SDET Interview Questions and Answers
Freshers / Beginner level questions & answers
Ques 1. What is the importance of code reviews in test automation?
Code reviews help ensure code quality, maintainability, and adherence to coding standards, ultimately leading to more robust and reliable test automation scripts.
Example:
Regular peer reviews of test automation code before merging into the main repository.
Ques 2. What are the benefits of using version control systems in test automation?
Version control systems (e.g., Git) enable tracking changes, collaboration, and maintaining a history of the test automation code, making it easier to manage and roll back changes.
Example:
Using Git to track changes in test scripts and collaborate with team members.
Ques 3. What is Continuous Integration (CI) and how does it benefit test automation?
Continuous Integration is the practice of frequently integrating code changes into a shared repository, and it benefits test automation by ensuring that tests are run automatically whenever new code is committed, catching issues early in the development process.
Example:
Using Jenkins or Travis CI to trigger automated tests upon code commits.
Ques 4. What are the advantages of using a headless browser in automated testing?
Headless browsers are faster, consume fewer resources, and are suitable for running tests in environments without a graphical user interface, making them ideal for continuous integration and server-based testing.
Example:
Running a Selenium test in headless mode using Chrome or Firefox.
Ques 5. What is the purpose of using a versioning strategy for automated test scripts?
A versioning strategy helps manage changes to test scripts, making it easier to track modifications, roll back changes, and collaborate effectively in a team environment.
Example:
Using Git tags to mark specific versions of test scripts for release.
Ques 6. How can you ensure the maintainability of automated test scripts?
Ensuring proper code organization, using meaningful variable and method names, and implementing coding standards contribute to the maintainability of automated test scripts.
Example:
Regularly refactoring test code to improve readability and maintainability.
Ques 7. What is the purpose of a test harness in software testing?
A test harness is a set of tools, libraries, or software that facilitates the execution of tests. It provides an environment for running and analyzing tests, collecting results, and managing test configurations.
Example:
Using JUnit or TestNG as a test harness for Java-based test automation.
Ques 8. What is the purpose of 'assertions' in automated testing, and how are they used?
Assertions are statements that verify expected outcomes in automated tests. They help validate whether the actual results match the expected results, identifying test failures.
Example:
Asserting that the calculated result in a test matches the expected value.
Intermediate / 1 to 5 years experienced level questions & answers
Ques 9. What is the difference between unit testing and integration testing?
Unit testing focuses on testing individual components in isolation, while integration testing checks interactions between components.
Example:
Unit test: Testing a single function. Integration test: Testing the communication between two modules.
Ques 10. Explain the concept of Test Automation Pyramid.
The Test Automation Pyramid emphasizes having a larger number of unit tests at the base and progressively fewer tests at higher levels such as integration and UI tests.
Example:
Base (bottom): Unit tests, Middle: Integration tests, Top: UI tests
Ques 11. How do you handle dynamic data in automated tests?
Use parameterization or data-driven testing techniques to handle dynamic data. This allows tests to run with different input values without modifying the test script.
Example:
Parameterizing a login test with different usernames and passwords.
Ques 12. Explain the concept of Page Object Model (POM) in Selenium testing.
Page Object Model is a design pattern that represents web pages as objects, making the automation code more modular and maintainable by encapsulating the interaction with the page elements.
Example:
Creating a separate class for each web page containing methods to interact with elements on that page.
Ques 13. Explain the concept of 'headless' browser testing.
Headless browser testing refers to running browser tests without a graphical user interface, which is useful for faster test execution, especially in continuous integration environments.
Example:
Running Selenium tests in headless mode without launching a visible browser window.
Ques 14. How do you handle flaky tests in your test suite?
Addressing flaky tests involves identifying and fixing the root cause, introducing wait mechanisms, and implementing test retry strategies to improve test stability.
Example:
Setting up a retry mechanism for a test that occasionally fails due to timing issues.
Ques 15. Explain the concept of BDD (Behavior-Driven Development) and its role in test automation.
BDD is a development approach that encourages collaboration among developers, QA, and non-technical stakeholders. BDD tools, like Cucumber, use natural language specifications to define and automate test scenarios.
Example:
Writing feature files with Gherkin syntax to describe test scenarios in plain English.
Ques 16. What is API testing, and why is it important in the context of test automation?
API testing involves testing the application programming interfaces to ensure they meet functional and performance requirements. It is crucial for validating communication between different software components.
Example:
Verifying the response of a REST API endpoint using tools like Postman or RestAssured.
Ques 17. Explain the concept of a test framework. Why is it essential in test automation?
A test framework is a set of guidelines or rules used to structure and organize the test automation code. It provides a systematic approach to building and maintaining automated tests, enhancing code readability and maintainability.
Example:
Using TestNG or JUnit as a test framework for Java-based test automation projects.
Ques 18. How do you handle authentication in API testing?
Authentication in API testing can be handled using techniques such as including authentication tokens in requests, using API keys, or utilizing OAuth tokens.
Example:
Including an authentication token in the header of an API request.
Ques 19. What is the purpose of a load testing tool, and name a few commonly used load testing tools.
Load testing tools simulate multiple users accessing a system concurrently to assess its performance under load. Examples of load testing tools include JMeter, LoadRunner, and Gatling.
Example:
Running a JMeter script to simulate 1000 concurrent users accessing a web application.
Ques 20. Explain the concept of 'test data management' in the context of test automation.
Test data management involves creating, storing, and maintaining data used in automated tests. It ensures that tests run consistently and reliably with various data scenarios.
Example:
Maintaining a separate set of test data files for positive and negative test scenarios.
Ques 21. What is the purpose of a code coverage tool in test automation?
Code coverage tools measure the percentage of code executed during testing. They help identify areas of the codebase that are not covered by tests, aiding in improving test coverage.
Example:
Using JaCoCo or Istanbul to analyze code coverage in a Java or JavaScript project.
Ques 22. Explain the concept of 'cross-browser testing' and its importance.
Cross-browser testing involves validating that a web application functions correctly across different web browsers and versions. It ensures a consistent user experience for all users, regardless of their choice of browser.
Example:
Testing a web application on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer.
Ques 23. Explain the concept of 'dependency injection' and its relevance in test automation.
Dependency injection involves providing a component with its dependencies rather than letting it create them. In test automation, it helps in creating more modular and testable code.
Example:
Injecting a WebDriver instance into a page object rather than creating it within the page object class.
Ques 24. How do you handle test environment configurations in automated testing?
Using configuration files or environment variables to store and manage test environment configurations ensures tests can be executed in different environments with minimal code changes.
Example:
Storing URL, database connection strings, and other configurations in a properties file.
Ques 25. What is the purpose of a test strategy, and how does it differ from a test plan?
A test strategy outlines the overall testing approach, while a test plan details the specific testing activities for a particular project or release. The strategy provides a high-level view of testing objectives, scope, and resources.
Example:
Creating a test strategy document that outlines the approach for functional, performance, and security testing.
Ques 26. Explain the concept of 'continuous testing' and its benefits in the software development lifecycle.
Continuous testing involves running automated tests throughout the software development lifecycle to obtain rapid feedback on code changes. It ensures early detection of defects, reducing the overall cost of fixing issues.
Example:
Running automated tests on each code commit in a continuous integration pipeline.
Ques 27. How do you handle test data dependencies in automated testing?
Isolating test data dependencies by using techniques like database transactions or creating dedicated test data sets helps maintain consistency and repeatability in automated tests.
Example:
Using a test database with predefined data for executing automated tests.
Ques 28. Explain the concept of 'code smell' in test automation.
Code smells refer to symptoms in the source code indicating potential issues. In test automation, code smells may include duplicated code, overly complex tests, or poor organization.
Example:
Identifying and refactoring duplicated code in a test automation project.
Ques 29. How can you handle long-running tests in a continuous integration environment?
Optimizing test execution time, parallelizing tests, and prioritizing critical tests help manage long-running tests in a continuous integration environment, ensuring faster feedback.
Example:
Running tests in parallel on multiple test agents to reduce overall execution time.
Experienced / Expert level questions & answers
Ques 30. What is a mock object in testing, and how is it useful?
A mock object is a simulated object used to mimic the behavior of real objects in a controlled way. It helps isolate the code being tested and ensures that it interacts correctly with dependencies.
Example:
Creating a mock database object to simulate database interactions during unit testing.
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