Introduction: Your First Step into Automation Testing Interviews
If you’re a fresher stepping into the world of software testing interview questions, it might feel like there’s an overwhelming list of topics to cover. From understanding frameworks to explaining testing methodologies, the learning curve can seem steep. But don’t worry — this blog is here to simplify that journey.
I’ve put together real-world questions, clear explanations, and practical examples that hiring managers at top MNCs look for in 2025. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or brushing up your knowledge, these questions will help you build confidence and clarity. Let’s dive right in.
What are the most common interview questions for Software QA in 2025?
by in
QualityAssurance
Core Concepts in Software Testing Interview Questions
1. What is Verification & Validation?
- Verification is the process of evaluating the intermediate work products of a software development lifecycle to ensure that the product is being built correctly. It is static testing.
- Example: Reviews, Walkthroughs, Inspections.
- Validation is the process of evaluating the final product to check whether the software meets the business needs. It is dynamic testing.
- Example: Functional Testing, System Testing, UAT.
2. What is RTM (Requirement Traceability Matrix)?
RTM is a document that maps and traces user requirements with test cases. It ensures that all requirements are covered by test cases.
Purpose:
- Track coverage
- Control changes
- Ensure complete testing
Example Table:
| Requirement ID | Requirement Description | Test Case ID |
| REQ001 | Login Functionality | TC001, TC002 |
3. What is Risk Analysis in Testing?
Risk analysis is the process of identifying potential risks that could affect the quality or timeline of the software product and planning mitigation strategies.
Example Risks:
- New technology used
- Tight deadlines
- Limited resources
Risk Matrix:
| Risk | Impact | Probability | Priority |
| Server crash | High | Medium | High |
4. Draw SBLC (Software Bug Life Cycle)
Bug Life Cycle stages:
- New
- Assigned
- Open
- Fixed
- Retest
- Verified
- Closed / Reopened / Deferred / Rejected
(You can represent this in a circular or step diagram when publishing.)
5. QA vs QC
| Feature | QA (Quality Assurance) | QC (Quality Control) |
| Focus | Process-oriented | Product-oriented |
| Activity | Preventive | Corrective |
| Tools | Process audits, Reviews | Testing, Inspections |
6. What is STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle)?
- Requirement Analysis
- Test Planning
- Test Case Development
- Environment Setup
- Test Execution
- Test Closure
Each stage has entry and exit criteria, deliverables, and responsibilities.
Important Software Testing Interview Questions on Techniques & Tools
7. Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) and State Transition Testing
- BVA tests boundaries (min, max, just in/out).
- Example: For age 18-60 → Test with 17, 18, 19 and 59, 60, 61
- State Transition checks state changes based on input.
- Example: ATM – From “No Card” → “Card Inserted” → “PIN Verified” → “Transaction”
8. Static vs Dynamic Testing Techniques
| Static Testing | Dynamic Testing |
| No code execution | Code execution required |
| Done during verification | Done during validation |
| Examples: Reviews, walkthroughs | Examples: Unit, System Testing |
9. White Box vs Black Box Testing
| Feature | White Box | Black Box |
| Knowledge | Requires code knowledge | No code knowledge required |
| Focus | Internal logic | Functional behavior |
| Techniques | Path, Loop Testing | BVA, Equivalence Partitioning |
10. What is a Negative Test Case?
A test case that checks the system’s response to invalid or unexpected input.
- Example: Login with wrong username/password.
- Helps validate robustness and error handling.
11. What is a Test Plan?
A document detailing scope, approach, resources, schedule of testing, and deliverables.
Key Sections:
- Objectives
- Features to be tested
- Resources & roles
- Entry/Exit criteria
- Risks & assumptions
12. What is Test Strategy?
A high-level document outlining testing approach, usually created by test leads or managers.
Includes:
- Testing types (Manual/Automation)
- Environments
- Tools
- Release criteria
13. Priority and Severity – Types & Examples
- Priority: Business urgency (High, Medium, Low)
- Severity: Technical impact (Blocker, Critical, Major, Minor)
Matrix Example:
- High Priority + High Severity: App crash on login
- Low Priority + High Severity: Rare crash during logout
Freshers’ Guide to Advanced Software Testing Topics
14. What is Compatibility Testing?
It checks whether the application works across different OS, browsers, devices, and networks.
Examples:
- Testing in Chrome, Firefox, Safari
- Windows vs Mac vs Linux
15. Types of Non-functional Testing
- Load Testing
- Stress Testing
- Security Testing
- Usability Testing
- Compatibility Testing
16. Compatibility vs Cross-Browser Testing
| Aspect | Compatibility | Cross-Browser |
| Scope | OS + Devices + Network | Only browser types & versions |
| Example | Mobile vs Desktop, Android vs iOS | Chrome vs Firefox |
17. When to Stop Testing?
- Test coverage reached 100%
- Deadline/time constraints
- No more critical bugs
- Test cases passed consistently
- Business decision
18. What are the Attributes Available in Test Cases?
A test case usually contains the following attributes:
- Test Case ID
- Test Summary (Description)
- Preconditions
- Test Steps
- Test Data
- Expected Result
- Actual Result
- Status (Pass/Fail)
- Created By / Reviewed By
- Priority / Severity
Example:
| TC_ID | Description | Steps | Expected Result |
| TC001 | Login with valid credentials | Enter user, pass, click login | Dashboard should open |
19. Difference Between Test Case and Use Case
| Feature | Test Case | Use Case |
| Focus | Validates the implementation | Describes user-system interaction |
| Format | Tabular with steps, data, result | Narrative or diagram-based |
| Use | QA Testing | Requirement Analysis |
20. Write a Test Case for Login Functionality
Test Case ID: TC_LOGIN_001
Title: Verify login with valid credentials
Precondition: User is on login page
Steps:
- Enter valid username
- Enter valid password
- Click Login button Expected Result: User navigates to dashboard/homepage Priority: High
Severity: Blocker
Selenium & Automation-Focused Software Testing Interview Questions
21. What is a Defect ID?
A Defect ID is a unique identifier automatically assigned to each defect or bug logged in a bug tracking tool (like JIRA or Bugzilla).
Purpose: To track, refer, and manage bugs efficiently.
22. How to Make a Bug Report in JIRA?
Steps to report a bug in JIRA:
- Login to JIRA.
- Click on “Create Issue”.
- Select Project and Issue Type as “Bug”.
- Enter Summary (title of bug).
- Fill in Description, Steps to Reproduce, Environment, Severity, Priority, etc.
- Attach screenshots/log files if needed.
- Click “Create”.
Best Practices: Provide clear steps, expected vs actual results, and environment details.
23. What is the Difference Between driver.quit() and driver.close()?
- driver.close() – Closes the current browser window that the WebDriver is focused on. If your script has opened multiple windows, only the one currently in focus is closed.
- driver.quit() – Quits the entire browser session, closing all browser windows opened by the WebDriver and terminating the WebDriver instance.
When to Use:
- Use close() when you’re done with one window but want to continue testing on another.
- Use quit() at the end of the script to release system resources.
24. What is the Difference Between findElement() and findElements()?
- findElement(By locator) – Returns a single WebElement matching the locator. If no element is found, it throws a NoSuchElementException.
- findElements(By locator) – Returns a list of WebElements. If no matching elements are found, it returns an empty list (no exception thrown).
Example:
WebElement searchBox = driver.findElement(By.id(“search”));
List<WebElement> links = driver.findElements(By.tagName(“a”));
Use Case: Use findElement for unique elements. Use findElements when multiple elements may match the locator.
25. How to Switch from One Frame to Another in Selenium?
Selenium provides three ways to switch to frames:
driver.switchTo().frame(int index); // By index
driver.switchTo().frame(“frameName”); // By name or ID
driver.switchTo().frame(WebElement element); // By WebElement
To switch back to the main content:
driver.switchTo().defaultContent();
Use Case: When dealing with applications using iframes (e.g., ads, payment gateways), switching is necessary before interacting with elements inside the frame.
26. How to Switch from One Window to Another in Selenium?
When a new window/tab opens, Selenium assigns a unique window handle to each window. You can switch using:
String parentWindow = driver.getWindowHandle();
Set<String> allWindows = driver.getWindowHandles();for (String window : allWindows) {
if (!window.equals(parentWindow)) {
driver.switchTo().window(window);
}
}
Use Case: Useful when handling pop-ups, multiple tabs, or child browser windows.
27. What Are the Types of Alerts in Selenium?
- Simple Alert – Displays a simple message with an OK button.
- Confirmation Alert – Has OK and Cancel buttons.
- Prompt Alert – Accepts user input.
Handling Alerts in Selenium:
Alert alert = driver.switchTo().alert();
alert.accept(); // Clicks OK
alert.dismiss(); // Clicks Cancel
alert.getText(); // Gets alert message
alert.sendKeys(“text”); // For prompt alerts
28. Why Do You Choose Selenium for Automation Testing?
- Open-source and Free – No licensing cost.
- Cross-browser Support – Works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari.
- Multiple Language Support – Java, Python, C#, Ruby, JavaScript.
- Supports Multiple OS – Windows, Linux, macOS.
- Integrates Easily – With TestNG, Maven, Jenkins, Docker, etc.
- Large Community and Support – Rich documentation and community help.
Conclusion: Selenium is a powerful, flexible, and industry-standard automation tool with great community and tool integration.
29. What is the Latest Version of Selenium?
As of 2025, the latest stable version is Selenium 4.x (e.g., Selenium 4.12+).
Key Enhancements in Selenium 4:
- Native support for W3C WebDriver Protocol
- New Relative Locators (above, below, near, toLeftOf, toRightOf)
- Enhanced DevTools support (e.g., capturing network logs)
- Improved Selenium Grid UI
- Refined IDE for recording tests
You should always check the official Selenium site for the latest release.
30. What is the Difference Between Selenium 3 and Selenium 4?
| Feature | Selenium 3 | Selenium 4 |
| Protocol | JSON Wire Protocol | W3C WebDriver Protocol (native support) |
| Relative Locators | Not Available | Available |
| DevTools Support | Not Available | Supported |
| Grid Architecture | Complicated | Simplified and improved |
| Browser Compatibility | Less consistent | Improved with W3C compliance |
Conclusion: Selenium 4 is a major upgrade and is more aligned with modern browsers and automation practices.
31. Difference Between StringBuffer and StringBuilder
| Feature | StringBuffer | StringBuilder |
| Thread-safe | Yes (synchronized) | No |
| Performance | Slower due to synchronization | Faster in single-threaded apps |
| Introduced in | Java 1.0 | Java 1.5 |
When to Use:
- Use StringBuffer in multi-threaded environments.
- Use StringBuilder when thread safety is not a concern for better performance.
Example:
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(“Hello”);
sb.append(” World”);
System.out.println(sb); // Output: Hello World
32. What Are the Components of Selenium?
- Selenium IDE – A Firefox/Chrome add-on for record-and-playback of tests.
- Selenium WebDriver – Core API for writing test scripts in multiple languages.
- Selenium Grid – For distributed and parallel test execution across multiple machines and browsers.
- Selenium RC (Deprecated) – Earlier tool for cross-browser testing (replaced by WebDriver).
Pro Tips to Crack Software Testing Interview Questions in 2025
Before you wrap up your preparation, remember:
- Interviewers love practical examples – so connect your answers to real-world use cases.
- Be clear, not perfect. They’re testing how you think, not just what you memorize.
- Stay updated on the latest tools like Selenium 4, JIRA, and automation frameworks in 2025.
Want to dive deeper into practical automation testing? Start your hands-on journey with Testleaf’s Selenium Automation Course for beginners: 👉Testleaf Selenium training in chennai
Conclusion: Start Practicing, Stay Confident
Preparing for your first interview can be nerve-wracking, but practice builds confidence. This list of software testing interview questions is designed to give you clarity, not just memorization.
Start small, practice regularly, and soon you’ll see yourself answering these questions with ease in your next MNC interview. Best of luck on your testing career journey — you’ve got this!
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Author’s Bio:
As CEO of TestLeaf, I’m dedicated to transforming software testing by empowering individuals with real-world skills and advanced technology. With 24+ years in software engineering, I lead our mission to shape local talent into global software professionals. Join us in redefining the future of test engineering and making a lasting impact in the tech world.
Babu Manickam
CEO – Testleaf
