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Based on the Behavior Driven Development (BDD) framework, Cucumber is a methodology that understands the functionality of an application using simple plain text representation.
To help you prepare for the upcoming interview, we have put together some of the most popular Cucumber interview questions for freshers and experienced professionals. Go over each one to better understand the concept and the type of questions you can expect.
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In this article, we’ll cover the top Cucumber interview questions. You’ll learn about:
- Cucumber Interview Questions for Freshers
- Cucumber Interview Questions for Experienced Developers
- Sample Cucumber Interview Questions for Practice
- FAQs on Cucumber Interview Questions
Cucumber Interview Questions for Freshers
Some Cucumber testing interview questions and answers for freshers have been given below:
1. Define Cucumber and list its advantages.
For running functional tests that have been written in plain text, the Cucumber tool is used. The Ruby programming language is used to write it. The advantages of the tool are:
- Business stakeholders who don’t know how to code can use it.
- The end-user experience is a priority.
- High code reuse
- It supports several languages such as Java.net, Ruby, etc.
2. Write the two files needed to implement a Cucumber test scenario.
The two files you need to implement a Cucumber test scenario:
- Features
- Step Definition
3. What is Gherkin Language?
The Gherkin language is a readable business language that lets you map out the business activity without getting confused about the implementation specifics. The domain-specific language helps in defining specs tests in the Cucumber format.
Gherkin describes use cases using plain English, which helps the users remove logic elements from behavior testing.
4. Define the Scenario Outline in the feature file.
The Scenario Outline is the same Scenario that can be implemented for multiple sets with the help of the scenario outline. The data is given using a tabular format separated by (I I).
5. List the primary keywords in Cucumber.
The primary keywords in Cucumber are:
- Feature
- Rule
- Example
- Given
- When
- Then
- Background
6. Define feature in Cucumber.
A project’s feature is defined as a stand-alone unit or functionality. A list of scenarios that need to be tested for a feature is often included. This feature file is a file that consists of features, descriptions of features, and situations that need to be evaluated.
7. Differentiate between Cucumber and JBehave.
Even though both of them are used for the same purpose, the acceptance tests have completely different frameworks:
- Cucumber is Ruby-based, while JBehave is purely Java framework.
- Cucumber is based on features, while JBehave is based on stories.
8. What is meant by a test harness?
The test harness in Cucumber and rspec lets you separate the responsibility between setting up the context, engaging with the browser, and clearing the step definition files.
9. Define regular expressions.
The pattern that describes a certain amount of text is known as a regular expression. The most common regular expression usually includes a single literal character.
10. Define the basic requirements when running Cucumber Web test cases.
The following are the minimum requirements you’ll need to run Cucumber Web test cases:
- The compiler and development kit being used by the programming language (for instance, JDK and JRE for using Java as the programming language).
- An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) where you write the code.
- Create tools to help you do tasks such as compiling code, packaging code to a jar, and building the source code.
Cucumber Interview Questions for Experienced Developers
If you’re applying for more senior-level roles, here are some Cucumber testing interview questions and answers that’ll help you prepare for them:
1. How does Behavioral Driven Development work?
There are three primary steps involved in Behavioral Driven Development:
- Behavior Description: List the features of the application in the feature file.
- Creating the Step Definition file: Map the scenario between each step to define in the feature file, and a code of the function that needs to be implemented is stored in the steps definition file.
- Testing and running: Run test cases to check if it passes. Usually, many failures are seen before getting to the final code.
2. Differentiate between RSpec and Cucumber.
The primary differences between the two are:
- The most fundamental difference between the two is the element of business readability.
- The primary purpose of RSpec is unit testing, and for Cucumber, it is behavior-driven development.
- Cucumber is used to separate the specs or features from the test code and lets product owners offer or review the specification without going over the code.
- RSpec uses a similar method, but instead of defining a step with a Describe, it implements the statement using the business specification.
3. What are the advantages of the test harness?
The advantages of the test harness are:
- Because of automation, productivity levels increase.
- Better software quality owing to the improved productivity because of automation.
- Tests can be scheduled.
- Complicated conditions that testers have a hard time simulating are easily handled.
4. What is the maximum number of scenarios included in a feature file?
The maximum number of scenarios included in a feature file is 10. But this figure can vary depending on the project and the organization. However, it is advisable to keep the number to a minimum.
5. Describe the use of the Options tag in the Cucumber Framework.
In the Cucumber Framework, the Options tag comes under the TestRunner file. The tag takes the form of an annotation named @CucumberOptions.
It has two parameters:
- Feature: The path to the file is defined using the feature option.
- Glue: This argument provides the step definition file’s location.
6. Explain how execution starts in Cucumber.
Cucumber execution starts at the support level, and there, the first env.rb file is loaded, followed by hooks.rb, and finally, the implementation of feature file scenario steps.
7. Explain grouping in Cucumber.
Cucumber doesn’t take the names of your step definition files or the order in which they’re placed into consideration. Instead of doing that, it keeps all the steps in a single file. After that, a steps.rb file is created for every major action/feature. This process is known as a grouping.
8. How can Cucumber tests be run parallelly?
To carry out parallel tests in Cucumber, the Cucumber JVM Parallel Plugin can be used with Serenity BDD. This plugin looks at the src/test/resources directory for feature files. Following that, runners are created for every file.
9. Should any code be written within the TestRunner class?
The answer is no. No code needs to be written under the TestRunner class. The tags @RunWith and @CucumberOptions should be included.
10. Define step definition.
Step definition is used to map Test Case Steps in the feature files to code. The steps on Application Under Test are executed, and then the results against the expected results are checked. The given component in a feature must be matched for implementing step definition.
Sample Cucumber Interview Questions for Practice
Some more sample Cucumber interview questions that’ll help you in preparing:
- Define BDD.
- When do you use RSpec and when Cucumber?
- Give an example for step definition using the “Given” function.
- Explain what annotations are in Cucumber.
- Enlist the files needed in the Cucumber framework.
- What is meant by hooks?
- Explain a Cucumber dry run.
- List the programming languages used by Cucumber.
- In Cucumber, what is meant by profile?
- How would you describe the use of the Background keyword in Cucumber?
- How to run a selected test from a group of tests in Cucumber?
- Give some of the prerequisites considered when building a Selenium Cucumber automation application.
- Differentiate between TDD and BDD.
- Why does Cucumber need to be used with Selenium?
- What are the differences between Cucumber and Selenium?
- What are the two build management tools that can be integrated with Cucumber?
- Give the maximum number of steps that are to be written within a scenario.
- What’s the starting point of execution for feature files?
- What’s the purpose of keywords being used for writing a scenario in Cucumber?
- Describe the usage of Behavior Driven Development in Agile methodology
These are the kind of Cucumber interview questions you can expect in interviews. Prepare these well, and you will be all set. If you want some help upping your coding game, read Level Up Your Coding Career With Interview Kickstart.
FAQs on Cucumber Interview Questions
Q1. What are the two different files used in Cucumber?
The two different files used in Cucumber are Features and Step Definition.
Q2. How do you run multiple scenarios in Cucumber?
Cucumber can be implemented in parallel with the help of TestNG and Maven test execution plugins by setting up the dataprovider parallel option to true.
Q3. What is meant by hooks in Cucumber?
The blocks of code that function before or after each scenario in the Cucumber execution cycle are called hooks.
Q4. What is meant by a scenario in Cucumber?
One of the core structures in the Gherkin Language is the scenario.
Q5. What are data tables in Cucumber?
A data table is a set of input that needs to be provided for a single tag. This tag can be — GIVEN, WHEN, or THEN.
How to Prepare for Cucumber Interview Questions?
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