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How ACCELQ Enhances Selenium WebDriver for Testing?

Selenium Webdriver-ACCELQ
Posted On: 12 November 2024

Selenium is a powerful platform to help control web browsers and it functions across browsers and major operating systems. It has supporting scripts prepared in common programming languages like Python, Java, C#. Part of Selenium Framework, WebDriver is a handy solution for cross-browser compatibility testing.

In this blog, we will explore Selenium WebDriver and its top use case, including its Challenges and actionable best practices. We will also demonstrate how ACCELQ, a codeless test automation platform, enhances accessibility and usability with Selenium-based test automation.

What is Selenium WebDriver?

Selenium WebDriver is basically a browser automation framework which uses API provided by each of the web browsers you are testing. So, it enables the testers to simulate real user interaction on a browser non-intrusively.

Key Features of Selenium WebDriver:

  • Cross-Browser Compatibility: Works on Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge.
  • Language Flexibility: Compatible with Java, Python, C#, Perl, Ruby, and PHP.
  • Multi-OS Support: Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris.
  • Direct Communication with Browsers: Uses browser drivers to execute commands directly, ensuring faster and more reliable results.

Selenium WebDriver is best for testing across different browsers. It automates the same repetitive steps and organizes the functionality checks of web applications.

How does Selenium WebDriver work?

Selenium WebDriver acts as a mediator, allowing the code to communicate with different browser drivers. When Selenium is used to run tests, the test cases are created using element locators, which are located using a Selenium element locator technique. Then, using Selenium WebDriver, actions can be performed on those elements. In a nutshell, Selenium WebDriver works in three steps:

  • Test Commands as HTTP Requests: Test commands are converted into HTTP requests using the JSON Wire Protocol.
  • Browser Driver Initialization: Each browser has its specific driver (e.g., ChromeDriver for Chrome, GeckoDriver for Firefox), which initializes a server to interpret and execute these requests.
  • Browser Interaction: The browser executes actions and sends results back to the script.

Reasons to switch from
Selenium to continuous testing

Code Examples of Selenium WebDriver in Action

1. Java

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver; 

import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver; 

import org.openqa.selenium.By; 

 

public class SeleniumTest { 

    public static void main(String[] args) { 

        // Set the path of the Chrome driver executable 

        System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "path/to/chromedriver"); 

 

        // Initialize a Chrome browser instance 

        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver(); 

 

        // Navigate to a web page 

        driver.get("https://www.example.com"); 

 

        // Perform actions (e.g., click a button, enter text) 

        driver.findElement(By.id("some-id")).sendKeys("Some text"); 

 

        // Close the browser 

        driver.quit(); 

    } 

} 

2. Python

from selenium import webdriver 

from selenium.webdriver.common.keys import Keys 

 

# Set the path of the Chrome driver executable 

driver = webdriver.Chrome(executable_path='path/to/chromedriver') 

 

# Navigate to a web page 

driver.get("http://www.example.com") 

 

# Perform actions 

elem = driver.find_element_by_name("q") 

elem.clear() 

elem.send_keys("pycon") 

elem.send_keys(Keys.RETURN) 

 

# Close the browser 

driver.close() 

3. C#

using OpenQA.Selenium; 

using OpenQA.Selenium.Chrome; 

 

class SeleniumTest { 

    static void Main() { 

        // Set the path of the Chrome driver executable 

        IWebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver("path/to/chromedriver"); 

 

        // Navigate to a web page 

        driver.Navigate().GoToUrl("http://www.example.com"); 

 

        // Perform actions 

        IWebElement query = driver.FindElement(By.Name("q")); 

        query.SendKeys("Selenium"); 

        query.Submit(); 

 

        // Close the browser 

        driver.Quit(); 

    } 

}  

4. Ruby

equire 'selenium-webdriver' 

 

# Set the path of the Chrome driver executable 

driver = Selenium::WebDriver.for :chrome, driver_path: 'path/to/chromedriver' 

 

# Navigate to a web page 

driver.navigate.to "http://www.example.com" 

 

# Perform actions 

element = driver.find_element(name: 'q') 

element.send_keys "Hello WebDriver!" 

element.submit 

 

# Close the browser 

driver.quit 

These examples provide the basic structure for Selenium WebDriver tests. Depending on the complexity of the web application and test requirements, advanced features like handling dropdowns, checkboxes, alerts, frames, and executing JavaScript may be needed.

Challenges with Selenium WebDriver

Selenium WebDriver is undoubtedly powerful, but teams often encounter these roadblocks:

1. High Maintenance Overhead

Dynamic web elements, frequent updates, and multiple integrations demand significant upkeep.

2. Limited Scope

  • No support for desktop application testing.
  • No built-in capabilities for API or visual testing.

3. Steep Learning Curve

QA teams often need developers for setup and troubleshooting, slowing down delivery timelines.

4. Lack of Advanced Features

  • No native reporting capabilities (relies on TestNG or JUnit).
  • API testing requires external tools like Rest-Assured.

These limitations can make Selenium a challenging tool to scale, especially for non-technical users.

ACCELQ and Selenium WebDriver

While Selenium WebDriver is more superficial than its predecessors, it is still time-consuming and requires coding expertise. QA teams often rely on developers familiar with Selenium but not necessarily with the business processes. Additionally, it requires third-party integrations for API testing, reporting, and other features, making it cumbersome.

ACCELQ is a new-generation test automation platform built on lean architecture principles. Its natural language-based interface allows non-technical people to implement stable automation and embed best practices without custom frameworks or advanced coding skills.

Why ACCELQ is the Perfect Partner for Selenium Automation

ACCELQ complements Selenium by addressing its pain points and offering a codeless, AI-driven solution that simplifies test automation for all stakeholders.

Feature Selenium WebDriver ACCELQ
Ease of Use Requires coding skills Codeless natural language scripts
Dynamic Element Handling Manual locators needed AI-driven locators to reduce flakiness
Reporting External tools required Built-in reporting and analytics
End-to-End Coverage Limited UI, API, and business workflows
Scalability Maintenance-heavy Modular, reusable design

Minimizing maintenance overhead, ACCELQ automates 3x faster than Selenium so that your QA teams can seamlessly hit once-in-a-lifetime efficiency.

Conclusion

Though Selenium WebDriver is a powerful tool for web automation, it has limitations. With ACCELQ, teams can reap the benefits of faster and more reliable automation results despite these challenges. Whether you’re testing dynamic elements, integrating API testing, or managing test maintenance, ACCELQ simplifies the process and enhances productivity.

Discover how ACCELQ can transform your testing journey. Contact Us Today!

Enrique DeCoss

Senior Quality Assurance Manager | FICO

Enrique is an industry leader in quality strategy with 17+ of experience implementing automation tools. Enrique has a strong background in web Tools, API testing strategies, performance testing, Linux OS and testing techniques. Enrique loves to share his in-depth knowledge in competencies including, Selenium, JavaScript, Python, ML testing tools, cloud computing, agile methodologies, and people Management.

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