Question 1

Implicit vs explicit wait?

Accepted Answer

Implicit wait sets a global time to find elements; explicit wait waits for a specific condition (element clickable, visible) on a specific element. Prefer explicit waits and don't mix both.

Question 2

Which locator do you prefer, and why?

Accepted Answer

ID first when unique and stable, then CSS selectors; XPath when you need to navigate by text or relationships. Avoid long absolute XPaths that break with small UI changes.

Question 3

What is the Page Object Model?

Accepted Answer

Each page is a class holding its locators and actions; tests call those methods. When the UI changes, you update one class instead of many tests.

Question 4

How do you handle flaky tests?

Accepted Answer

Find the cause: timing (use proper waits), test data shared between tests, environment issues or order dependence. Fix the cause; retries only hide problems.

Question 5

How do you handle a dropdown, an alert and a new window in Selenium?

Accepted Answer

Select class for dropdowns, switchTo().alert() for alerts, and getWindowHandles() with switchTo().window() for new windows or tabs.

Question 6

Explain your automation framework.

Accepted Answer

Language and tools, folder structure, page objects, test data source, reporting (Extent or Allure), configuration for environments, and how it runs in CI. Example: "Our framework uses Java, Selenium and TestNG with the Page Object Model. Test data comes from JSON files, environments are switched by a config property, Allure produces reports, and Jenkins runs the regression suite every night and on each release branch."

Question 7

How do you run tests in parallel?

Accepted Answer

TestNG parallel settings or a grid (Selenium Grid or a cloud provider), with thread-safe drivers (ThreadLocal) and independent test data.

Question 8

What would you automate, and what would you leave manual?

Accepted Answer

Automate stable, repetitive, high-value flows - login, checkout, regression. Keep exploratory, one-off and rapidly changing UI tests manual.

Question 9

How do you test APIs in your framework?

Accepted Answer

Rest Assured or similar to send requests and assert status, body and schema; set up test data through APIs to make UI tests faster.

Question 10

Selenium vs Playwright?

Accepted Answer

Selenium is mature and supports many languages and browsers. Playwright has auto-waiting, built-in tracing and fast parallel runs, which reduces flakiness. Either is fine if you know its trade-offs.

Question 11

Which language is best for Selenium interviews?

Accepted Answer

Java is the most common in Indian job listings, followed by Python. Choose the one used by the jobs you're applying for.

Question 12

Do automation interviews include coding questions?

Accepted Answer

Yes - usually simple programs such as string reversal, counting characters or working with collections, plus writing locators and small scripts.

Question 13

How do I move from manual to automation testing?

Accepted Answer

Learn one programming language, then Selenium or Playwright, build a small framework for a demo site, put it on GitHub and run it in CI.

Automation tester interview questions and answers

What to revise before the interview

1.Implicit vs explicit wait?

2.Which locator do you prefer, and why?

3.What is the Page Object Model?

4.How do you handle flaky tests?

5.How do you handle a dropdown, an alert and a new window in Selenium?

6.Explain your automation framework.

7.How do you run tests in parallel?

8.What would you automate, and what would you leave manual?

9.How do you test APIs in your framework?

10.Selenium vs Playwright?

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