Selenium: Streamlining Web Application Testing

In our main article “Software Testing: Methods, Pitfalls, and Tips,” we’ve already provided an overview of software testing in general. Now, let’s delve deeper into automated testing with Selenium.

Selenium: What is it?

Selenium is a widely used open-source tool for automated testing of web applications. It allows testers and developers to write automation scripts to simulate interactions with web pages across different browsers and operating systems, uncovering errors in the process.

Selenium is particularly useful for regression testing, where the same test cases are repeatedly applied to new versions of a web application to ensure that previous functionalities still work correctly after changes or updates. It also supports test case development in an agile development process by providing fast and automated feedback on new features or bug fixes.

Executing Selenium Tests

Using Selenium in software testing typically involves the following steps:

•  Test case definition: First, the test cases to be automated are defined. A test case could, for example, involve logging into a user account or filling out and submitting a form on a webpage.

•  Test script creation: Using a programming language such as Java, C#, Python, Ruby, or JavaScript, scripts are manually written containing Selenium instructions to control browser actions. These scripts utilize the Selenium WebDriver API to send direct commands to the browser during test execution, such as opening a webpage, clicking on links, or entering text into form fields.

• Test execution: The created test scripts are executed, with Selenium automatically starting the specified browser, performing the defined actions, and verifying the results of those actions. Tests can be performed on a single system or in a distributed environment across multiple browsers and operating systems to ensure web application compatibility.

• Result evaluation: After test execution, the results are analyzed. Selenium can automatically determine whether a test case was successful or not based on whether the expected behavior of the web application occurred. Errors or deviations from expected results are documented for further analysis and corrections.

Why do Selenium test scripts need maintenance?

As web applications constantly evolve or are further developed, such as by adding new features, test scripts also need to be regularly updated to reflect changes in the application and ensure relevant tests. This requires manual input again.

Therefore, while Selenium testing requires some manual input from employees, it can already be automated on a large scale, saving testers’ time. At our company, we also have skilled Selenium testers on our team who support our customers in optimal software testing.