Cucumber is a popular tool for Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD), helping teams write clear, executable tests. If you are preparing for an interview, understanding Cucumber’s key concepts, Gherkin syntax, step definitions, and real-world applications is crucial. This blog covers the top 35+ Cucumber interview questions and answers, from basics to advanced topics.
These questions will help you feel confident in your interview.
Fun Fact: In 2025, more than 2,648 companies worldwide have adopted Cucumber for test automation.
Basic Cucumber Interview Questions
Here is a list of basic Cucumber interview questions and answers:
- What is Cucumber, and how does it support Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD)?
Cucumber is an open-source tool that supports BDD by allowing teams to write test scenarios in plain language. It uses Gherkin syntax to create feature files, making it easier for developers, testers, and business stakeholders to collaborate. Cucumber bridges the gap between technical and non-technical team members by providing clear and executable test cases.
- What is Gherkin, and how does it help in writing test cases in Cucumber?
Gherkin is a simple, structured language used in Cucumber to write test scenarios. It follows a Given-When-Then format, which describes preconditions, actions, and expected outcomes. Gherkin is readable by both technical and non-technical stakeholders, making it ideal for BDD.
- How do you define feature files in Cucumber, and what is their purpose?
A feature file in Cucumber contains test scenarios written in Gherkin. It typically has a .feature extension and includes one or more scenarios that describe application behaviour. The feature file serves as documentation and an executable test script.
- What are step definitions in Cucumber, and how do they work?
Step definitions map Gherkin steps to executable code. They act as a bridge between feature files and automation scripts. Each step in a scenario is linked to a corresponding step definition, written in a programming language like Java, JavaScript, or Ruby.
- What is the purpose of the cucumber.yml file in a Cucumber project?
The cucumber.yml file was traditionally used to define execution profiles in older versions of Cucumber. However, in newer versions, cucumber.properties is the preferred way to configure test execution settings. It allows defining different profiles, setting environment variables, and configuring formatters or tags for test execution. Always check the official Cucumber documentation for the latest best practices.
Cucumber Interview Questions for Experienced
Here are some commonly asked Cucumber interview questions and answers:
- How can you handle data-driven testing in Cucumber?
Data-driven testing in Cucumber is done using Examples tables in Scenario Outline or external sources like CSV, Excel, or databases. The @DataTable or @Parameterized annotations in Java can be used to pass multiple test inputs dynamically.
- What are hooks in Cucumber, and how do you use them?
Hooks allow executing code before or after scenarios. The @Before and @After annotations in Java (or equivalent in other languages) help in setting up and cleaning test environments. For example, hooks can start or close a browser before and after scenarios.
- How do you handle test reporting in Cucumber?
Cucumber provides built-in reporting options, but for better insights, you can use third-party tools like Cucumber Reports, Extent Reports, or Allure Reports. These tools generate detailed execution reports, including passed, failed, and skipped scenarios.
- What is the difference between Background and Hooks in Cucumber?
- The Background section in a feature file defines common preconditions for multiple scenarios in a feature. It executes before every scenario in that file.
- Hooks (@Before, @After, etc.) execute globally or conditionally based on tags, regardless of the feature file. Hooks provide more flexibility in setting up or tearing down tests.
- How can you handle conditional test execution in Cucumber?
You can use tags to control test execution based on requirements. Tags like @Smoke, @Regression, or @Ignore allow running specific test sets. Additionally, @Before hooks can use conditions to execute setup steps dynamically.
Cucumber Interview Questions for 3 Years Experienced Candidates
- What are the different types of hooks available in Cucumber?
Cucumber provides several hooks for executing setup or teardown code:
- @Before and @After: Run before and after each scenario.
- @BeforeStep and @AfterStep: Execute before and after each step.
- @BeforeAll and @AfterAll: Run once before or after all scenarios (available in newer Cucumber versions, primarily in Java but require static methods).
Note: @BeforeAll and @AfterAll are not available in older versions of Cucumber-JVM.
- How do you handle parameterization in Cucumber step definitions?
Parameterization is handled using placeholders in step definitions. Cucumber allows using regular expressions or @DataTable to pass dynamic values.
Example:
Given I log in with username “user1” and password “pass123”
@Given(“^I log in with username \”(.*)\” and password \”(.*)\”$”)
public void login(String username, String password) {
// Code to log in
}
- What strategies can help in debugging failed Cucumber scenarios?
Debugging Cucumber scenarios involves:
- Running tests in dry-run mode (cucumber.options=”–dry-run”) to check for missing step definitions.
- Using logging frameworks (like Log4j) for better traceability.
- Implementing screenshot capture on failure in Selenium-based tests.
- Adding breakpoints and debugging step definitions using an IDE like IntelliJ or Eclipse.
Cucumber Interview Questions for 5 Years Experienced Candidates
- How do you integrate Cucumber with CI/CD pipelines?
Cucumber can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, or Azure DevOps. The integration involves:
- Setting up dependencies: Install Cucumber and test frameworks in your CI/CD environment.
- Configuring test execution: Use Maven/Gradle (mvn test or gradle test) to trigger tests.
- Running tests on commits: Configure pipelines to execute tests on every push or PR merge.
- Publishing reports: Use plugins like Cucumber Reports, Allure Reports, or Extent Reports to generate detailed test execution summaries.
- Parallel execution: Optimise execution by running tests in parallel (cucumber-jvm-parallel-plugin).
- How can you reuse step definitions across multiple feature files?
Step definitions are reusable as long as the regex patterns match feature file steps. A well-organised project structure with modular step definitions helps maintain reusability. Common steps can be placed in shared packages or libraries to avoid duplication.
- How can you optimise Cucumber test execution time?
To speed up Cucumber tests:
- Run tests in parallel using cucumber-jvm-parallel-plugin.
- Use selective execution with tags (@Smoke, @Regression).
- Optimise step definitions to avoid redundant code.
- Replace Thread.sleep() with explicit waits for faster UI interaction.
- Minimise setup/teardown overhead by limiting unnecessary hooks (@Before, @After).
Efficient test design reduces execution time without compromising coverage.
Tricky Cucumber Interview Questions
Let’s go through some tricky Cucumber framework interview questions and answers:
- What are some challenges of using Cucumber for test automation?
- Managing large step definition files can become complex.
- Debugging failures is harder due to abstraction in feature files.
- Test execution can be slow compared to unit tests.
- Non-technical stakeholders may struggle with writing proper scenarios.
- How do you handle dependencies between test scenarios in Cucumber?
Cucumber tests should be independent, but when dependencies exist, data can be shared using Hooks, context objects, or database interactions. ScenarioContext in Java helps store and retrieve values across steps.
- Can Cucumber be used for non-functional testing? If yes, how?
Yes, but with limitations. While Cucumber is primarily for functional testing, it can trigger:
- Performance Testing: Integrate JMeter or Gatling for load testing.
- Security Testing: Use OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite for vulnerability scans.
- API Testing: Combine with RestAssured to validate API responses.
However, dedicated tools are usually better suited for non-functional testing.
Also Read - Top 40+ API Testing Interview Questions and Answers
- How do you handle API testing in Cucumber?
Cucumber can be integrated with RestAssured or HTTP clients to perform API testing. You can write feature files describing API behaviour and execute them using step definitions that interact with APIs.
Example:
Given I send a GET request to “https://api.example.com/users”
Then the response status should be 200
Corresponding step definition:
@Given(“I send a GET request to {string}”)
public void sendGetRequest(String url) {
response = RestAssured.get(url);
}
Also Read - Top 25+ Performance Testing Interview Questions and Answers
Cucumber BDD Interview Questions
Here are some frequently-asked BDD Cucumber interview questions and answers:
- What are the key differences between BDD and traditional TDD?
- TDD focuses on writing unit tests before development, while BDD emphasizes collaboration and user stories.
- BDD scenarios are written in plain language, whereas TDD tests are code-based.
- BDD involves business analysts, testers, and developers, whereas TDD is mostly developer-driven.
- How does Cucumber improve collaboration between developers, testers, and business teams in a BDD approach?
Cucumber allows writing test cases in a common language that all stakeholders understand. Business teams define requirements, testers automate them, and developers build features accordingly, reducing misunderstandings.
- What are the advantages and limitations of using a BDD framework for test automation?
This is one of the most common BDD framework interview questions.
Advantages:
- Improves communication between teams.
- Provides living documentation.
- Enhances test readability.
Limitations:
- Can be slow due to Gherkin parsing.
- Requires discipline in writing meaningful scenarios.
- How does SpecFlow differ from Cucumber, and when would you choose one over the other?
You might also come across BDD SpecFlow interview questions like this one.
SpecFlow is the C# counterpart of Cucumber, mainly used in .NET projects. It integrates well with Visual Studio and NUnit/XUnit. Cucumber is preferred for Java, JavaScript, and Ruby environments.
- How do you maintain large Cucumber test suites efficiently?
To manage large Cucumber suites:
- Use Tags (@Regression, @Smoke) for selective execution.
- Follow Page Object Model (POM) to separate UI logic.
- Refactor Step Definitions to avoid redundancy.
- Run Tests in Parallel using cucumber-jvm-parallel-plugin.
- Audit and remove outdated scenarios to keep the suite relevant.
A structured approach guarantees better maintainability and faster execution.
Note: BDD interview questions often include concepts like collaboration, Gherkin, automation, step definitions, hooks, data-driven testing, and integration.
Cucumber Selenium Interview Questions
These are some important Selenium Cucumber interview questions and answers:
- How do you integrate Selenium WebDriver with Cucumber?
Add Selenium WebDriver dependencies in a Cucumber project and initialise the driver in step definitions. Example:
WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get(“https://example.com”);
- How do you handle synchronisation issues in Cucumber with Selenium?
You might also come across Cucumber in Selenium interview questions like this one.
Use explicit waits (WebDriverWait) instead of thread sleeps to handle dynamic elements.
- What is the purpose of Page Object Model (POM) in Cucumber with Selenium?
POM organises locators and actions separately, improving test maintainability. Each page has a dedicated class containing element locators and methods.
- How do you execute specific scenarios from a Cucumber feature file?
Use tags like @Regression in feature files and run specific tests with:
mvn test -Dcucumber.options=”–tags @Regression”
- How do you handle browser-specific execution in Cucumber with Selenium?
You can manage browser execution using configuration properties, WebDriverManager, or environment variables.
For example, using hooks in Cucumber:
@Before
public void setup() {
String browser = System.getProperty(“browser”, “chrome”);
if (browser.equalsIgnoreCase(“firefox”)) {
driver = new FirefoxDriver();
} else {
driver = new ChromeDriver();
}
}
Running tests in a specific browser:
mvn test -Dbrowser=firefox
Also Read - Top 25+ Java Questions for Selenium Interview
Cucumber Java Interview Questions
Let’s go through some Java Cucumber interview questions and answers:
- What dependencies are required to set up Cucumber with Java?
Maven dependencies include:
- io.cucumber:cucumber-java
- io.cucumber:cucumber-junit
- org.seleniumhq.selenium:selenium-java
- How do you configure Cucumber to run with JUnit or TestNG in a Java project?
Use @RunWith(Cucumber.class) for JUnit or extend AbstractTestNGCucumberTests for TestNG.
- How do you handle multiple browsers in a Cucumber Java test suite?
You can configure multiple browsers using system properties or configuration files. Example:
@Before
public void setup() {
String browser = System.getProperty(“browser”, “chrome”);
if (browser.equalsIgnoreCase(“firefox”)) {
driver = new FirefoxDriver();
} else {
driver = new ChromeDriver();
}
}
Run tests with a specific browser:
mvn test -Dbrowser=firefox
Cucumber Ruby Interview Questions
Here are common Ruby Cucumber interview questions and answers:
- What are some key differences between using Cucumber with Ruby versus Java?
- Ruby has native Cucumber support, while Java requires dependencies.
- Step definitions in Ruby are simpler with less boilerplate.
- Java provides stronger IDE support with IntelliJ and Eclipse.
- How do you define and run Cucumber tests in a Ruby environment?
Install the cucumber gem, write feature files, and execute tests with:
cucumber features/
- How do you handle environment-specific test execution in Ruby Cucumber?
Use environment variables or configuration files (env.rb).
Example:
Before do
ENV[‘BROWSER’] ||= ‘chrome’
if ENV[‘BROWSER’] == ‘firefox’
@driver = Selenium::WebDriver.for :firefox
else
@driver = Selenium::WebDriver.for :chrome
end
end
Run tests with a specific environment:
BROWSER=firefox cucumber features/
Also Read - Top 50+ Ruby on Rails Interview Questions and Answers
Wrapping Up
So, these are the 35+ Cucumber interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your next interview. Understanding Cucumber, BDD, and automation best practices can give you an edge. Keep practising and refining your skills.
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