Selenium WebDriver is an important component of the Selenium test suite which in turn helps modern developers and testers to initiate automated testing on web applications. The system can automatically run the test cases using automation testing based on various parameters, statistics, and usage information.
Selenium has gone through several updates that have improved the Selenium WebDriver and added various advanced features to improve the productivity and quality of the testing process. Using these features, the developers can massively customize the testing experience based on the requirements of their application development project.
So, with this article, we are going to explore some of the most advanced and unique features of the Selenium WebDriver. We will also understand some of the best practices that can help you utilize the full potential of Selenium-based automation testing.
Understanding Selenium
Selenium is an open-source test suite that integrates automation testing with modern web applications. Under the test suite, multiple tools assist the developers during different stages of the application development and testing cycle.
Since Selenium is completely open source, the developers and testers can access all of its features without having to worry about any expenses. This feature is handy to individual creators and small start-up companies who need more revenue to invest in their businesses.
Let us now briefly understand some of the core components of the Selenium test suite that help during the automation testing process:
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Selenium WebDriver
- The Selenium WebDriver is often considered to be the most important part of the test suite as it is not only responsible for initiating the test cases but also for redirecting them to the target elements of the web application for the execution process.
- After the integration of the Selenium WebDriver, the developers can natively communicate with the browser elements without using any dedicated test engine. This is also why the Selenium WebDriver is often considered to be a superior version of the previously present Selenium remote controller.
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Selenium Grid
- The Selenium Grid is responsible for arranging and executing the test cases in a parallel configuration. The major advantage of this process is that the developers can run the test instances on different machines and configurations at the same time.
- Using the Selenium Grid, the developers can also execute automated cross-browser testing to ensure the compatibility and stability of their application across different operating systems, web browsers, and device specifications.
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Selenium IDE
- The Selenium IDE also known as the Selenium Integrated Development Environment, is useful for executing codeless automation testing on modern web apps. While using the Selenium IDE, the system can automatically analyze the user actions and generate test cases in real-time.
- This feature is highly useful when new developers and testers are transitioning to Selenium and they need to create basic test cases to begin the testing process.
In brief, Selenium is widely used in the modern software development industry for executing automated load testing, functional testing, and regression testing on web apps. The flexibility and support for various programming languages make it a popular choice for executing automated test instances across different technology stacks.
Justifying the Need for the Selenium WebDriver
As we already mentioned earlier, the Selenium WebDriver is one of the most important components of the Selenium test suite. Let us now go through some other major reasons to justify the use of Selenium WebDriver in modern automation testing:
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Browser Automation
While using the Selenium WebDriver, the developers can access multiple popular browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari browser online. This means that while initiating automation testing with Selenium WebDriver, the testers can guarantee the stability of their application across a wide range of browser options.
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Cross-Browser Testing
Since the Selenium WebDriver has native support for multiple web browsers, operating systems, and devices, the developers can create multiple configurations with these options and ensure the stable performance of their application across all of these. This is a crucial parameter for expanding the audience reach of an app-developing company.
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Multi-Language Support
While using the Selenium WebDriver, the developers can create automation test cases in multiple popular programming languages like JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and many others. Therefore, it becomes a compelling migration for different testers with different language preferences.
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Dynamic Web Element Interaction
Modern web applications consist of dynamic elements that change their behavior based on the device or user interactions. So, while using the Selenium WebDriver, the developers can create dedicated test cases to analyze the performance of these complex elements and ensure the stability of the user interface.
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Parallel Test Execution
Using Selenium WebDriver, it is possible to execute thousands of different test instances on the same web application at the same time. Using this parameter, the application developers can wrap up the entire test soon within just a few days.
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Explicit and Implicit Waits
Modern apps consist of multiple elements that rely on each other for proper functioning. So, if the developers do not design the test cases to wait for the respective element to load properly, they can encounter certain errors like false positives and false negatives.
Selenium WebDriver solves this issue with the implementation of explicit and implicit waits that can automatically pause the testing instance until the completion of a determined parameter or test case.
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Integration With Testing Frameworks
It is possible to seamlessly integrate the Selenium WebDriver with popular testing frameworks like JUnit and TestNG. Using this integration, the developers can enhance the test reporting, management, and support for creating robust testing instances.
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Integration with Cloud Platforms
It is possible to integrate the Selenium WebDriver with modern cloud platforms to initiate remote automation testing on thousands of real devices. These platforms also provide access to outdated browser versions and legacy devices for improved app compatibility.
Modern cloud platforms like LambdaTest support the execution of the Selenium WebDriver testing instances on more than 3000 browser versions simultaneously. It also uses advanced features like machine learning, comprehensive test reports, and artificial intelligence to improve the quality and productivity of the testing interface.
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Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery
It is a common practice to use the Selenium WebDriver with the CI/CD pipeline. This is part of the standard development and release procedure. Using this integration, the developers can ensure that new code changes are automatically tested before the application is deployed to the production phase. It also helps in the simultaneous execution of the development and testing process.
Analyzing the Advanced Features of the Selenium WebDriver
The programming interface of the Selenium WebDriver can interact with web browsers and perform various actions including filling forms and navigating through web pages. This tool also offers several advanced features to enhance the test automation capabilities. To simplify this knowledge for the new automation testers and developers, we have listed some of the most advanced features of Selenium WebDriver:
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WebDriver Waits
Using Implicit Wait, the WebDriver can wait for a certain amount of time before throwing an exception. This process is useful for handling dynamic web elements that may require some additional time to complete the loading process.
On the other hand, Explicit Wait pauses for a certain condition to occur before proceeding to the next phase of the code. This approach is useful for waiting for a specific element to become present or visible on the application interface.
Using the following code snippet, the developers can initiate the WebDriver Wait method using the Selenium WebDriver:
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Action Class
Using the action class, the developers and testers can perform complex user interactions. Some of the common examples include mouse and keyboard actions including drag and drop, scrolling, keypresses, and many others.
The following code snippet will allow the developers to invoke the action class while using the Selenium WebDriver:
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Headless Browser Testing
The developers should run the test cases in a headless format without the initiation of the Graphical User Interface. This process allows faster test execution especially while working in a continuous integration environment.
By entering the following code in the terminate window of the Selenium WebDriver, the application developers can initiate headless browser testing:
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Browser Profiles
While using the Selenium WebDriver, the developers can customize the browser behavior and settings using browser profiles. This approach also allows the management of cookies, cache, and other browser preferences.
By entering the following code in the terminal window, the developers can access and make changes to the browser profiles:
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Logging
While using Selenium, the developers can configure logging to capture detailed information about the browser’s actions and events. It also helps to track the test actions during the test execution phase. For this purpose, developers only have to enter the following command:
import logging
logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
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Screenshot Capturing
The testers should capture screenshots in the test execution process to analyze the state of the application at specific points of the testing phase. This step also allows us to simplify the debugging and troubleshooting process. For this purpose, enter the following command into the Selenium terminal window:
driver.save_screenshot(“screenshot.png”)
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Handling Multiple Frames and Windows
The Selenium WebDriver provides native features to deal with scenarios where a web page contains multiple frames or pop-up windows. This feature is especially useful when the developers are working on web applications that have multiple web pages with complex information and elements.
By entering the following command in the Selenium terminal window, the developers and testers can easily switch between different frames and windows:
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Browser Navigation
The Selenium WebDriver allows the testers to easily navigate backward, forward, and even refresh the browser window. It is also possible to navigate to a specific URL for testing purposes while using the Selenium WebDriver. The following command will allow the application developers to perform seamless browser navigation:
The Bottom Line
In this article, we discussed some of the most advanced features of the Selenium WebDriver. Depending on the testing requirements, the developers and testers can explore and utilize the above features to create more robust and flexible automation scripts. It is also advisable to go through the official documentation of Selenium to know about more such features and their use cases.
The developers should also have a clear understanding of the target audience and their requirements. This information will help them to customize the application to serve a wider range of users and expand the company’s reach. It is also an important parameter for building a positive brand image and maintaining a company’s position in this competitive segment of the industry.