Appium is a popular open-source tool for automating mobile applications on Android and iOS. If you are preparing for an interview, knowing the most common Appium interview questions can help you feel confident.
In this blog, we have listed top 35 important questions with answers to help you understand key concepts.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced tester, these questions will guide you in cracking your next interview.
Fun Fact: Appium holds a 4.33% share in the testing and QA market.
Appium Interview Questions for Freshers
Here is a list of common Appium interview questions and answers for freshers:
- What is Appium, and how does it work?
Appium is an open-source tool used for automating mobile applications on Android and iOS platforms. It supports native, hybrid, and mobile web applications. Appium works as a server that follows the client-server architecture, allowing users to send automation commands using the WebDriver protocol. In Appium 2.0, a modular architecture allows the installation of different drivers for automation, making it more customizable.
- What are the key features of Appium?
- Supports multiple programming languages like Java, Python, and JavaScript
- Works on both Android and iOS devices
- Uses WebDriver for automation, making it similar to Selenium
- Does not require app modification to perform automation
- Supports real devices, emulators, and simulators
- Introduces modular driver installation in Appium 2.0
- How is Appium different from other mobile automation tools like Selenium?
Appium is specifically designed for mobile applications, while Selenium is used for web automation. Appium allows testing of native, hybrid, and mobile web apps, whereas Selenium works only for web-based applications. Appium does not require app modifications, while some mobile automation tools need additional setups or code changes. In Appium 2.0, WebDriver compatibility has been enhanced to improve automation efficiency.
- What types of applications can be automated using Appium?
Appium can automate:
- Native apps: Installed directly on mobile devices (e.g., WhatsApp)
- Hybrid apps: Combine web and native elements (e.g., Instagram)
- Mobile web apps: Web applications accessed through a mobile browser
- What are the prerequisites for setting up Appium?
To set up Appium, you need:
- Java (JDK) installed and configured with environment variables
- Android SDK for Android testing
- Xcode for iOS testing
- Node.js installed to run the Appium server
- Appium Desktop for GUI-based interactions
- A compatible programming language and test framework (e.g., Java with TestNG)
Also Read - Top 25+ Java Questions for Selenium Interview
Appium Interview Questions for Experienced
Let’s go through the important Appium interview questions and answers for experienced:
Appium Interview Questions for 2 Years Experienced Candidates
- How does Appium interact with mobile applications?
Appium uses the WebDriver protocol to send automation commands to the mobile device. For Android, it communicates with UIAutomator2 or Espresso, and for iOS, it uses XCUITest. These frameworks allow Appium to locate UI elements, perform actions like clicks and swipes, and retrieve app information.
- What are the limitations of Appium?
- Limited support for some complex gestures (improved with W3C Actions in Appium 2.0)
- Slower execution compared to native frameworks like Espresso
- Issues with identifying dynamic elements in certain applications
- Requires additional setup for parallel execution on multiple devices
Appium Interview Questions for 3 Years Experienced Candidates
- What is the difference between native, hybrid, and mobile web applications in Appium?
- Native apps: Developed for a specific platform (Android/iOS) using platform-specific languages like Java or Swift.
- Hybrid apps: Built using web technologies but wrapped in a native shell. These apps run inside a WebView and can access device features.
- Mobile web apps: Websites designed for mobile browsers, accessed through browsers like Chrome or Safari.
- How do you inspect elements in a mobile app while using Appium?
- For Android, use UIAutomatorViewer (Android SDK) or Appium Inspector.
- For iOS, use Appium Inspector or Xcode’s Accessibility Inspector.
- With Appium 2.0, element inspection is enhanced through improved logging and debugging tools.
Appium Interview Questions for 4 Years Experienced Candidates
- What is Desired Capabilities in Appium, and why is it used?
Capabilities are key-value pairs used to define test configurations. They specify details like platform name, device name, automation engine, and application path. In Appium 2.0, the recommended approach is to use W3C WebDriver standard capabilities.
- How do you handle pop-ups and alerts in Appium?
- For native alerts, use driver.switchTo().alert().accept(); to accept and driver.switchTo().alert().dismiss(); to dismiss them.
- For custom pop-ups, inspect elements using Appium Inspector and interact with them like normal UI elements.
Appium Interview Questions for 5 Years Experienced Candidates
- How do you execute parallel tests using Appium?
- Use multiple Appium servers running on different ports.
- Utilize Selenium Grid to distribute tests across multiple devices.
- Appium 2.0 offers better support for parallel testing with improved driver management.
- What is the role of Appium Server in test automation?
Appium Server acts as a bridge between test scripts and mobile devices. It receives commands from the test framework, processes them, and sends them to the mobile OS using appropriate automation frameworks (UIAutomator for Android, XCUITest for iOS).
Appium Interview Questions for 6 Years Experienced Candidates
- What are some common Appium exceptions, and how do you handle them?
- NoSuchElementException: Occurs when an element is not found. I handle it using waits like Explicit Wait.
- StaleElementReferenceException: Happens when the element is no longer attached to the DOM. I refresh the element before interacting with it.
- SessionNotFoundException: Indicates the session is closed. I restart the session if needed.
- How can you improve the execution speed of Appium tests?
- Use UIAutomator2 instead of UIAutomator for faster Android execution.
- Utilize implicit and explicit waits efficiently.
- Run tests on real devices instead of emulators for better speed.
- Minimize unnecessary interactions like scrolling.
- Use W3C Actions API for gestures instead of deprecated TouchAction.
Appium Interview Questions for 8 Years Experienced Candidates
- How does Appium handle gestures like swipe, tap, and scroll?
Appium provides methods like TouchAction and W3C Actions to handle gestures. For example:
- Swipe: new TouchAction(driver).press(startPoint).moveTo(endPoint).release().perform();
- Tap: new TouchAction(driver).tap(PointOption.point(x, y)).perform();
- Scroll: Using driver.findElementByAndroidUIAutomator(“new UiScrollable(new UiSelector()).scrollIntoView(text(\”ElementText\”));”);
- What are Appium’s advanced settings, and when should they be used?
Advanced settings include:
- Full reset/no reset: Controls whether the app data is cleared before execution.
- NewCommandTimeout: Avoids session timeout issues.
- AutoGrantPermissions: Automatically grants app permissions.
- Appium 2.0 introduces additional settings for customizing driver behavior.
Appium Interview Questions for 10 Years Experienced Candidates
- What challenges have you faced while working with Appium, and how did you resolve them?
“One challenge I faced was identifying dynamic elements in hybrid apps. I resolved it by switching contexts using driver.getContextHandles() and interacting with WebView elements separately. Another issue was inconsistent test execution across devices, which I fixed by implementing proper waits and using stable element locators.”
- How do you integrate Appium with CI/CD pipelines?
- Use Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Bitbucket Pipelines to execute tests.
- Set up Appium 2.0 CLI on CI/CD machines and install necessary drivers dynamically.
- Generate test reports using frameworks like Extent Reports or Allure.
Scenario-Based Interview Questions on Appium
Here are some Appium scenario based interview questions and answers:
- If an element is not visible on the screen but exists in the DOM, how would you interact with it?
“I would scroll to the element using scrollIntoView() for Android or mobile: scroll for iOS. If scrolling doesn’t work, I would use executeScript(“arguments[0].scrollIntoView(true);”, element); for WebView elements.”
- Suppose your Appium test is running very slowly. How would you debug and optimize it?
“I would disable animations on the device, use UIAutomator2 for Android tests, minimize unnecessary waits, and execute tests on real devices instead of emulators for better speed.”
Appium Testing Interview Questions
These are common Appium mobile testing interview questions and answers:
- How do you test mobile gestures like pinch and zoom using Appium?
“I use the MultiTouchAction class.”
Example:
MultiTouchAction multiTouch = new MultiTouchAction(driver);
TouchAction finger1 = new TouchAction(driver).press(point(100, 200)).moveTo(point(50, 100)).release();
TouchAction finger2 = new TouchAction(driver).press(point(200, 200)).moveTo(point(250, 100)).release();
multiTouch.add(finger1).add(finger2).perform();
- What strategies do you use for handling different screen sizes in mobile automation?
“I use relative X and Y coordinates for gestures and avoid absolute coordinates. I also use getSize() to get screen dimensions dynamically.”
Appium Automation Interview Questions
You might also come across Appium mobile automation testing interview questions like these:
- What is the difference between real device testing and emulator/simulator testing in Appium?
Real devices provide accurate performance testing, while emulators are useful for debugging. Emulators can simulate different network conditions but may not fully replicate real device behavior.
- How do you handle permissions in mobile apps while using Appium?
“For Android, I use autoGrantPermissions: true in desired capabilities. For iOS, I pre-configure permissions using xcrun simctl.”
Appium XCUITest Interview Questions
Let’s go through interview questions on Appium XCUITest and their answers:
- What is XCUITest, and how does it work with Appium?
XCUITest is Apple’s UI testing framework for iOS. Appium uses it to interact with iOS applications by executing commands via WebDriverAgent.
- How do you run Appium tests on iOS devices using XCUITest?
“I set the capability automationName: “XCUITest”, sign WebDriverAgent with a valid Apple ID, and connect a real iOS device via USB.”
Appium Coding Interview Questions
Here are some important coding interview questions on Appium and their solution:
- Write a script to launch a mobile app using Appium.
DesiredCapabilities caps = new DesiredCapabilities();
caps.setCapability(“platformName”, “Android”);
caps.setCapability(“deviceName”, “emulator-5554”);
caps.setCapability(“app”, “/path/to/app.apk”);
AndroidDriver driver = new AndroidDriver(new URL(“http://localhost:4723/wd/hub”), caps);
- Write a code snippet to perform a swipe action using Appium.
TouchAction action = new TouchAction(driver);
action.press(PointOption.point(500, 1500))
.moveTo(PointOption.point(500, 500))
.release().perform();
- How do you write a test case in Appium to validate a login screen?
driver.findElement(By.id(“username”)).sendKeys(“testuser”);
driver.findElement(By.id(“password”)).sendKeys(“password123”);
driver.findElement(By.id(“loginButton”)).click();
Assert.assertTrue(driver.findElement(By.id(“homePage”)).isDisplayed());
- Write an Appium script to handle dynamic elements in a mobile app.
WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, 10);
WebElement element = wait.until(ExpectedConditions.presenceOfElementLocated(By.xpath(“//android.widget.TextView[contains(@text, ‘Dynamic’)]”)));
element.click();
HCL Appium Interview Questions
You might come across these interview questions on Appium at HCL:
- Can you explain the architecture of Appium and how it works?
- Can you share a challenging situation you faced while working with Appium and how you resolved it?
- How do you integrate Appium with Selenium for mobile web automation?
- What debugging tools do you use when running Appium tests?
Wrapping Up
With these top 30 Appium interview questions and answers, you can prepare for your next job interview with confidence. Understanding these concepts will help you handle both basic and advanced questions effectively. Looking for Appium jobs in India that require Appium skills? Visit Hirist, an online job portal where you can find top opportunities in automation testing and mobile app development.
