of multithreading include running multiple tasks simultaneously in a web server or processing data in pa...read more

Count character occurance in a String

• Iterate through the string and use a HashMap to store character counts

• Handle both uppercase and lowercase characters separately

• Consider using a character array to count occurrences for better performance

Locators in Selenium are used to identify web elements on a webpage for automation testing purposes.

• Locators can be used to find elements by ID, class name, name, tag name, link text, partial link text, CSS selector, or XPath.

• Using unique locators is important to ensure stable and reliable test automation scripts.

• Examples of locators include driver.findElement(By.id("elementID")), driver.findElement(By.className("elementClass")), and driver.findElement(By.xpath("//xpathExpres...read more

Test cases for testing the functionality of a lift

• Test the functionality of each button (e.g. open, close, floor selection)

• Test the emergency stop button

• Test the response time of the lift to calls

• Test the capacity of the lift by overloading it

• Test the door sensors for safety measures

Generators are functions that can pause and resume their execution, allowing for lazy evaluation of values.

• Generators are defined using the function* syntax in JavaScript.

• They use the yield keyword to pause execution and return a value.

• Generators can be iterated over using a for...of loop.

• They are useful for generating sequences of values on demand.

Instance variable is a variable declared in a class, but outside of any method. It is unique to each object of the class.

• Instance variables are also known as member variables or attributes.

• They hold data that is unique to each object created from the class.

• Example: In a class representing a car, instance variables could include 'color', 'model', and 'year'.

Program to reverse a string using array of characters.

• Create an array of characters from the input string.

• Iterate through the array in reverse order and append each character to a new string.

• Return the reversed string as the output.

Defect cascading test is a type of testing where a defect in one module triggers defects in other related modules.

• Defect in one module leads to defects in other related modules

• Helps in identifying the impact of a defect on other parts of the system

• Ensures comprehensive testing of interconnected modules

• Example: A defect in the login module may lead to issues in the user profile module

Automation framework structure is the organization of tools, libraries, and guidelines used for automated testing.

• Automation framework consists of a set of guidelines, coding standards, and best practices.

• It includes tools and libraries for test script development, execution, and reporting.

• Frameworks can be data-driven, keyword-driven, modular, or hybrid.

• Common frameworks include Selenium WebDriver for web testing and Appium for mobile testing.

I am passionate about technology and enjoy problem-solving in the fast-paced and innovative IT industry.

• Passion for technology and innovation

• Enjoy problem-solving challenges

• Fast-paced and dynamic environment

Agile process is a software development methodology that promotes adaptive planning, evolutionary development, early delivery, and continuous improvement.

• Iterative and incremental development

• Cross-functional teams

• Regular feedback and communication

• Adaptability to changes

• Focus on delivering working software

• Sprints or iterations

• Daily stand-up meetings

• Retrospectives for continuous improvement