Manual testing is essential, but test automation is becoming a must-have skill in modern QA due to faster releases and the need to avoid repetitive tasks and human error.
Selenium is the most widely used automation tool for web applications, offering flexibility and compatibility with major browsers and platforms.
Java is a top choice for Selenium automation, being fast, reliable, scalable, and having a large community and integration capabilities.
The roadmap for shifting from manual to automation testing includes learning Java basics, becoming comfortable with Selenium WebDriver, using test frameworks like TestNG and Jenkins, and mastering advanced automation concepts like POM, data-driven testing, Selenium Grid, and BDD.