Top 25 Automation Testing Questions for Job Interviews in 2025

Automation testing is a lucrative field in the software testing Industry. Professionals who are experienced in the field of  Automation testing work in continuity along with developers to deliver the project on deadlines which has brought a number of benefits and offers a promising career for aspiring QA testers. Here are the top 25 Automation Testing Questions that you must know before going for your job interview to crack your Automation Testing Interview in one go.

1. When should you automate a test?

Below are some following conditions, when the test should be automated.

• The test can be repeated.
• The tested feature’s behavior does not change regularly.
• It takes time for manual testing.
• The test necessitates complex computations.
• The test confirms that the previous functionality did not break due to any new changes.

2. When will you not perform automation testing?

Here are some of the conditions in which manual testing can be more efficient than performing automation testing suite in terms of software testing.

• The software or functionality under test changes regularly. It implies that you must update the automation testing frequently. Which can result in the tests becoming obsolete and cease to be useful.
• Exploratory testing is also not right to automate the test. Manual Testing can investigate software considerably more thoroughly compared to a computer.
• Automation Testing is programmed or configured to check the issues in the UI, they will not find there are any.

3. Mention the different parts of a test automation framework.

Automation testing uses different software tools or frameworks. There are several alternatives from which you can choose. Below are characteristics to consider when you evaluate these tools.

• Tools that are coding-based or code-free: The tools necessitate programming knowledge, while others do not, allowing a non-coder tester to generate test cases along with visual aids.
• Open Source vs. Commercial: The price of these tools varies greatly depending on the features that are provided by these tools. Commercial products can cost more, but you get tech assistance along with the product. The open-source software is free, you must conduct research when you face issues related to troubleshooting.
• Simple to use: Some of the automated testing tools are very difficult to use and necessitate substantial training before they can provide any value. Some of them are simple or easy to use and can be used right away.

4. Should you automate all your tests?

 There are numerous advantages of test automation, but it is not practical to automate all forms of testing. User interface testing, usability testing, and accessibility testing are popular types of testing that can only be performed manually.

5. Define test environment.

A computer or server tests the software, which is referred to as a test environment. The tester installs the newly created software by the team, complete with all of its dependencies, on this machine to simulate the production environment. As a result, the program can be used in a real-world situation.

6. What is the meaning of browser automation?

The process of opening the web application manually in a browser and carrying out a few more operations automatically is called browser automation.

7. Explain cross-browser testing.

One type of automated browser testing is called cross-browser testing, in which the tester checks to see if the online application works correctly across many browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and others.

8. Why cross-browser testing is needed?

It is impossible to control the browsers, platforms, or devices that the users use to access your program while using web applications. However, the help of cross-browser testing guarantees that your web application will function across numerous platforms and devices using various iterations of popular web browsers.

9. What is automated regression testing?

In the Regression testing method, a tester ensures that no functionality from the old features has been broken. Its unique objective is to confirm that tested and developed functionality continues to function when a brand-new code has been added.

10. What are some of the best practices in test automation?

Here are a few best practices that a team developing and testing the software should follow to guarantee top-quality software.

• Selection of the tasks to automate.
• On the basis of knowledge and expertise, assign test scenarios.
• Getting rid of any sort of uncertainty.
• Selection of appropriate tools and frameworks.
• Maintenance of test records in the database of bugs.

Also Read (Comprehensive Guide to QA Testing Certifications for Fresher)

11. Explain the term test automation pyramid.

The test automation pyramid was coined by Martin Fowler and released in the year 2012. It is a popular way to figure out how to employ the different types of automation testing most effectively. The test pyramid’s fundamental tenet is focused on the user interface (UI) unit tests and fewer comprehensive UI tests.

12. How should you explain the meaning of Automation Testing?

 Any process that helps to reduce manual effort is termed automation. Automation Testing is performed with the help of software, bots, or any method to do repetitive tasks to eliminate any sort of errors, and bugs, by finding any vulnerabilities in the script.

Automation testing is important in the software development process of continuous testing and continuous delivery where multiple updates are required on a regular basis. In the software development process, testing is a completely different field that requires the involvement of expert testers and the use of the latest testing tools.

14. Is Documentation Important For Automation Testing?

Documentation is crucial when it comes to Test Automation. Having documentation that is well-written explains not only what, but also why it is crucial for the members of the team when they try to understand the tests. It is important to document all the procedures and methods, to ensure test repeatability.

15. What are the Pros of Selenium?

• The execution of test cases Simultaneously: Selenium is used to execute the test cases Simultaneously in multiple environments and browsers.
• Supports multiple operating systems: Selenium is used to operate and support multiple operating systems like Windows, Mac, Linux, and Unix. The test suite can be created across any platform and then can be executed on another one.
• Open-source: Selenium is freeware and a portable tool that you can download freely and community-based support is also available for free.
• Supports tools to diagnose failures: Selenium enables you to detect the failures and rebuild a similar environment for new test execution.
• Capturing screenshots: Selenium provides screenshots of browsers at different stages of the execution of test cases.
• Saves time: Selenium saves time by using Hub-Node design.

16. What are the Limitations of Selenium?

• No support for desktop applications: Selenium does not support testing for applications made for desktops.
• Expertise: Selenium requires the supervision of a team of expert professionals to carry out testing.
• Maintenance and Scalability: Selenium is a maintenance-heavy framework — and is not very easy to scale as one grows.
• Open Source Forums: Selenium is an open-source software, and testers have to often rely on community forums to get highly technical issues resolved.
• No support for REST and SOAP Platforms: You cannot perform automation tests on web services like SOAP or REST with Selenium.
• No Reporting capability: Selenium does not support any inbuilt reporting capability, one has to use plug-ins like JUnit and TestNG to generate the test reports.

17. Is Automation Testing a White or Black box testing technique?

In most cases, automation testing is black-box testing, as only the steps performed manually for software without knowledge of the application’s code are programmed.

18. What are the different components of Selenium?

Different components of Selenium are:

1. Selenium Grid: Selenium Grid performs parallel testing as it enables the execution of varied tests simultaneously in multiple devices.
2. Selenium IDE: Selenium IDE is for both Firefox and Chrome plugins. The recording, debugging, and editing of the functional tests can be performed in Selenium IDE.
3. Selenium RC: It is the server implemented in Java that can accept commands for the browsers by incorporating HTTP.
4. Selenium Webdriver: Selenium Webdriver receives commands and passes them to the browser. It supports browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE, etc.

19. List the programming languages supported by Selenium Webdriver.

Here are a list of programming languages that support Selenium Webdriver:

1. Python
2. Perl
3. Java
4. PHP
5. Ruby
6. C#
7. JavaScript

20.  What are some of the unique alternatives to Selenium?

Some of the alternative options of Selenium are:

• Cucumber
• Cypress
• Robot Framework

21 What is Appium?

Appium is an open-source testing UI automation framework that helps testers perform tests on native, mobile, and hybrid web applications. By using Appium, Developers can test the mobile apps on both iOS and Android platforms or using an emulator or simulator.

 22. How is Appium different from Selenium?

Appium is used for UI automation which helps the testers to perform tests on the native, mobile, and hybrid web applications running on mobile devices. On the other hand, Selenium is an open-source tool that allows automation for Web applications that run on Browsers. It has now become standard for automation UI testing of browser-based web applications.

23. Mention some advantages of Appium.

Significant Advantages of the Appium Automation Testing tool are

1. Appium is open-source and is supported by both iOS and Android.
    
2. Appium allows you to design an automation script for Android and IOS using the same API.
    
3. Appium supports multiple languages like Java, Python, Node.js, Ruby, and Robot framework and is cross-platform.
    
4. We can integrate Appium with continuous integration tools.
    
5. It also avoids problems that arise due to synchronization and Uses HTTP protocol based on Selenium.

24 What are some best practices for API test automation?

Best practices for API test automation include using a framework automation tool that is designed for reusable and maintainable test scripts, helps to incorporate test data management, and leverages continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) practices.

25 What language is used in Appium automation?

Appium provides cross-platform compatibility, that enables you to write automation tests in several languages like Java, Python, Ruby, C#, etc. These tests can be easily run across multiple mobile devices and hence save the time and effort required to maintain separate frameworks for each platform.

Conclusion

You may have learned a great deal about the main ideas of Automation Testing from the extensive list of Automation Testing interview questions above. However, an effective software testing plan consists of more than just automation testing.

It is a crucial task that guarantees the developer’s confidence in releasing the software. Keep in mind that these interview questions give you both the textbook answers and the actual questions that were asked during the interview.

FAQ

 Why is automation testing important in the software development lifecycle (SDLC)?
Automation testing is crucial because it ensures faster execution of repetitive test cases, reduces manual effort, and minimizes human errors. It supports continuous testing and integration, helping teams deliver high-quality software within tight deadlines.

Which programming language is most commonly used for Selenium WebDriver?
Java is the most commonly used programming language for Selenium WebDriver due to its strong community support and extensive libraries. However, Selenium also supports Python, C#, Ruby, JavaScript, and more, allowing testers to choose based on their proficiency.

 What is the difference between manual and automation testing?
Manual testing involves human effort to execute test cases without tools, making it suitable for exploratory, usability, and ad-hoc testing. Automation testing uses scripts and tools to perform repetitive tasks, making it efficient for regression, performance, and load testing.

How does cross-browser testing benefit web applications?
Cross-browser testing ensures that a web application functions correctly across various browsers, operating systems, and devices. This improves user experience and prevents compatibility issues for end users who use different platforms.

What factors should be considered when selecting an automation testing tool?
Key factors include:

• Ease of use: Whether the tool is user-friendly or requires extensive training.
• Compatibility: Support for different platforms, browsers, and devices.
• Community support: Availability of resources and forums for troubleshooting.
• Cost: Whether it is open-source or commercial.
• Integration capabilities: Ability to integrate with CI/CD pipelines and other tools.