WHAT IS SELENIUM ? WHY DO WE USE FOR AUTOMATION?
Published: 2024-03-19 09:55:37

**Selenium**
     Selenium is most renowned open-source test automation frameworks. It is powerful tool for controlling web browsers through programs. It is simpler to test web applications for performance, compatibility, and usefulness.

   It is compatibility with programming languages like Java, Python, C#, Ruby, and etc to create Selenium Test Scripts. Developers and Testers can use Selenium’s features in the programming environment of their choice and in the language.

Selenium is functional for all browsers, works on all major OS, and its scripts are written in various languages. 

**Selenium Tool Suite**
     Selenium Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
     Selenium Remote Control (RC)
     WebDriver
     Selenium Grid

   
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/6qasmkw89b64bnjkhdug.jpg)

**Selenium IDE**
  It enables testers to develop test cases without having to have a deep understanding of programming. This IDE provides a straightforward, user-friendly user interface for adding and updating test cases.

Selenium IDE implemented as a Firefox Add-On and as a Chrome Extension.

This was previously known as Selenium Recorder.
This provides commands for performing actions in a browser and for retrieving data from the resulting pages.

**Selenium RC (Remote control)**
       The first automated web testing tool that allows users to use a programming language they prefer. It can support the following programming languages:
C#
Java
PHP
Python
Perl
Ruby


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/b1wya2tgu2owz51ksnwe.jpg)

**WebDriver**
        It is the often-used tool in the Selenium suite. It uses native OS level functionality rather than browser-based JavaScript commands to drive the browser. This WebDriver does not need a special server to execute tests. It implements a more modern and stable approach in automation. 
 
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/bk6vi375vyqdbyedh4wf.jpg)

**Selenium GRID**
     It is a tool used together with Selenium Remote Control to run parallel tests across different machines and different browsers all at the same time.  Running multiple tests at once is called as Parallel execution. 
 Selenium GRID Saves time enormously. This must be perfect for organizations with oversized test suites. This Selenium Grid allows testers to spread test cases and execute them in parallel.

Selenium GRID is needed when run a huge test suite, that needs to complete in the soonest time possible.

**Using Selenium for Automated Testing**
     
   **1. Language and Framework Support**
         Selenium supports all major languages like Java, Python, JavaScript, C#, Ruby, and Perl programming languages for software test automation. Selenium converts any programming languages it into Selenium compatible codes in no time.
    
   **2. Open-Source Availability**
         The Main advantages of Selenium it is open-source availability. It helps the developers and software engineers in automating the web browser features and functionalities.
    
   **3. Multi-Browser Support**
        Selenium script is compatible with most used browsers in worldwide so no need to rewrite scripts for every browser, just one script for all browsers.
   
   **4. Support Across Various Operating Systems**
        It is necessary that your automation tool supports all different operating systems like Windows, Linux, Mac OS, UNIX, etc. Selenium test suites over any platform.

  **5. Ease Of Implementation**
       It is very easy-to-use tool. It provides a user-friendly interface, so it helps to create and execute test scripts easily and effectively.

**6. Reusability and Integrations**
     As we mentioned above that the test suites can be tested across multiple browsers and operating systems are reusable.

**7. Flexibility**
     Selenium features like regrouping and refactoring of test cases becomes easier and more efficient so it helps developers and testers in quick changes to the code improving maintainability, minimizing complications, these features make Selenium more flexible and usable as compared to other automation testing tools. 

**8. Parallel Test Execution and Faster Go-to-Market**
   The main purpose of automated testing is to save time and efforts, With the help of Selenium Grid, we can execute multiple tests in parallel to save time.

**9. Less Hardware Usage**
     Selenium requires less hardware as compared to other testing tools like QTP, UFT, SilkTest.

**10. Easy to Learn and Use**
     Selenium scripts are easy to learn it is not writing like hundred-page complex algorithm. 
**11. Constant Updates**
      Selenium community is constantly releasing constant upgrades are readily available and easy to understand. Compared to other tools it is cost-effective as well.