Selenium is a tool for automating web application testing. It provides an API that is easy to understand and maintain. Selenium WebDriver acts like a normal library and is not tied to any particular test framework. Selenium IDE allows recording and playback of user actions on a browser and can convert scripts to languages like Java and Python. It is useful for learning script syntax. Selenium WebDriver supports automation across different browsers while Selenium IDE only works on Firefox.

1. Selenium
for web automation
Madhu Kumari
B.E Computer Engg.

2. Selenium Webdriver
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WebDriver is a tool for automating testing web applications
It aims to provide a friendly API that’s easy to explore,
understand and maintain
It’s not tied to any particular test framework, so it can be
used equally well in a unit testing or from a plain old “main”
method
Once your project is set up, you can see that WebDriver
acts just as any normal library: it is entirely self-contained

3. Selenium IDE
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It is the only flavor of selenium that allows us to record user
actions on browser window
Scripts recorded in IDE can be converted into other
languages like Java, C#, Python and Ruby
It is not only a time saver but also an excellent way of
learning scripts syntax
Allows to insert comments in the middle of the script for
better understanding and debugging
Supports context menu

4. Selenium Webdriver: Portability
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All Java projects work the same with a src & bin folders and
other related folders
Each IDE creates it's own IDE project/workspace files as
well
One can use same source files within it's hierarchy of folders
easily among different Java IDEs
Just ensure to use standardized IDE for better portability
experience

5. Need of Eclipse for Automation
using Selenium Webdriver
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Depends upon the requirements
Eclipse has been one of the best IDEs for unit testing ever
since it's early days
But other alternatives to Eclipse for Automation using
Selenium Webdriver are also available

6. Is there any IDE available for web
automation using Selenium?
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IntelliJ IDEA
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Have the best IntelliSense
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It's also an open source
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For the Ultimate license you have to pay

7. Demerits of Selenium IDE
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It runs only in firefox browser
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Selenium IDE can execute scripts created in selenese only
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Cannot upload files
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It does not directly support loops and conditions
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Reading from external files like .txt, .xls is not possible

8. Selenium IDE vs
Selenium Webdriver
SR. NO.
CRITERIA
SELENIUM IDE
SELENIUM WEBDRIVER
1
Browser
compatibility
Only Mozilla Firefox
Latest versions of all
browsers – Firefox, IE,
Opera, Chrome
2
Record and
play/run tool
Available
Not Available
3
Server
Not required
Core engine is Javascript
based, interacts natively
with browser application
4
Simple to use
Yes
Complex and a bit large API
as compared to RC
5
Object oriented
No
Purely
6
Mouse cursor
Cannot move mouse
Can move mouse cursor
7
Listener
No Listener
Implementation is available
8
Test
iPhone/Android
application
Cannot test
Can test

9. Selenium
vs
Low/Network level tools
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"Low/network" level tool like Htmlunit has the advantage of
being fast - but its javascript will not work work in most
complex websites(besides not being a browser test)
Selenium(java, .net) code also has the disadvantage of being
dependent on RC server(not big deal)
You should continue low level tools like Httpunit for
monitoring - but it's not preferable to use these tools for
browser/regression testing.

10. Selenium vs Watir
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For people favouring test cases in Ruby (or.net) then Watir
is a tool
Watir does have advantage that its recorder uses IE to
record.
With Selenium IDE – Only browser support is there for
Firefox – else you will have to manually write the code
The biggest advantage of Selenium is its support for FIT
HTML and the vast languages/browsers/platform that it
supports.(with good documentation)

11. Selenium vs IMacros
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IMacros appears better in recording as compared to
Selenium IDE
As per automation Imacros is not powerful for automation
as Selenium IDE
For scheduling as well Selenium is better compared to
IMacros

12. Selenium vs Dejaclick
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Dejaclick is probably the best (free) macro tool for websites
record and play.
Selenium beats DejaClick in overall features(multiple
language suport vs only XML support, free automation vs
paid automation).
Advantages of Dejaclick:
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It nicely plays back the recorded stuff - by
highlighting appropriate items in green.
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It can easily record flash/silverlight - by recording
position.(however it may mean that it may not
nicely work in all computers)
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Allows to encrypt sensitive data
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Allows to bookmark the script for playback.

13. Demerits of Dejaclick
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Disadvantage:
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Dejaclick recording tool is free - But for automation
you have to rely on paid site alertsite
AlertSite
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Provides great facility for running your dejaclick
script and even soap xml from most of
cities/region in US/world
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Also allows you to monitor the CDN
performance/reliability or what content your
website is serving across different regions

14. Selenium vs Sahi
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Pros:
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Has its own IDE
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Record and playback tests
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Data-driven test via jdbc:odbc bridge
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Test success/failure reporting in html files
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Capabilities to run test using batch file or ant script
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Multi-browser support
Lightweight
Cons:
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documentation needs to be enhanced
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need to be improved reporting