Selenium Terminology that you must Know

Selenium is an open-source automation testing tool used for automating web applications. It is widely used because it supports multiple programming languages and various platforms like Windows, Linux, and macOS. This article will discuss some of the basic terminology used in Selenium.

Selenium Terminology

1. Selenium IDE

Selenium IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a Firefox plugin to record, edit, and debug tests. It is a simple and easy-to-use tool that does not require any programming knowledge. The recorded tests can be exported in various programming languages like Java, Python, C#, etc. It is mostly used for prototyping and exploring Selenium.

2. Selenium WebDriver

Selenium WebDriver is a browser automation framework that allows us to automate web applications across different browsers and platforms. It provides a simple and concise programming interface to interact with the browser. It supports multiple programming languages like Java, Python, C#, Ruby, etc. WebDriver uses the browser’s native support for automation, which means it directly communicates with the browser and controls it.

3. Selenium Grid

Selenium Grid is a tool used to run multiple tests across different browsers, operating systems, and machines in parallel. It allows us to distribute tests across multiple machines to reduce test execution time. It uses a hub-node architecture, where the hub acts as a central point for managing tests.The nodes act as endpoints for executing tests.

4. Selenium WebElement

WebElement is an interface in Selenium that represents an HTML element on a web page. It provides methods to interact with the element, such as clicking, sending keys, getting the text, and more. To locate a WebElement on a web page, we use locators such as id, name, class name, tag name, link text, and partial link text. The following code snippet shows how to find a WebElement by id and click it in Java:

5. Locators in Selenium

Locators are used to identifying web elements on a web page. Selenium provides various locators to identify web elements like ID, name, class name, tag name, link text, partial link text, CSS selector, and XPath. Locators are used to interacting with web elements like clicking on a button, entering text in a text box, etc.

Here are some examples of using locators in Selenium WebDriver:

Before we proceed with learning selenium further, let us learn basic terminology related to automation testing.

6. Automation Testing

Automation testing is the process of testing software applications using automation tools to execute test cases. Selenium can be used for automation testing to perform functional and regression testing of web applications. Automation testing in Selenium is a powerful tool for software quality assurance. It saves time and effort in executing test cases and reduces the chances of human errors.

The automation testing process in Selenium involves the following steps:

a. Test Environment Setup: The first step is setting up the test environment. This includes installing the required tools and software and configuring the system for automation testing.

b. Test Planning: The next step is to plan the test cases that need to be automated. Test cases can be written in a programming language of your choice using Selenium WebDriver API.

c. Test Scripting: After planning, the next step is to write test scripts using Selenium WebDriver. Test scripts are written in a programming language and executed using a test runner.

d. Test Execution: After writing the test scripts, the next step is to execute the test cases. Test cases can be executed using the test runner provided by Selenium or any other test runner.

e. Test Reporting: The test results are reported after executing the test cases. Test reports are generated using the test runner in various formats like HTML, XML, etc.

f. Test Maintenance: The final step is maintaining the test scripts and cases. Test cases need to be updated with changes in the application, and test scripts need to be modified accordingly.

Automation Testing tools for Functional and Non-Functional Automation

Automation testing tools are software applications that automate the process of testing software applications. There are two main types of automation testing tools: functional and non-functional automation testing tools.

Functional automation testing tools are used to test the functionality of software applications. They are used to automate the testing of user interfaces, databases, web services, and other components of software applications. Examples of popular functional automation testing tools include Selenium, TestComplete, and Appium.

Non-functional automation testing tools are used to test the performance, scalability, and security of software applications. They are used to automate the testing of load, stress, and security tests. Examples of popular non-functional automation testing tools include JMeter, LoadRunner, and Burp Suite.

Both functional and non-functional automation testing tools help software development teams to speed up the testing process. It also reduces errors, and increases the quality of their software applications.

How Selenium Relates to Automation Testing

Selenium helps to automate testing tasks such as clicking buttons, filling forms, and validating web page content. It also supports parallel test execution and integration with other tools like Jenkins and TestNG. Overall, Selenium plays a significant role in automation testing. It enables testers to automate repetitive tasks and reduce the time and effort required for manual testing.

In addition to its core functionality, Selenium also provides several advanced features for automation testing. For example cross-browser testing, mobile testing, and integration with cloud-based testing platforms. These features enable testers to test their web applications across multiple browsers and mobile devices and also scale their testing efforts using cloud-based infrastructure.

Selenium can also be integrated with other automation testing tools such as Cucumber, TestNG, and JUnit to create comprehensive test suites and generate detailed reports. This makes it easy for teams to collaborate and share test results. It helps to ensure that everyone involved in the development process has access to the latest information on the application’s quality and performance.

Why Automation Testing

Automation testing in Selenium offers several advantages over manual testing. Firstly, it can save time and effort by automating repetitive testing tasks, freeing up testers to focus on more complex and critical testing activities. This can result in faster delivery of software applications to the market.

Secondly, automation testing in Selenium can reduce the risk of human errors in testing. Unlike manual testing, automation testing is not affected by factors like fatigue, boredom, or inconsistency, which can lead to errors in manual testing. This ensures that testing is more reliable and accurate, reducing the risk of defects and improving the overall quality of the software.

Thirdly, automation testing in Selenium provides better test coverage, as it can simulate a large number of test scenarios. This helps to ensure that all possible scenarios are covered. Also makes sure that any issues or defects are identified and fixed before the software is released to production.

Finally, automation testing in Selenium can help to reduce testing costs in the long run. This makes it an attractive option for organizations looking to optimize their testing efforts and improve their software development process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, automation testing in Selenium is a powerful tool for software quality assurance. It helps to save time and effort in executing test cases and reduces the chances of human errors. With the proper setup and planning, automation testing in Selenium can help ensure the quality of web applications and improve software development efficiency.