Want to Be a Great QA? You Can’t Ignore DSA & OOPs!

Many testers choose QA thinking it doesn’t require coding. But if you want to grow, especially in automation or SDET roles, coding is a must.

Here’s a structured roadmap to help you build a strong foundation

1. Pick One Programming Language

Choose a widely-used language like Java, Python, or JavaScript. Stick to one and master it before exploring others. Learning a language well helps in writing better automation scripts and solving problems efficiently.

2. Understand the Basics

Before jumping into automation frameworks, get comfortable with:

• Variables, data types, and operators
• Loops (for, while, do-while)
• Conditional statements (if-else, switch-case)
• Functions/methods and recursion

You can practice basic coding questions on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeChef to strengthen these concepts.

3. Master OOPs Concepts

Object-Oriented Programming is the backbone of automation frameworks. Focus on

• Encapsulation – How to hide implementation details using private variables and getter/setter methods.
• Inheritance – Code reusability through parent-child relationships.
• Polymorphism – Method overloading and overriding to make flexible test scripts.
• Abstraction – Hiding unnecessary details and exposing only essential functionalities.
• Interfaces – Achieve multiple inheritance and create a contract for classes to implement methods without defining them.

Try implementing OOPs concepts in Selenium or Appium automation scripts to see real-world applications.

4. Strengthen Concepts with ‘What’s the Output?’ Questions

Debugging and analyzing code behavior improves logical thinking. Try solving

• Code snippets where variable scope, loops, or OOPs principles are tested.
• Trick questions related to static methods, object creation, and constructors.

5. Solve DSA Questions to Improve Logical Thinking

Start with easy-level problems and gradually move forward. The most useful data structures for QA are

• Strings – Reverse a string, check for palindromes, remove duplicates.
• Arrays – Find missing numbers, merge sorted arrays, two-pointer problems.
• Lists – LinkedList operations, reversing a linked list.
• HashMaps & HashSets – Frequency counters, duplicate detection, anagrams.

Practice daily on LeetCode, GeeksforGeeks, or InterviewBit to strengthen problem-solving skills.

6. Implement DSA in Testing Scenarios

Many interviewers ask real-world testing problems based on DSA. Example:

• Use HashMap to store test data dynamically.
• Use Lists to manage test cases in TestNG.
• Implement Stacks/Queues for handling browser navigation (forward/backward actions).

Daily DSA Practice = Interview Success

If you want to crack QA/SDET interviews at top companies, solving DSA questions regularly is non-negotiable. It improves problem-solving ability, which is crucial for automation engineers.

Bonus Tips:

• Build a GitHub repository to showcase your coding skills.
• Learn design patterns used in test automation (Page Object Model, Factory Pattern).
• Join QA communities to discuss and share learning experiences.

Start Today

If you have been avoiding coding, now is the time to change that mindset. Start small, stay consistent, and level up as a high-value QA Engineer.

Are you already working on DSA & OOPs? Let me know your approach in the comments.

Seniors, your insights are valuable! Please share if there's anything important that should be included.