Looking into the growing demand for web applications, there is always a scope for making new changes or adding new features. This is done for enhancing the experience of the users. However, it has caused huge pressure on developers to deliver new upgrades. Here, comes the role of the automation framework. Selenium WebDriver automation framework’s dependency surged in the last 10 years. 59.5% of users and developers prefer Selenium to accomplish the browsers for them. The main reason is the shortening of software development cycles not only for the coding stage but also for the testing stages. Developer’s work on automation testing is supported by Selenium WebDriver automation framework key tools like TestNG for Selenium, Selenium WebDriver, and others.
Selenium WebDriver Automation Framework Key Tools can improve the testing experience and overcome hurdles if any. Every Selenium WebDriver automation framework key tool has different functionality and ability with the common objective of easing the automation process. However, many developers may end up spending more time in the execution of tests if the accurate use of Selenium WebDriver automation framework key tools is not known. It is important to have clear information on the Selenium WebDriver automation framework key tools and tips for its use.
It is quite confusing, as some Selenium WebDriver automation framework key tools are bundled together while some are still available as distinct downloads like Selenium Grid. You should know the Selenium WebDriver automation framework’s key tools and tips for its usage. The present blog is focused on the same. It intends to explain Selenium WebDriver automation framework key tools and tips so that you could get the best output if you are taking over legacy Selenium WebDriver automation testing.
Before proceeding to the Selenium WebDriver automation framework key tools, let’s first get an overview of Selenium and its tools.
Introduction to Selenium
Automation testing is a boon for software developers as it helps the developer in deploying new features without any errors. In the reign of automation, Selenium always remains at the top position. Selenium is probably the most popular testing automation framework. Here, some statistics demonstrate the same.
According to the report of Enlyft (formerly iDataLabs), Selenium stands at 27.55% of the software testing tools market share after HP unified Functional Testing tool.
Image source: Indiumsoftware.com
Out of the companies using Selenium, 34% are small size, 46% are medium size and 20% are large size. Now let us have a look at the Selenium testing framework. Below points is a brief description of the Selenium testing framework.
- Selenium is an open-source automation testing framework for all web applications.
- It combines different tools like Selenium IDE, Selenium WebDriver, and Selenium Grid.
- In combination with all these tools, provides a single interface for including test scripts in different coding languages like C#, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and others.
- Selenium framework is based on the JavaScript framework and allows the running of tests directly on the browser.
- It makes use of the Selenium toolbox for performing tests across different browser instances.
- Different kinds of testing can be done using the Selenium automation framework:
- End to end testing
- Compatibility testing
- Integration testing
- Regression testing
- Performance testing
Thus, due to the above crucial features of Selenium, it remains the favorite testing tool for accomplishing reliable testing. Among the tools of Selenium, Selenium WebDriver is the major part of the framework that allows the running of test cases. We will have below an overview of the Selenium WebDriver automation framework.
Selenium WebDriver automation framework
Being the first cross-platform testing framework, it is able to configure and manage the browser on the Operating System level. The below image shows Selenium WebDriver which serves as the programming interface for developing and running test cases.
Image source: Simplilearn
It is the replacement for Selenium Remote Control and includes a Driver, API, Framework, and Library. These work in combination and allow the execution of the test. The use of the Selenium WebDriver automation framework involves different tools which are integrated and allow the performing of testing functions that cannot be executed by Selenium WebDriver. The major reason is that Selenium WebDriver does not have its User Interface and has to be integrated with other tools to overcome such limitations and provide support for testing.
Next, we will be moving to have a clear idea of the Selenium WebDriver automation framework key tools.
Selenium WebDriver automation framework key tools and tips
We all know that Selenium WebDriver is used for automating web browsers. However, it fails to showcase all the needed functionality which is needed for the complete testing process. The need for other tools is important to supplement the ability of Selenium like for running and organizing tests, a test framework is required, a built tool is needed for integrating automation scripts. Hence, it can be said that Selenium WebDriver alone would not be able to handle elements on pages, pop-ups, handling cookies, browser events, and alerts. Below are the most used tools supporting the Selenium WebDriver automation framework.
Selenium WebDriver
Selenium WebDriver is one of the Selenium WebDriver automation framework tools for programming language support. The use of programming language for automation testing tools is important for writing test scripts and performing their execution.
Generally, programming syntax and programming features like operators, variables, modifiers, and strings are used for the writing of the test scripts. However, the major issue lies in the fact that programming languages fail to recognize elements and objects for performing test operations.
For this, test tools are available for identifying elements and performing an operation on elements.
In the Selenium WebDriver automation framework, Selenium WebDriver is one of the crucial components or tools which helps in interacting with web browsers via programming languages like Python, C#, and Java. It allows writing test scripts in your preferred language.
LambdaTest is a cross browser platform that offers automation and exploratory testing on an online Selenium Grid. The use of different automation testing frameworks and tools with LambdaTest helps to expand test coverage for web applications on more than 3000+ real browsers, devices, and OS.
Eclipse for Scripts Development
Eclipse is one of the Selenium WebDriver automation framework tools integrated with Selenium WebDriver for writing Test Scripts. In general terms, the availability of commercial test tools like UFT allows writing Test Scripts in IDE editor. However, the Selenium WebDriver automation framework being API-based lacks IDE. As IDE is needed, the Selenium WebDriver automation framework is integrated with Eclipse IDE for writing Selenium Test Scripts.
You can follow the below step for its installation:
- Download Eclipse IDE
- Unzip it
- Use Eclipse IDE directly
Please note: You need to have installed Java software and a framed environment variable path. It helps to write and execute Java programs in Eclipse IDE.
Unit Testing Framework
Among the Selenium WebDriver automation framework tools, testing frameworks like TestNG play a crucial role to write test cases and organize them into test suites. With Selenium WebDriver, the testing framework is integrated to allow the creation of test batches, group test cases, prioritize test cases, parallel testing, and forming test reports.
It is important to consider that selection of a testing framework depends on the programming platform. For example, working on Java, Selenium WebDriver supports JUnit and TestNG.
Build tool
Build tool is a significant Selenium WebDriver automation framework tool that is used with Selenium WebDriver. It helps in managing dependencies and automating the building, deployment, and testing of the projects. The common build tools include Maven, and Gradle. They are open-source-build automation tools mainly for Java projects. It is used for configuring the Selenium Test Environment and allows its maintenance. The integration of Maven with Selenium WebDriver requires adding software dependencies for the testing process.
Reporting tool
The common reporting tools are ExtentReports, Allure which must be integrated as a Selenium WebDriver automation framework tool. It allows the generation of comprehensive reports of test execution which involves log files, screenshots, and test results.
Continuous integration (CI) tools
Among the Selenium WebDriver automation framework tools, CI tools like Jenkins and Travis CI allow effective running of the test with less complication. Jenkin is the commonly used CI tool that is open source. Running of the Selenium testing in Jenkins allows for running of tests every time when software changes or a new feature is added and deploying the software in a continuous manner to a new environment. Thus, it lessens the execution time for testing and allows faster deployment of new changes made in the application.
Cucumber
Cucumber is one of the Selenium WebDriver automation framework tool functions to write an acceptance test for the web application. It is used in integration with Selenium WebDriver based on the Behavior Driven Development (BDD) framework. On integrating Cucumber with Selenium WebDriver, one can automate the functional validation in an understandable and readable format. Hence, allowing developers to have a clear idea of writing acceptance tests.
Page Object Model
Page Object Model (POM) is a Selenium WebDriver automation framework tool used in test automation. For storing web elements, POM helps to develop an object repository. It not only improves the test case maintenance but also lower code duplication. In POM, class files indicate to be a web page and each of these has corresponding web page elements. With the use of such elements, testers easily achieve actions on the website under test.
In simple terms, POM integrated with Selenium WebDriver provides design patterns that encapsulate elements and activities of the page and thus make test code maintainable and readable.
Sikuli
Sikuli, considered as a Selenium WebDriver automation framework tool, is known for GUI test automation. It is used with Selenium WebDriver for giving support to the web application mainly for the automation process. On integrating Sikuli, developers can automate windows and desktop-based applications.
Further, Selenium WebDriver is unable to automate Flash Object in web pages. However, with the integration of Sikuli, the such limitation can be overcome and Selenium WebDriver is able to successfully automate flash objects.
Conclusion
In the present, we have witnessed different types of Selenium WebDriver automation framework tools and tips. The use of such tools with Selenium WebDriver eases the work of developers in the testing of the web application. In high demand for reliable and fast testing, the inclusion of Selenium WebDriver automation framework tools ensures compatibility and automation testing.
Covering the majority of the Selenium WebDriver automation framework tool and tips will help developers to perform test automation like a pro.
