Selenium is an open-source automated testing framework that validates web applications across many different browsers and platforms. A framework is basically a combination of protocols, standards, guidelines used for organizing the running of tests. There is a divergent range of frameworks available today that differ from each other based on how they support key factors required for automation. As far as web test automation goes, Selenium is incontrovertibly the most popular testing framework. What makes Selenium so popular?
Open-source
Selenium is a full suite of products and an open-source project with few barriers to use and contribution. As an open-source tool, the Selenium framework is publically accessible and free. Compared to many paid automated testing tools Selenium’s open-source capabilities allow users to script their own extensions, making them simple to create and manipulate the software without a huge expances. There are no out-of-pocket expenses and the strong community can offer very valuable support.
A suite of tools
Selenium offers more than just a single tool or utility. It is called a suite because each tool suits specific testing needs and test environment constraints. The core technology of the Selenium project is WebDriver, the technology to drive a browser. It consists of code libraries that allow programmers to access the web and ‘browser driver’ technology.
On top of these technologies, programmers create test cases which are typically stored in a hierarchy and the Selenium framework synchronizes the running of the tests. Selenium has a grid to distribute test workloads across different environments. It was created to answer the need to reduce test execution times. An IDE is an extension that can be used to create reproducible test cases by automating the browser using a record-and-playback function.
Platform independent
Testers don’t have to waste time writing test scripts for every platform that needs testing. It encourages the principle of writing a single test script to run on any platform and automates testing across all the most popular web browsers such as Mozilla, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari. Instead of having to write multiple scripts for each browser, only one script is needed for all browsers.
Support across various operating systems
It is important for an automation tool to support different operating systems. Selenium is very portable and can work across a variety of operating systems, such as Windows, Mac OS, UNIX and Linux. Developers can create test suites over a platform like Max and execute the same test suite on Windows. This means they can write test automation scripts without worrying too much about the platform on which it will run.
Support of different programming languages
Programmers can write their scripts in a variety of different programming languages, such as Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby and C#. Selenium converts them into Selenium-compatible codes. Every language supported by Selenium has dedicated frameworks that help with writing test scripts. Selenese is the name of the language used for scriptwriting in the IDE. It uses a set of commands to test web applications or systems.
Compatible with all popular browsers
WebDriver sends commands over a protocol that is a W3C standard supported by every major browser. With the help of the Selenium Grid, testing teams can automatically execute multiple tests in parallel, hence reducing the test execution time. By testing across hundreds of browsers in parallel, they can save an immense amount of time and go to market faster.
Easy implementation
Selenium is easy to use due to its user-friendly interface that helps with creating and executing test scripts. It doesn’t require extensive programming knowledge to automate the test process with a basic set of instructions. The software comes with easy navigation tools to write test cases.
In the case of end-to-end application testing, Selenium offers great visibility. Developers can watch tests run and analyze detailed reports, extract results and take action based on their insights. Selenium is quick to learn and there are lots of tutorials to watch.
Integration with other tools and platforms
Integration of Selenium with many third-party tools and platforms can extend and enhance its automation functionality. For example, integration with Appium can enable testing of web apps on iOS or Android platforms. Integration with Extent Reports allows for the generation of reports and graphs to provide more insights on testing status to clients. Integration with Sikuli allows for testing of web applications involving videos and images. For achieving continuous testing, integration with some tools like Docker, Jenkins or Maven is possible. You can integrate Selenium with most management tools.
Massive user base and constant updates
Selenium is supported by a very active and massive community due to the maturity of the platform. It can offer a wealth of knowledge and the community is always ready to assist in cases of need and ready to answer queries. It also means updates and upgrades are constantly being released. These are readily available and easy to understand so there is no specific training necessary. Community-based technical support helps to make the use of Selenium cost-effective.
