1. What is automation testing?
- Answer: Automation testing is the process of using software tools to execute pre-scripted test cases on a software application. It aims to streamline the testing process, increase test coverage, and improve efficiency.
2. Why is automation testing important?
- Answer: Automation testing offers several benefits, including faster test execution, repeatability, increased test coverage, early bug detection, and cost savings in the long run.
3. What are the key criteria for selecting test cases for automation?
- Answer: Test cases that are repetitive, time-consuming, critical for regression testing, and have stable requirements are suitable candidates for automation.
4. What are the popular automation testing tools?
- Answer: Some popular automation testing tools include Selenium, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, Cucumber, Robot Framework, and Microsoft's Visual Studio Test Professional.
5. What is Selenium, and what is it used for?
- Answer: Selenium is an open-source automation testing framework used for web application testing. It allows testers to automate interactions with web browsers and perform functional testing.
6. What is the difference between Selenium WebDriver and Selenium IDE?
- Answer: Selenium WebDriver is a programming interface used for writing and executing test scripts to interact with web applications, while Selenium IDE is a record-and-playback tool primarily used for creating simple test scripts.
7. What is a test automation framework?
- Answer: A test automation framework is a set of guidelines, standards, and coding practices that help in structuring and organizing automation testing efforts. It provides reusable components, libraries, and reporting mechanisms.
8. How do you handle dynamic elements in automation testing?
- Answer: Dynamic elements can be handled using techniques like waiting strategies (implicit/explicit waits), locating elements by attributes that are less likely to change, and using dynamic XPath/CSS selectors.
9. What is data-driven testing?
- Answer: Data-driven testing is a technique where test cases are executed using a set of input data, which is usually stored in external sources like spreadsheets or databases. It helps to cover different scenarios with minimal script changes.
10. What is the purpose of continuous integration in automated testing? - Answer: Continuous integration involves frequently integrating code changes into a shared repository. In automation testing, it ensures that tests are executed automatically whenever new code is integrated, catching integration issues early.
11. How do you handle exceptions and errors in automation scripts? - Answer: Exceptions and errors can be handled using try-catch blocks or exception handling mechanisms provided by the programming language. Proper logging and reporting help in identifying issues.
12. What is regression testing, and how is it performed in automation? - Answer: Regression testing ensures that recent code changes haven't adversely affected existing functionalities. In automation, a suite of tests is executed to verify that existing features still work as expected after each update.
13. Can automation testing replace manual testing entirely? - Answer: While automation testing is efficient for repetitive and scripted tasks, it cannot replace manual testing entirely. Manual testing is crucial for exploratory testing, usability assessment, and scenarios that are hard to automate.
14. What are some challenges in automation testing? - Answer: Challenges include selecting the right test cases for automation, maintaining test scripts when the application changes, handling dynamic UI changes, and the initial setup cost of automation infrastructure.
15. How do you ensure the reliability of automated tests? - Answer: Regularly update and maintain test scripts to match application changes, implement robust error handling, conduct code reviews, and validate test results against manual testing to ensure accuracy.