Beginners Guide to Automated Testing using Selenium

Automated testing plays a crucial role in the software development cycle by improving test outcomes and saving time and money while minimizing errors. With the ability to test many cases in less time, testers can detect bugs at an early stage of development, ensuring the application functions seamlessly across various devices.

However, selecting the right testing tool can be a challenging task that requires knowledge and expertise in the field of automation testing. The cost also plays a significant role in choosing a tool. That’s why industry leaders prefer Selenium, an open-source automated testing framework that offers numerous advantages, such as easy maintenance, a large community of developers, easy integration with other tools, and flexibility in creating and executing test scripts.

If you’re a beginner looking to learn more about app testing using Selenium, you’ve come to the right place. In this tutorial, we will guide you through a step-by-step procedure to build tests using Selenium, giving you the skills you need to excel in automated testing.

The main components of Selenium

Selenium has three main components that work together to create a powerful automated testing framework. Let’s explore each of these components in detail:

Selenium IDE

Selenium IDE is a prototype tool that allows developers to create simple tests quickly. It’s a Chrome plugin that collects user interactions and writes code in various programming languages such as Java, Python, and Ruby. Selenium IDE is ideal for developers with little or no programming experience and is mainly used for writing automation scripts for online app testing. The latest version of Selenium IDE comes with enriched features like reusability and debugging of test scripts. The tool provides a graphical interface that allows developers to easily modify test scripts and customize them to their specific needs.

Selenium Grid

Selenium Grid provides centralized control and enables testers to manage and distribute tests across multiple nodes. It’s a crucial tool that allows the execution of test scripts across various browsers due to its ability to support a wide range of browsers and platforms. Selenium Grid reduces the execution timings of a test through parallel execution, making it easier for testers to manage and track their tests effectively. Automation testing using Selenium Grid helps in developing high-quality and engaging applications.

Selenium Webdriver

Selenium WebDriver was the first framework that enabled cross-platform testing by configuring the browsers at the OS level. It directly interacts with the browser, making it a better testing tool than IDE and RC. WebDriver also supports multiple languages and can be integrated very easily. Installing and executing tests faster than the other tools is very easy.

If you’re looking to perform online app testing using Selenium, it’s essential to understand how to use its components effectively. Here’s a step-by-step procedure on how to build a testing procedure using Selenium testing tools:

Testing using Selenium IDE

• Describe the test case’s required actions, such as clicking links or buttons, entering information, and browsing pages.
• Leverage assertions to confirm that the desired outcomes are achieved.
• Employ loops and conditional statements to manage dynamic content or repeatedly perform actions.
• Include notes in the test case to describe each step’s goal and anticipated result.
• Run the test case and observe to ensure everything works as planned.
• Investigate the root cause after analyzing the test data to find any failures or errors.
• Make necessary modifications to the test case and rerun the automation testing using Selenium IDE to ensure the problem has been resolved.
• Continue testing the application under different cases to ensure that the application works correctly in a wide range of circumstances.

Testing using Selenium Grid

• Configure hub and node machines.
• Create test scripts in a preferred language.
• Run a parallel test on multiple browsers and devices for cross-browser testing.
• Verify test results and fix issues as necessary.
• You can then use Remote WebDriver objects to run the test.

Testing using Selenium WebDriver

• Install WebDriver for your preferred programming language
• Write test scripts to interact with the app’s user interface
• Set up a testing environment with a stable internet connection
• Execute test scripts using WebDriver to simulate user actions on the app
• Verify the expected outcomes against actual outcomes
• Debug any failures and refine the test scripts as necessary
• Repeat the testing process to ensure consistency and reliability.

Selecting the right Selenium Component for your application

Since Selenium is a collection of three components, choosing the right one for your project can be daunting. Here is how you can use the right Selenium component:

Selenium IDE is perfect when

• You have little knowledge of programming
• You want to run simple tests

Selenium WebDriver is perfect for automation testing using Selenium when

•  You want to customize test results
• You want to use any particular programming language

Selenium Grid is perfect when

•  You want to run the test in several browsers and Operating Systems
•  You have less time to execute the tests

Following these steps and selecting the right Selenium tool for your project, you can perform effective online app testing to ensure that your app functions as expected in real-world scenarios.

Conclusion

 In conclusion, automation testing with Selenium can be challenging, especially for beginners in the field. However, the benefits of automation testing, such as improved efficiency and test coverage, make it a critical component of software development.

To simplify the automation testing process, there are cloud-based automated testing platforms like pCloudy that offer a range of features and capabilities. These platforms make it easy for businesses of all sizes to carry out online app testing. With its easy-to-use interface and easy integration with various popular testing frameworks, pCloudy is a popular choice for companies looking for a complete solution for their automated testing needs.