Python with Selenium is one of the most in-demand automation testing skill sets today. Its simple syntax, powerful libraries, and compatibility with modern test frameworks make it a favorite among QA engineers and automation testers.
This blog covers the Top 25 Python with Selenium interview questions and answers, ranging from basic concepts to advanced real-world scenarios, helping you confidently crack interviews.
1. What is Selenium, and why is it used with Python?
Selenium is an open-source automation testing tool used to automate web browsers. Python is often used with Selenium because:
- Simple and readable syntax
- Rich libraries and frameworks
- Faster script development
- Easy integration with testing tools like PyTest and Unittest
2. What are the components of Selenium?
Selenium consists of:
- Selenium IDE – Record and playback tool
- Selenium WebDriver – Automates browser actions
- Selenium Grid – Runs tests in parallel across machines
- Selenium RC (Deprecated)
3. What is Selenium WebDriver?
Selenium WebDriver is a browser automation framework that directly interacts with browsers using native browser drivers (like ChromeDriver or GeckoDriver) without using a proxy server.
4. How do you install Selenium in Python?
Answer:
You can install Selenium using pip:
pip install selenium
You also need to download the appropriate browser driver (ChromeDriver, EdgeDriver, etc.) and add it to the system PATH.
5. How do you launch a browser using Selenium in Python?
from selenium import webdriver
driver = webdriver.Chrome()
driver.get("https://www.google.com")
6. What are locators in Selenium?
Locators are used to identify web elements on a webpage. Common locators include:
- ID
- Name
- Class Name
- Tag Name
- Link Text
- Partial Link Text
- XPath
.webp?width=1106&height=232&name=python-with-selenium-training-iq-cta%20(1).webp)
7. What is XPath? Why is it important?
XPath is a language used to locate elements in an XML/HTML document.
It is useful when elements don’t have unique IDs or names.
Example:
driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//input[@name='q']")
8. Difference between absolute XPath and relative XPath?
| Absolute XPath | Relative XPath |
|---|---|
| Starts from root (/) | Starts from any node (//) |
| Brittle | More flexible |
| Longer | Shorter & efficient |
9. What is CSS Selector?
CSS Selector is a pattern used to select elements based on CSS rules.
It is faster than XPath in most browsers.
Example:
driver.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, "input[name='q']")
10. What are implicit and explicit waits?
Implicit Wait
-
Applies globally
-
Waits for elements before throwing exception
driver.implicitly_wait(10)
Explicit Wait
-
Waits for a specific condition
WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(
EC.presence_of_element_located((By.ID, "username"))
)
11. What is Page Object Model (POM)?
POM is a design pattern where:
- Each webpage is represented as a class
- Page elements and actions are defined separately
- Improves code reusability and maintenance
12. How do you handle dropdowns in Selenium?
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import Select
dropdown = Select(driver.find_element(By.ID, "country"))
dropdown.select_by_visible_text("India")
13. How do you handle alerts in Selenium?
alert = driver.switch_to.alert
alert.accept()
Other methods:
dismiss()send_keys()
14. How do you handle frames in Selenium?
driver.switch_to.frame("frameName")
driver.switch_to.default_content()
15. How do you handle multiple windows?
handles = driver.window_handles
driver.switch_to.window(handles[1])
16. What are Selenium exceptions?
Common exceptions include:
- NoSuchElementException
- TimeoutException
- StaleElementReferenceException
- ElementNotInteractableException
17. How do you perform mouse actions in Selenium?
from selenium.webdriver import ActionChains
actions = ActionChains(driver)
actions.move_to_element(element).click().perform()
18. How do you take screenshots in Selenium?
driver.save_screenshot("error.png")
19. How do you handle file upload in Selenium?
driver.find_element(By.ID, "upload").send_keys("C:/test/file.txt")
20. What is PyTest, and why is it used with Selenium?
PyTest is a Python testing framework used for:
- Test execution
- Reporting
- Fixtures
- Parameterization
It enhances Selenium test scalability and structure.
21. What are PyTest fixtures?
Fixtures are used to set up and tear down test environments.
@pytest.fixture
def setup():
driver = webdriver.Chrome()
yield driver
driver.quit()
22. What is test automation framework?
A test automation framework is a structured approach combining:
- Test scripts
- Libraries
- Reporting
- Configuration files
Examples:
- Data-driven framework
- Keyword-driven framework
- Hybrid framework
23. How do you read data from Excel in Python Selenium?
Using openpyxl or pandas library to read test data and perform data-driven testing.
24. Difference between find_element and find_elements?
| find_element | find_elements |
|---|---|
| Returns single element | Returns list of elements |
| Throws exception | Returns empty list |
25. What are best practices in Selenium automation?
- Use POM design pattern
- Avoid hard-coded waits
- Use explicit waits
- Write reusable methods
- Integrate logging & reporting
- Run tests in CI/CD pipelines
Conclusion
Python with Selenium continues to dominate the automation testing landscape due to its simplicity, flexibility, and strong ecosystem. Mastering these top 25 interview questions will not only help you crack interviews but also build a strong foundation for real-world automation projects.
If you're a fresher or career switcher, focusing on hands-on practice + framework design is the key to success.
.jpg)
Mobile Testing Interview Questions and Answers
.jpg)
Ajax Interview Questions and Answers
.jpg)
No Comments Yet
Let us know what you think