⚙️ Java Basics for Selenium Testers

To work effectively with Selenium WebDriver, you only need a specific set of Java skills—not the entire Java language. The key is to understand concepts that help you write clean, maintainable automated tests.

Here is everything you must know.

🟦 1. Java Fundamentals

✔️ Understanding Variables

Used to store data.

String name = "Selenium";

int age = 25;

boolean isActive = true;

✔️ Data Types

Primitive: int, double, boolean, char, etc.

Non-primitive: String, Arrays, Classes, Objects.

✔️ Operators

Arithmetic: + - * / %

Comparison: == != > < >= <=

Logical: && || !

🟩 2. Control Statements

✔️ If–Else

if(driver.getTitle().equals("Login")){

    System.out.println("Correct page");

} else {

    System.out.println("Wrong page");

}

✔️ Switch

Useful for handling multiple conditions.

✔️ Loops

Important for repeating test steps.

For loop

for(int i = 0; i < 5; i++){

    System.out.println(i);

}

While loop

while(condition){

    // repeat steps

}

Enhanced for loop

Used for iterating lists in Selenium.

🟨 3. Methods (Functions)

Methods help organize reusable logic.

public void login(){

    driver.findElement(By.id("user")).sendKeys("admin");

}

✔️ Return types

public String getPageTitle(){

    return driver.getTitle();

}

✔️ Method overloading

Same method name, different parameters.

🟥 4. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Essentials

You don’t need deep OOP skills, only the basics:

✔️ Class and Object

Selenium is object-oriented.

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

✔️ Inheritance

Used to share common test setups.

public class LoginTest extends BaseTest {}

✔️ Encapsulation

Helps build Page Object Model (POM).

✔️ Polymorphism

WebDriver interface + multiple drivers (ChromeDriver, FirefoxDriver, etc.)

🟪 5. Java Collections (Very Important for Selenium)

Collections help handle groups of elements, windows, data, and lists.

✔️ List

List<WebElement> links = driver.findElements(By.tagName("a"));

✔️ Set

Used for handling window handles.

Set<String> windows = driver.getWindowHandles();

✔️ Map

Useful for property files, test data, and configurations.

Map<String, String> data = new HashMap<>();

🟧 6. Exception Handling

Selenium often throws exceptions; you must know how to manage them.

✔️ Try–Catch

try{

    element.click();

} catch(Exception e){

    System.out.println("Element not clickable");

}

✔️ Common Selenium Exceptions

NoSuchElementException

TimeoutException

StaleElementReferenceException

🟫 7. File Handling

Needed for:

Reading test data

Reading configuration files

Writing logs and reports

Example: Reading files with FileInputStream

FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream("config.properties");

🟦 8. Java + Selenium Integration

✔️ Importing libraries

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;

import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;

✔️ Using WebDriver

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

driver.get("https://example.com");

✔️ Creating reusable functions

public WebElement getElement(By locator){

    return driver.findElement(locator);

}

🟩 9. Must-Know Java Concepts for Frameworks

✔️ Constructors

Initialize test objects.

✔️ Static keywords

Useful for utility classes.

public static void waitFor(int seconds) {}

✔️ Final keyword

Used in constants (URLs, Titles).

✔️ Packages & Access Modifiers

Organizing framework structure.

🟨 10. Java Concepts Used in TestNG + POM Frameworks

✔️ Annotations understanding (TestNG)

@BeforeMethod

@AfterMethod

@Test

✔️ OOP for POM (Page Object Model)

Classes represent pages

Methods represent page actions

✔️ Abstraction for base classes

Helps manage:

Driver setup

Test utilities

Waits and reusable code

🟥 Summary: What Java Skills Do Selenium Testers Need?

✔️ Core Java (variables, loops, methods)

✔️ OOP basics (class, object, inheritance)

✔️ Collections (List, Set, Map)

✔️ Exception Handling

✔️ File Handling

✔️ Integrating Java with Selenium

✔️ Understanding annotations for frameworks

These essentials are enough to build real automation frameworks.

Learn Selenium with JAVA Training in Hyderabad

Read More

Grouping Test Cases in TestNG

Introduction to TestNG Annotations

How to Use Assertions in Selenium Tests

Working with Links and Buttons in Selenium

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November 22, 2025

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