Robot Framework Beginner Course – 3-Day Format
Duration: 3 Days Hours per Day: 7 (Total: 21 Hours)
Day 1 – Fundamentals & Core Concepts (7 Hours)
Hour 1: Introduction to Automation & Robot Framework
1. What is test automation?
Test is step to check whether something works as expected. Test automation is automating the steps used for checking works as expected.
2. Why Robot Framework?
It is a software tool that support writing of test steps/cases in simple plain english keyword format which is useful for non technical testers. It also has support for writing gherkin style test steps. Apart from this this high level info, it has support for assertion, report, error handling, testcase management. It has good eco system of libraries which support automating web app, API, mobile app.
Keyword-driven approach
It is way of writing testcase in simple plain english which can be easily understandable by non technical users.
Use cases: Web, API, RPA
Course flow & expectations
This guide covers basic essentials of robot framework that is need to start using the tool.
Hour 2: Architecture & Setup
Robot Framework architecture
Test execution flow
https://robotframework.org/robotframework/latest/RobotFrameworkUserGuide.html#execution-order
Installing Python & Robot Framework
https://docs.robotframework.org/docs/getting_started/ide
Installing SeleniumLibrary
IDE setup (VS Code)
https://docs.robotframework.org/docs/getting_started/ide
Hour 3: Robot Framework File Structure
.robot file syntax
https://robotframework.org/robotframework/latest/RobotFrameworkUserGuide.html#test-data-sections
Writing first Robot test
https://docs.robotframework.org/docs/getting_started/how_to_write_rf
Hour 4: Running Tests & Reports
Running tests via command line
https://robotframework.org/robotframework/latest/RobotFrameworkUserGuide.html#using-command-line-options
Running single tests & test suites
robot --test testcasename tests.robot
robot tests.robot
#RUN WITH VARIABLE
python3 -m robot --variable TESTTIMEOUT:"10 seconds" .
Understanding:
https://robotframework.org/robotframework/latest/RobotFrameworkUserGuide.html#test-results
log.html
report.html
Common execution options
Option Purpose Example
--include Run tests with specific tag robot --include smoke tests/
--exclude Skip tests with specific tag robot --exclude regression tests/
--variable Set variable from command line robot --variable ENV:QA tests/
--variablefile Load variables from a variable file at runtime robot --variablefile vars.py tests/
--outputdir Specify results directory robot --outputdir results tests/
--loglevel Set logging level robot --loglevel DEBUG tests/
--exitonfailure Stop execution on first failure robot --exitonfailure tests/
--rerunfailed Rerun only failed tests robot --rerunfailed results/output.xml tests/
--pythonpath Add custom library path robot --pythonpath libs tests/
--suite Run specific test suite robot --suite Smoke tests/
--test Run specific test case robot --test "Login Test" tests/
--listener Attach listener file robot --listener listener.py tests/
--metadata Add metadata to report robot --metadata Env:QA tests/
--console Control console output robot --console verbose tests/
--dryrun Validate tests without execution robot --dryrun tests/
Hour 5: Variables
Scalar variables
#Basic Artithmetic
*** Variables ***
${A} 8
${B} 2
*** Test Cases ***
Variable Arithmetic
${sum}= Evaluate ${A} + ${B}
${diff}= Evaluate ${A} - ${B}
${product}= Evaluate ${A} * ${B}
${quotient}= Evaluate ${A} / ${B}
Log Sum=${sum}, Diff=${diff}, Product=${product}, Quotient=${quotient}
#STRING OPERATION
*** Settings ***
Library String # Import String library for string operations
*** Variables ***
${STR1} Hello
${STR2} World
${MAIN_STR} Robot Framework is powerful
*** Test Cases ***
String Operations Demo
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# 1) Concatenate 2 strings
# ------------------------------------------------------------
${concat}= Catenate SEPARATOR= ${STR1} ${STR2}
Log Concatenated String: ${concat}
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# 2) Split a string into a list using space as separator
# ------------------------------------------------------------
${split_list}= Split String ${MAIN_STR} separator=
Log Split Result: ${split_list}
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# 3) Replace a substring with another substring
# ------------------------------------------------------------
${replaced}= Replace String ${MAIN_STR} powerful awesome
Log Replaced String: ${replaced}
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# 4) Check if a substring is present in a string
# Returns TRUE or FALSE
# ------------------------------------------------------------
${contains}= Run Keyword And Return Status Should Contain ${MAIN_STR} Framework
Log Substring Present: ${contains}
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# 5) Count total characters in the string (including spaces)
# ------------------------------------------------------------
${char_count}= Get Length ${MAIN_STR}
Log Character Count: ${char_count}
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# 6) Generate a random string of 10 alphabetic characters
# ------------------------------------------------------------
${random}= Generate Random String 10 [LETTERS]
Log Random String: ${random}
Variable scope & best practices
https://robotframework.org/robotframework/latest/RobotFrameworkUserGuide.html#variable-priorities-and-scopes
Hour 6: Keywords
Built-in vs library keywords
Creating user-defined keywords
Keyword arguments & return values
Keyword reusability
Hour 7: Resource Files & Practice
Resource files
Importing shared keywords
Hands-on: Refactor test using keywords
Q&A
Day 2 – Web Automation with SeleniumLibrary (7 Hours)
Hour 1: SeleniumLibrary Basics
What is SeleniumLibrary?
Browser drivers overview
Opening & closing browsers
Basic browser configuration
Hour 2: Locators
ID, Name, XPath, CSS
Locator best practices
Dynamic locators
Hands-on locator exercises
Hour 3: Web Interactions
Input text
Click elements
Submit forms
Get text & attributes
Basic validations
Hour 4: Waits & Synchronization
Timing issues in UI automation
Explicit waits
Wait Until Element Is Visible
Avoiding flaky tests
Hour 5: Handling Advanced Web Elements
Dropdowns
Alerts
Frames & iframes
Multiple windows/tabs
Hour 6: Web Test Design
Designing readable test cases
Given-When-Then style
Separating test data
Reusable web keywords
Hour 7: Hands-On Web Automation
Automate a login flow
Validation & assertions
Debugging failures
Code review
Day 3 – Test Management, Best Practices & Mini Project (7 Hours)
Hour 1: Setup & Teardown
Test setup & teardown
Suite setup & teardown
Initialization & cleanup patterns
Hour 2: Tags & Test Execution Control
Creating and using tags
Running tests by tags
Skipping tests
Smoke vs regression tests
Hour 3: Error Handling & Debugging
Understanding keyword failures
Run Keyword And Continue On Failure
Run Keyword And Ignore Error
Debugging using logs
Hour 4: Best Practices
Naming conventions
Folder structure
Reusability guidelines
Common beginner mistakes
Hour 5: Data-Driven Testing (Intro)
Test templates
Simple data-driven examples
When to use data-driven tests
Hour 6: Mini Project
Design test scenarios
Implement end-to-end web test
Use variables, keywords & tags
Execute & review results
Hour 7: Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Mini project review
Interview-oriented tips
Next learning path:
Page Object Model
API testing
CI/CD integration
Q&A
Course Outcome
By the end of 3 days, learners will be able to: Write Robot Framework test cases from scratch
Automate basic web applications
Create reusable keywords & resource files
Debug failures using logs
Follow automation best practices