Compiling a list of 50 important coding and theory-based questions and answers on Python for automation testing is a significant task, especially considering the breadth of topics it can cover :-
Python is a versatile language used extensively in automation testing, and questions can range from basic syntax and concepts to more advanced topics involving testing frameworks like Selenium, PyTest, or Robot Framework.
Basic Python Questions
1. What are the key features of Python?
Answer: Python is an interpreted, high-level, dynamically-typed language known for its simplicity and readability. It supports multiple programming paradigms and has a large standard library.
2.How is Python dynamically typed?
Answer: Python automatically infers the type of a variable without explicit declaration.
3.Explain Python’s memory management.
Answer: Python uses dynamic memory allocation with a built-in garbage collector.
4.What are Python Decorators?
Answer: Decorators are a way to modify or extend the behavior of functions or methods.
5.How do you manage Python packages?
Answer: Packages are managed using package managers like pip.
Data Structures and Algorithms
1.Explain the difference between a list and a tuple.
Answer: Lists are mutable, while tuples are immutable.
2.How do dictionaries work in Python?
Answer: Dictionaries store key-value pairs and are implemented using hash tables.
3.What is list comprehension?
Answer: It’s a concise way to create lists based on existing lists.
4.Explain recursion in Python.
Answer: Recursion is a method of solving a problem where a function calls itself.
5.How does Python handle errors and exceptions?
Answer: With try-except blocks.
Advanced Python
1.What are Python generators?
Answer: Generators are a way of creating iterators in a lazy, efficient manner.
2.Explain the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in Python.
Answer: The GIL is a mutex that protects access to Python objects, preventing multiple threads from executing Python bytecodes at once.
3.What are lambda functions in Python?
Answer: Anonymous functions defined using the lambda keyword.
4.Explain Python’s object-oriented features.
Answer: Python supports classes, inheritance, polymorphism, etc.
5.What is a Python slice?
Answer: Slice is a way to access a range of elements in a sequence like a list.
Automation Testing Specific
6.How is Python used in automation testing?
Answer: Python is used for writing test scripts, automating workflows, and data validation.
7.Explain Selenium WebDriver in the context of Python.
Answer: Selenium WebDriver is a tool for automating web application testing, and it can be controlled using Python.
8.What is PyTest?
Answer: PyTest is a testing framework for Python used for writing simple, scalable test cases.
9.How does Python interact with APIs for testing?
Answer: Python can make HTTP requests to APIs and validate responses.
10.What are the fixtures in PyTest?
Answer: Fixtures are functions run by PyTest before (and sometimes after) the actual test functions.
Intermediate Python Questions
1.What is a Python module and package?
Answer: A module is a single Python file, while a package is a collection of modules.
2.Explain the use of the __init__.py file in Python packages.
Answer: It’s used to mark directories on disk as Python package directories.
3.How do you handle file operations in Python?
Answer: Using built-in functions like open, read, write.
4.What are Python Iterators?
Answer: Objects that can be iterated over in a loop.
5.What is the difference between deep and shallow copy?
Answer: Shallow copy only copies the reference pointers, while deep copy creates a new copy of the objects.
Python for Web Automation
1.How do you automate a web browser using Python?
Answer: Using libraries like Selenium WebDriver.
2.What is BeautifulSoup used for?
Answer: For parsing HTML and XML documents.
3.How can Python automate REST API testing?
Answer: By sending requests to the API endpoints and validating responses.
4.Explain how to handle cookies in Selenium with Python.
Answer: Selenium WebDriver API provides methods to get, add, and delete cookies.
5.What are XPath and CSS selectors in the context of web automation?
Answer: They are used to locate elements on a web page.
Python Testing Frameworks and Tools
1.What is Robot Framework?
Answer: An open-source test automation framework for acceptance testing.
2.How is unittest different from PyTest?
Answer: Unittest is a built-in Python testing framework, while PyTest is a more powerful, extensible third-party framework.
3.What is a mocking framework in Python?
Answer: Used to replace parts of the system under test with mock objects.
4.Can Python be used for performance testing?
Answer: Yes, with tools like Locust.
5.What is a coverage tool in Python?
Answer: Tools like Coverage.py measure the code covered by tests.
Advanced Automation Testing Questions
1.How do you test a database with Python?
Answer: By connecting to the database and executing queries.
2.Explain Selenium Grid in the context of Python.
Answer: Selenium Grid allows for running tests in parallel across different machines and browsers.
3.What are Page Objects in web automation?
Answer: A design pattern for enhancing test maintenance and reducing code duplication.
4.How does Python handle asynchronous testing?
Answer: Using libraries like asyncio.
5.What are virtual environments and why are they important in Python testing?
Answer: They allow for isolated Python environments with specific package versions.
Python Testing Best Practices
1.What are some best practices for writing test cases in Python?
Answer: Keep tests independent, use clear and meaningful names, and aim for thorough coverage.
2.How do you ensure your Python code is robust?
Answer: Through exception handling, input validation, and comprehensive testing.
3.What is Continuous Integration and how does Python fit into it?
Answer: Continuous Integration (CI) is the practice of merging all developers’ working copies to a shared mainline several times a day. Python can be used to write scripts that automate testing in CI pipelines.
4.How can Python be used for load testing?
Answer: With tools like Locust, Python can simulate numerous users accessing a system.
5.What is behavior-driven development (BDD) and how does Python support it?
Answer: BDD is an Agile software development process. Python supports it through tools like Behave.
Miscellaneous
1.How can Python interact with different types of databases for testing purposes?
Answer: Using libraries like PyMySQL, psycopg2, or SQLAlchemy.
2.What is the role of Python in mobile app testing?
Answer: Python can be used for scripting tests for mobile applications, often using frameworks like Appium.
3.How does Python support cloud-based testing?
Answer: Through SDKs provided by cloud service providers and tools like Selenium WebDriver.
4.Can Python be used for security testing?
Answer: Yes, Python has libraries and tools for various security testing needs.
5.What are the benefits of using Python over other languages for automation testing?
Answer: Python’s simplicity, extensive libraries, and community support make it an excellent choice for automation testing.