Test Automation Basics

Question 1

What is Test Automation?

Answer 1

The use of software to perform or support test activities, e.g., test management, test design, test execution and results checking.

Question 2

What is Test Automation framework?

Answer 2

A tool that provides an environment for test automation. It usually includes a test harness and test libraries.

Question 3

What is Test harness?

Answer 3

A test environment comprised of stubs and drivers needed to execute a test.

Question 4

Where using Test Automation is effective?

Answer 4

~ Regression testing
~ Multi-environment testing
~ Configuration testing
~ Combinatorial testing
~ Unit testing
~ Some cases of integration testing
~ Basic security testing
~ Classic well-automated areas
~ Performance testing
~ Smoke for large systems
~ Applications without human interface
~ Technical and low-level operations
~ Long routine operations
~ Standard functionality

Question 5

What the automation tool based on the Record and Playback Technology does?

Answer 5

~ Records all interactions with application under test
~ Presents the recording in some script language
~ Allows a tester to edit and improve the script
~ Executes the script and logs the results

Question 6

Pros for using the Record and Playback technology

Answer 6

~ Easy to learn
~ Quick test skeleton creation
~ Auto-gathering of technical details
~ Routine actions auto-recording

Question 7

Cons for using the Record and Playback technology

Answer 7

~ No “ifs”, “cycles”, “subroutines”
~ EVERY action is recorded
~ Hard coding
~ Meaningless variable names

Question 8

What is a Selenium IDE?

Answer 8

An integrated development environment for Selenium scripts. It is implemented as a Chrome and Firefox extension, and allows you to record, edit and debug tests.

Question 9

List main types of Selenium IDE commands

Answer 9

~ Actions
~ Accessors
~ Asserions
~ Flow operators

Question 10

What do “Action” commands do?

Answer 10

Manipulate the state of the application (like “click this link” and “select that option”). If an action fails, or has an error, the execution of the current test is stopped.

Question 11

What do “Accessors” commands do?

Answer 11

Examine the state of the application and store the results in variables, e.g. “storeTitle”. They are also used to automatically generate Assertions.

Question 12

What do “Assertions” commands do?

Answer 12

Are like Accessors, but verify that the state of the application conforms to what is expected (e.g., “make sure the page title is X” and “verify that this checkbox is checked”).

Question 13

What do “Flow operators” commands do?

Answer 13

Allow to use such common programming operators as “if”, “while”, etc.

Question 14

“Assertions” consist mainly from two specific commands, “assert” and “verify”. Name the difference between them and where better to use one or another command.

Answer 14

When an “assert” fails, the test is aborted. Useful to check some major condition, failure of which leaves other actions meaningless.

When a “verify” fails, the test will continue execution, logging the failure. Useful to check multiple independent conditions.

Question 15

What types of locators does the Selenium IDE supports?

Answer 15

~ Context-insensitive

~ Context-sensitive

Question 16

List examples of context-insensitive locator types and what are they based on

Answer 16

~ id
~ name
~ linkText
~ partialLinkText
Based on elements attributes values.

Question 17

List examples of context-sensitive locator types and what are they based on

Answer 17

~ css
~ xpath
Based on document structure