Published: 01 Sep 2025 | Reading Time: 10 min read
Automation testing is a central activity of the software development life cycle. As organizations are required to launch products at a quicker speed, automation tools help you automate the testing process such that maximum efficiency and quality output is obtained. This article covers the selenium automation interview questions of 2025. These interview questions will ensure you have a complete idea about what to expect from your automation testing interview.
Automation testing refers to using specialized tools to automate repetitive test cases, making testing faster, more reliable, and more consistent. It is mainly used for regression, performance, and load testing. The most commonly used automation testing tools include Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, and Cucumber.
Manual testing is a method of software testing where the test cases are run by the testers manually without applying any of the automation tools or scripts. The purpose is to discover software bugs or problems by operating the application manually and comparing the real results with the expected ones. Manual testing involves human efforts in order to quantify the function, usability, and performance of the software.
With the demand for successful software delivery increasing, automation testing has remained at the center of focus in the technology field. Automation testing decreases the time spent on manual repetitive processes, improves test coverage, and enhances accuracy. Along with knowing the tools, it is equally important to have a perfect knowledge of practices to overcome selenium automation interview questions.
Candidates can expect these behavioral, cucumber, and basic automation mobile testing interview questions. The questions are curated from the basic level to the advanced level.
Selenium automation is a method of software testing with the help of automated tools to execute a set of test cases automatically, thereby removing human intervention in testing. It incorporates writing scripts or test cases repeatedly executed without any human intervention, therefore producing constant and precise test results.
The advantages of selenium automation are as follows:
The types of automation testing include:
The key differences between automation testing and manual testing are:
| Automation Testing | Manual Testing |
|---|---|
| It uses automation tools to execute test cases | Manual testing involves human testers executing test cases. |
| The execution time is faster than the manual testing | The execution time is slower than automation testing |
| The initial investment is higher due to the cost of automation tools and script development. | The initial investment is lower due to minimal tooling requirements. |
| They are more reliable due to the use of automated tools and scripts. | They are less reliable due to the possibility of human errors. |
| Test results are readily available to all stakeholders. | Test results are not readily available and are often recorded in Excel or Word documents. |
The challenges of automation testing include:
Here are the popular automation testing tools:
Selenium is an automated web application testing tool used for web application testing. With the aid of selenium, test writers can author tests in a number of different programming languages. With it, one can test web applications on an huge range of browsers and operating systems. Selenium provides support for cross-platform so that tests can be authored on one platform and run on another.
It handles multiple programming languages such as Java, Python, C#, Ruby, and JavaScript. It also has support through test frameworks like TestNG, JUnit, and NUnit.
Pros:
Cons:
The components of selenium include:
The key differences between selenium and QTP are:
| Selenium | QTP (Quick Test Professional) |
|---|---|
| The platform is open-source and supports multiple OS. | The platform is a commercial tool and supports Windows. |
| It supports languages such as Java, Python, C#, and Ruby. | It supports languages such as VBScript. |
| Selenium is a free tool to use. | The QTP is a paid tool to use. |
| It does not have a built-in recorder. | It has a built-in recording and playback feature. |
WebDriver is a core component of Selenium that provides an interface to control browsers. It interacts directly with the browser's native OS, making it faster and more efficient compared to Selenium RC, which relies on an intermediary server.
XPath is a language used to navigate through the HTML structure of a web page. It is used to locate elements on a web page using XML path expressions. In Selenium, XPath is used to find elements on a web page when other locators like ID, class, name, etc. cannot be used.
The key difference between absolute and relative xpath are:
| Absolute XPath | Relative XPath |
|---|---|
| The path starts from the root element. | The path starts from a specific element. |
| It is less flexible and prone to break on changes. | It is more flexible and can be adjusted easily. |
| It is used in simple scenarios. | It is preferred for dynamic web pages. |
The Page Object Model is a design pattern for creating object-oriented classes that serve as an interface to a web page. It allows for better code maintainability by separating the test scripts from the web page structure.
TestNG is a testing framework inspired by JUnit but with additional features such as parallel test execution, data-driven testing, and easy integration with Selenium. It provides annotations and allows for better control over test execution flow.
Continuous Integration is a development practice where code changes are automatically integrated into the main codebase and tested frequently. Tools like Jenkins help in automating the testing process, and running tests whenever changes are made to the codebase.
The key differences between JUnit and TestNG are:
| JUnit | TestNG |
|---|---|
| It supports the limited annotations. | It contains a rich set of annotations. |
| The parallel execution is not supported by default. | It supports parallel test execution. |
| The test configuration requires explicit setup and breakdown. | The test configuration supports before/after methods globally. |
Data-driven testing is a technique where test scripts are executed multiple times with different input data. The test data is typically stored in external files like Excel, CSV, or databases, making it easy to run tests with a wide range of values.
The key difference between regression testing and retesting includes:
| Regression Testing | Retesting |
|---|---|
| The main purpose is to check if new code changes affect existing functionality. | The purpose of retesting is to verify if a specific defect is fixed. |
| The scope is Broader and covers all areas of the application. | The scope is Narrower and focuses on specific areas. |
| It contains reusable scripts used across builds. | It contains specific scripts to test particular fixes. |
API Testing focuses on verifying the functionality, reliability, performance, and security of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). It involves testing the endpoints, request/response validation, and error handling to ensure the APIs work as expected.
There are different types of API testing including:
Assert statements are used in automation testing to validate the actual results against expected results. They help in identifying failures in the test and stopping further execution if the condition is not met, ensuring that tests do not continue with invalid data.
The key differences between SOAP and REST are:
| SOAP | REST |
|---|---|
| SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol. | REST stands for Representational State Transfer. |
| The SOAP A protocol (based on XML). | The protocol is based on architectural style (uses HTTP/HTTPS). |
| The data format is based on XML. | The data format is based on JSON or XML. |
| It is more secure with WS-Security. | The security is handled by HTTP protocols. |
| This is more complex to execute. | This is simpler and lightweight to execute. |
Performance Testing is done to ensure that the application performs well under expected and peak load conditions. It helps in identifying bottlenecks and areas where the application's speed, scalability, and stability can be improved.
Load Testing is a type of performance testing that involves testing an application under a specific expected load to ensure it can handle the number of users or transactions it is designed for. The goal is to assess the system's behaviour under normal and peak conditions.
Smoke Testing is a preliminary testing phase where the basic functionality of the application is tested to check if it's stable enough for further testing. It ensures that the build is not critically broken and is suitable for more detailed testing.
Here are the key differences between smoke and sanity testing:
| Smoke Testing | Sanity Testing |
|---|---|
| The purpose of smoke testing is to verify the application is stable enough to proceed with further testing. | The purpose of sanity testing is to verify specific functionality or fixes. |
| It scope of smoke testing is broad and has basic coverage. | The scope of sanity testing is a narrow focus on a specific issue. |
| The execution time is quick and general. | The execution time is quick, but more focused on details. |
Automation plays a vital role in regression testing by allowing tests to be run frequently and efficiently without manual intervention. Automated regression tests can be executed on every build to ensure that new changes do not affect existing functionality.
The key differences between functional and non-functional testing are:
| Functional Testing | Non-Functional Testing |
|---|---|
| The purpose of functional testing is to focus on verifying the correctness of functionalities. | The purpose of non-functional testing focuses on aspects like performance and security. |
| Examples of functional testing include Unit testing and Integration testing | Examples of non-functional testing include Load testing and Stress testing |
| It verifies the behaviour of individual features | It verifies system behaviour under different conditions |
A Test Automation Framework is a set of guidelines or rules used for writing and executing test scripts. It includes reusable components, libraries, and tools that help in test automation, aiming to make testing more efficient and maintainable.
It is an open-source automation tool designed for Continuous Integration (CI). It helps automate the process of building, testing, and deploying applications. This integrates with various testing frameworks and provides real-time feedback on the quality of the code.
The key differences between CI and CD include:
| Continuous Integration (CI) | Continuous Deployment (CD) |
|---|---|
| The main focus is to automate the integration of code changes. | The main focus is to automate the entire deployment process. |
| The goal of CI is to ensure code is integrated regularly and tested. | The goal of CD is to ensure code changes are automatically deployed to production. |
| The tools include Jenkins, GitLab CI, and Travis CI. | The tools include Jenkins, GitLab, and Bamboo. |
A Test Manager in automation testing is responsible for overseeing the entire testing process. They define test strategies, plan test schedules, coordinate automation efforts, ensure tool selection, and track test progress. They also manage resource allocation and risk mitigation.
Version control is critical in automation testing as it tracks changes to test scripts and allows collaboration among multiple testers. Tools like Git help in maintaining versions of test scripts, facilitating efficient management of updates and rollbacks.
Testing units and testing integrations differ in a number of ways, including:
| Unit Testing | Integration Testing |
|---|---|
| It focuses on the individual components or functions | It focuses on interactions between multiple components |
| The purpose is to ensure the correctness of individual components | The purpose is to ensure that different components work together |
| The test scope is narrow and focused on a single unit | The test scope is broader and covers the communication between units |
A Hybrid Framework combines the features of multiple automation testing frameworks. For example, it may integrate the strengths of both Keyword-Driven and Data-Driven frameworks to handle different types of testing needs and provide greater flexibility.
Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a software development methodology where tests are written before the actual code. The process follows a cycle of writing a test, writing the code to pass the test, and refactoring the code. TDD promotes cleaner, more reliable code.
In Agile Testing, automation plays a crucial role by providing fast feedback, enabling quick iterations, and ensuring continuous validation of the application. It helps automate repetitive tests and integrate testing into the development process, which aligns well with the agile philosophy of rapid, frequent releases.
The roles of Mocks, stubs, and fakes in automation testing are:
API testing can be automated using various tools and techniques. Here are some steps to automate API testing:
Service virtualization tools simulate the behavior of dependent systems (like databases or web services) that may not be available or are difficult to test against. It allows testing to proceed without waiting for real systems, improving test coverage and reliability.
A modular approach breaks down automation scripts into smaller, reusable components. This promotes reusability and reduces code duplication. For instance, common functions like logging in or navigating through pages can be stored as separate modules and reused across different test cases.
JMeter is an open-source tool that is used for performance testing and load testing. It can simulate multiple users and test the behavior of web applications under different load conditions. It can be integrated into automated CI/CD pipelines to monitor performance after each build.
The key differences between ATDD and BDD are:
Docker enables the creation of isolated environments, ensuring consistency between local and CI environments. In test automation, Docker containers can be used to run tests on different browsers, operating systems, and versions, ensuring consistent results across multiple environments in a CI/CD pipeline.
Test automation in a DevOps environment ensures faster delivery of quality software. Automated tests are integrated into CI/CD pipelines, providing immediate feedback on code quality and preventing bugs from reaching production. This allows for faster release cycles, improved collaboration between teams, and a more reliable product.
Follow these steps to configure an automated testing pipeline in Jenkins:
Dynamic objects can be handled using dynamic locators (e.g., XPath with dynamic attributes), waits (implicit, explicit), and by using relative XPath or CSS selectors to ensure consistency in identifying elements that change frequently.
The key differences between black box testing and white box testing in automation are:
Version control allows automation scripts to be stored and managed efficiently. It enables teams to collaborate, track changes, and maintain different versions of test scripts, ensuring that automation scripts are synchronized with the application's changes.
The key differences between implicit and explicit wait are:
| Implicit Wait | Explicit Wait |
|---|---|
| It applies to all elements in the script. | It applies to specific elements only. |
| This is less flexible than explicit. | This is more flexible than implicit. |
| It does not require specifying 'ExpectedConditions' on the element to be located | Explicit Wait requires specifying 'ExpectedConditions' on the element to be located. |
Tools like Appium, XCUITest, Espresso, and Robot Framework are used for mobile automation testing.
Android automation testing typically uses UIAutomator or Appium, while iOS automation testing uses XCUITest or Appium.
Use responsive design principles and test scripts that can adjust based on screen size using tools like Appium.
Appium is an open-source tool for automating mobile applications across platforms like Android and iOS.
Protractor is an open-source end-to-end testing framework designed to automate web applications, especially Angular and AngularJS apps. Built on top of Selenium WebDriver, Protractor allows you to write tests in JavaScript or TypeScript, interacting with web elements to simulate user behavior, such as clicking buttons, filling out forms, and verifying content.
It also supports Angular-specific elements and waits for Angular's asynchronous tasks to complete before proceeding with the next step in the test.
Robot Framework is an open-source automation testing framework for acceptance testing and robotic process automation (RPA). It is keyword-driven, which makes it accessible to both developers and non-developers.
It can integrate with various test libraries, such as Selenium for web testing and Appium for mobile testing. Test cases are written in simple plain text, which can be extended by adding Python or Java libraries for custom functionalities.
CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) is a challenge-response test that makes a distinction between humans and automation. CAPTCHA is widely employed to stop automated applications from carrying out actions like spamming or brute-force attacks.
Distorted text, identifying images, and puzzles where users are required to identify things are some of the widely used forms of CAPTCHA. For example, "Identify all images containing traffic lights."
The test automation pyramid is a framework that enables developers and testers to build high-quality software by dividing tests into three levels: unit, integration, and end-to-end (UI) tests. Unit tests at the base of the pyramid are independent, tiny tests that are targeted to the individual functions or components of the code. They are quick and can be easily automated.
The unit tests are at the bottom, integration tests at mid-level, and UI tests at the highest level. Integration tests check how various components of the system interact with each other, while UI tests mimic the user activity. The pyramid can support many unit and integration tests to provide quick feedback and quick testing and keep expensive UI tests at lower levels. The stratification enables efficient testing, cost savings, and provides good quality software.
Managing flaky tests in an automation suite requires several strategies:
To prepare with automation testing interview questions:
In conclusion, automation testing is essential to provide quality in software development. You now have a good idea about what you may encounter in an interview by reading the selenium automation interview questions in this article. Whether you're preparing for basic automation software testing interview questions or more advanced topics related to tools like Selenium, TestNG, and Appium, being well-prepared will help you succeed. Additionally, for those focusing on mobile automation testing interview questions, understanding the unique challenges and tools for mobile application testing will give you a competitive edge.
QA automation helps increase testing efficiency, reduce human errors, and ensure faster releases. It's especially useful in regression and performance testing.
Yes, mobile applications can be automated using tools like Appium, UI Automator, and Espresso for Android and XCUITest for iOS.
Cucumber allows writing tests in plain language, making it easier for non-technical stakeholders to understand the test scenarios and participate in the testing process.
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