In the digital age of software testing, Selenium Framework stands as a very important tool for effective testing. But what exactly is Selenium Framework and why do we need it in the world of automated testing?
Selenium Framework includes a collection of Java-script-based automated testing tools that provide many kinds of features to speed up the testing process. This framework created by the popular open-source automation testing fits Selenium and allows testers to perform testing directly on a web browser.
So, now we will know about the types of Selenium Framework and its uses but first, let’s know in detail “What is Selenium Framework”?
What is a selenium framework?
A collection of tools for automated testing built on the Javascript framework is called Selenium Framework. Without requiring any human input, it could repeat the tests in the target browser. It gets rid of labor-intensive, repetitive manual testing by hand. It continues to be one of the most popular testing tools since it satisfies the need for rapid and dependable testing, saving businesses both money and time in the process.
Also, selenium is referred to as the best tool for testing because it meets all requirements for fast and trustworthy testing, which helps companies save money and time on testing.
Selenium WebDriver
Selenium WebDriver, also known as Selenium 2.0, serves as a tool kit that guides browsers and tells how to operate. It’s an upgrade from Selenium Remote Control and includes many parts like API, library, driver, and framework. All of these work together just to make testing more and more easier.
API acts as a main in translating scripts written in many kinds of languages into Selenium’s native language, silence.
Selenium Java, Selenium Ruby, and Selenium Dotnet are just a few related language connections that stay in the Library to help it do this.
The software that runs the module is known as the driver in charge of starting the browser sessions and running the test script. Like ChromeDriver for Google Chrome, it can be created for a specific browser. Cucumber and TestNG are examples of frameworks that are used to test the relationship between the browser/driver and the WebDriver client.
Also, Selenium Grid allows tests to work smoothly with several drivers. Selenium WebDriver is an important tool for modern online testing requirements because it supports browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Internet Explorer.
Selenium IDE
A very useful plugin that works with both Firefox and Chrome is Selenium IDE. Its main work is to watch what is happening inside the browser and record it, turning it into little bits of code in different programming languages. Due to its support for languages such as Java, Python, Ruby, C#, and Selenese, testers may now easily record test situations within the Selenium IDE and run them in the browser. Code problems are easily identified and corrected during operation because they are immediately marked in red.
The ability to set limits in the Selenium IDE is a useful feature that allows developers to pause testing at some points for deep problem-solving. Also, the IDE uses many locations for each part, providing safe operation even in difficult situations.
Selenium IDE’s full features and simple design make it an amazing tool for regression testing, as it quickly finds and fixes mistakes. It’s a great fit with Selenium WebDriver and improves its value, giving it a great option for cross-browser testing on different platforms.
Types of Selenium Frameworks
Selenium Frameworks are classified into three main types.
- Data-driven framework: This framework is built around various data sets that are exported as Excel sheets and then fed into the automated testing tool. It is quite difficult to alter these values in the script each time the test is run when the test framework uses a large number of data sets as input.
- Keyword-driven framework: This framework is built around keywords, which serve as the foundation for its functioning, accept input in the form of parameters, and produce pertinent results. Some areas of the code may require repetitive authoring if there is a lot of functionality to cover. Thus, the purpose of writing keywords is to hide the code’s complexity.
- Hybrid framework: A hybrid framework combines keyword-driven and data-driven architectures. This framework stores the inputs and functions list in separate files, and it employs various keywords and data sets. It makes use of the same code for many data sets, much like the data-driven framework.
When to use Selenium Framework?
Choose a data-driven framework, which isolates the numerous data s
ets from the real code, while testing several data sets for the web application. when the web application still needs to have more functionalities tested. The team is advised to use a framework that is keyword-driven, in which the operations are kept as keywords in a different table. These keywords are utilized to employ a particular functional procedure. Use a hybrid-driven framework to reduce complexity while dealing with large numbers of data sets and functionality.
Why is the Selenium Framework preferred for Automation?
With its ability to make sure that users have a smooth and easy experience between all browsers and devices, automation testing has completely changed the testing environment. Looking for a cross-browser has become more important as a result of the increase in automated testing. Selenium is a well-liked option for automated testing, Used by both well-known businesses and new companies. With more than 57,000 firms using it globally, Selenium has a 24.63% market share when it comes to software testing solutions.
Also, Selenium is well-liked in the IT services and computer software sectors, it also has an impact on many other areas like financial services, healthcare, staffing, and recruiting. The main factor affecting Selenium’s popularity is that it is open-source, which promises regular updates and changes and also keeps costs under control. Testers no longer have to worry about language limits because Selenium supports several programming languages, including Java, Python, C#, PHP, Ruby, Perl, and .Net.
Automating Testing with LambdaTest using Selenium Framework
The Selenium WebDriver framework works in perfect harmony with LambdaTest, a cloud-based cross-browser testing platform, to provide an effective way to test online applications across a variety of devices, operating systems, and browsers. Because of its connection with Selenium, testers can run automated tests quickly and effectively, guaranteeing a reliable user experience and solid application operation.
By removing the need to manage complicated infrastructure and offering a dependable and scalable cloud-based platform, it simplifies the testing process. Comprehensive cross-browser compatibility testing is made possible by the wide range of browsers that testers may use straight from its interface, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer. Its ability to run Selenium tests in parallel across various browser settings is one of its primary advantages; this capability helps to speed up the feedback loop and drastically reduce test execution time. Teams may accomplish quicker release cycles without sacrificing test coverage or quality.
A comprehensive feature set designed to improve the Selenium testing process is provided by LambdaTest. Testers can use automated snapshot testing to confirm visual consistency across browsers, visual regression testing to find UI differences across releases, and live interactive testing to troubleshoot problems in real-time. It also facilitates easy automation and integration of testing inside the development process by integrating with well-known CI/CD platforms like Travis CI and Jenkins.
Additionally, it encourages teamwork by providing tools like test session sharing and real-time testing, which facilitate effective communication and problem-solving. Testers can quickly discover and fix problems using detailed test reports, which include screenshots, logs, and performance data in addition to full insights into test outcomes.
All things considered, LambdaTest in conjunction with Selenium provides a reliable and effective cross-browser testing solution, enabling teams to produce high-calibre web applications with assurance and flexibility.
10 Selenium Best Practices For Efficient Test Automation
- Avoid Using Sleep Calls for Wait Times: Rather than using sleep calls to make the test wait for a specific amount of time, use active waiting methods which need elements to exist before moving on. By doing this, tests are sure that they’ll go quickly and smoothly.
- Name Test Cases & Suites Clearly: Test cases and test suites should have titles that are both clear and informative so that everyone can understand the purpose of each test. This allows fast test control and organization, reducing the process of finding and fixing problems.
- Set the Browser Zoom Level to 100 percent: Before doing tests, make sure the browser zoom level is set to 100% to keep uniform in the design and feel of UI elements. This provides honest test results across different browsers and avoids unexpected layout difficulties.
- Maximize the Browser Window: Maximize the browser window to use the available screen space fully during testing.
This provides a better testing experience and makes sure that elements are showing correctly on the screen.
- Select the Right Web Locator: Choose the most suitable web locator (such as ID, class name, or XPath) by looking at the details of the element and the framework of the application. By making regular and reliable test automation, lowers the possibility of locator errors.
- Develop a browser Compatibility Plan: Make a detailed list that includes different browsers, their versions, and the operating system in which they run. This helps in finding and conducting cross-browser testing effectively, making sure that websites or applications work well on many browser setups.
- Set Up Tracking and Feedback: Create a system to keep a record of work during testing and create reports. This helps in tracking any kind of issue and seeing how well the testing is running.
- Apply Structured Design Methods (Like Page Object Model – POM): Use organized ways to design code, making it easy and simple to understand and manage. For example, separate code that meets with web pages from the test code using the Page Object Model.
- Use Friendly Testing Framework with Selenium: Using a testing framework that allows writing tests in plain language, writing so simple and making them easy to understand even for non-programmers. This promotes collaboration with team members and stakeholders.
- Maintain Consistent Folder Arrangement: Keep files and folders organized properly across projects. This helps team members find what they need easily and understand how everything is designed.
Summary
Selenium Frameworks play an important role in current software testing, offering the best tools for automated testing. By reducing the testing processes and ensuring safety among different browsers and devices, Selenium helps businesses save time and money. Its ability, open-source nature, and support for multiple programming languages make it a preferred choice for companies in many industries. Adding best practices, such as avoiding sleep calls and maintaining clear test case naming conventions, also improves the benefits of Selenium-based test automation.
