Introduction: Why Java Is Needed for Automation Testing
Automation testing has become a core skill for software testers, and Java + Selenium is the most widely used combination in the industry. Almost every QA automation interview includes questions on Core Java concepts, Selenium WebDriver, and framework design.
Java is preferred in automation testing because:
- Selenium automation scripts are written using Java
- Java supports Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), essential for scalable frameworks
- Platform-independent and stable
- Easy integration with TestNG, JUnit, Cucumber, Rest Assured
- Works well with CI/CD tools like Jenkins
That’s why mastering interview questions for automation testing selenium java is critical for freshers, experienced testers, and SDET roles.
Core Java Topics for Automation Testing (Interview Focus)
Before Selenium, interviewers validate your Core Java fundamentals.
1. OOP Concepts
- Class & Object
- Inheritance
- Polymorphism
- Encapsulation
- Abstraction
2. Java Collections
- List → ArrayList, LinkedList
- Set → HashSet
- Map → HashMap, LinkedHashMap
3. Exception Handling
- try, catch, finally
- Checked vs Unchecked exceptions
4. Multithreading (Basics)
- Thread class
- Runnable interface
5. Java 8 Features
- Streams
- Lambda expressions
- forEach()
Interview Questions for Automation Testing Selenium Java (Core Java)
Q1. Why is Java used in automation testing?
Java is used to write automation scripts, design frameworks, and integrate testing tools.
Q2. What is JVM?
JVM (Java Virtual Machine) executes Java bytecode and makes Java platform-independent.
Q3. What is OOP?
OOP organizes code into reusable objects for better maintenance.
Q4. Explain inheritance with example.
class Browser {
void open() {
System.out.println(“Browser opened”);
}
}
class Chrome extends Browser {
void test() {
System.out.println(“Running tests in Chrome”);
}
}
public class Demo {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Chrome c = new Chrome();
c.open();
c.test();
}
}
Output
Browser opened
Running tests in Chrome
Q5. What is polymorphism?
Same method name showing different behavior.
class Login {
void login() {
System.out.println(“Login with password”);
}
void login(String otp) {
System.out.println(“Login with OTP”);
}
}
Q6. What is encapsulation?
Wrapping data using private variables and accessing it via public methods.
Q7. Abstract class vs Interface?
| Abstract Class | Interface |
| Can have method body | Methods abstract by default |
| Constructor allowed | No constructor |
| Partial abstraction | Full abstraction |
Q8. What is ArrayList?
Dynamic array that allows duplicate values.
Q9. ArrayList vs LinkedList?
- ArrayList → Faster access
- LinkedList → Faster insertion and deletion
Q10. HashMap example.
HashMap<String,String> map = new HashMap<>();
map.put(“browser”,”chrome”);
System.out.println(map.get(“browser”));
Output
chrome
Q11. Checked vs Unchecked exceptions?
- Checked → IOException
- Unchecked → NullPointerException
Q12. Exception handling example.
try {
int a = 10 / 0;
} catch (ArithmeticException e) {
System.out.println(“Exception handled”);
}
Output
Exception handled
Q13. What is multithreading?
Running multiple threads simultaneously.
Q14. Thread vs Runnable?
Runnable is preferred because Java does not support multiple inheritance.
Q15. Java 8 Stream example.
List<Integer> list = Arrays.asList(10,20,30);
list.stream().filter(x -> x > 15).forEach(System.out::println);
Output
20
30
Selenium Interview Questions for Automation Testing (Java)
Q16. What is Selenium?
Selenium is an open-source tool used to automate web applications.
Q17. What is Selenium WebDriver?
WebDriver controls browsers directly using browser drivers.
Q18. Selenium code to open browser.
WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get(“https://example.com”);
Q19. What are locators?
Locators identify web elements.
Types:
- id
- name
- className
- xpath
- cssSelector
Q20. XPath vs CSS Selector?
XPath supports backward traversal; CSS selector is faster and simpler.
Q21. Implicit vs Explicit wait.
driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(Duration.ofSeconds(10));
WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, Duration.ofSeconds(10));
wait.until(ExpectedConditions.visibilityOf(element));
Java Selenium Coding Challenges (Interview Level)
Q22. Handle dropdown.
Select select = new Select(driver.findElement(By.id(“country”)));
select.selectByVisibleText(“India”);
Q23. Handle alert.
Alert alert = driver.switchTo().alert();
alert.accept();
Q24. Take screenshot.
File src = ((TakesScreenshot)driver).getScreenshotAs(OutputType.FILE);
Q25. Find all links on a page.
List<WebElement> links = driver.findElements(By.tagName(“a”));
System.out.println(links.size());
Q26. File handling example.
BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(“data.txt”));
System.out.println(br.readLine());
Real-Time Interview Scenarios (Automation Testing)
Scenario 1: Page Object Model (POM)
- Base class → Driver setup
- Page classes → Locators & methods
- Test classes → Assertions
- Utilities → Config and reports
Scenario 2: Login Automation Test
- Launch browser
- Enter username and password
- Click Login
- Validate dashboard page
Scenario 3: API + UI Validation
- Call API
- Capture response
- Validate UI data with API response
Scenario 4: Database Validation
- Fetch data from database
- Compare with UI displayed values
JUnit Interview Questions (Java Automation)
Q27. What is JUnit?
JUnit is a unit testing framework for Java.
Q28. Common JUnit annotations?
- @Test
- @Before
- @After
TestNG Interview Questions (Java Automation)
Q29. What is TestNG?
TestNG is an advanced testing framework inspired by JUnit.
Q30. Important TestNG annotations?
- @Test
- @BeforeMethod
- @AfterMethod
- @BeforeSuite
Q31. DataProvider example.
@DataProvider
public Object[][] loginData() {
return new Object[][] {{“user”,”pass”}};
}
Q32. TestNG priority example.
@Test(priority = 1)
public void loginTest() {}
Selenium + Java + API Practical Example
Response response = RestAssured.get(“/users”);
System.out.println(response.getStatusCode());
Output
200
Framework Design Interview Questions (Very Important)
Q33. What is Hybrid Framework?
Combination of POM + Data-Driven + Keyword-Driven frameworks.
Q34. What is Cucumber?
BDD framework using Gherkin syntax (Given–When–Then).
Q35. CI/CD tools used in automation testing?
- Jenkins
- GitHub Actions
- Azure DevOps
Common Mistakes in Automation Testing Selenium Java Interviews
- Weak Core Java fundamentals
- Memorizing answers without coding practice
- Poor Selenium synchronization handling
- Hard-coded test data
- Weak framework design understanding
1-Page Revision Table / Notes
| Area | lear Focus |
| Core Java | OOP, Collections, Streams |
| Selenium | Locators, Waits |
| TestNG/JUnit | Annotations, DataProvider |
| Framework | POM, Hybrid, Cucumber |
| API | Rest Assured |
| CI/CD | Jenkins |
FAQs – Interview Questions for Automation Testing Selenium Java
Q1. Is Java mandatory for Selenium automation interviews?
Yes, Java is the most commonly expected language.
Q2. Are coding questions asked in automation interviews?
Yes, Java and Selenium coding questions are very common.
Q3. Is TestNG better than JUnit for automation testing?
Yes, TestNG supports parallel execution and better reporting.
Q4. Do automation testers need API testing knowledge?
Yes, modern automation roles expect API testing skills.
