Selenium IDE-Features and its Industrial Applications

What is Selenium IDE?

Selenium IDE is one of the four components of the Selenium web automation testing framework. Selenium IDE can be downloaded into a browser in the form of an extension. It can be even described as the Record/Run tool of the Selenium framework because using Selenium IDE, we can record multiple test cases and run them again numerous times over the target application. It supports multiple languages, so we can write the test script in languages like Java, C#, Python, Ruby, etc. It is a simple and easy-to-use component of the selenium framework.

Features of Selenium IDE

1. Menu Bar

The menu bar is at the very top of the Selenium IDE, and it has important options. One of these options is ‘Project Name,’ which lets you change the name of your entire project.

Menu Bar

2. Tool Bar

Control, execution, and debugging of test cases are done using Tool Bar.

Selenium IDE Tool Bar

• Run all tests in the suite: If we have to run multiple test cases present in the project at the same time, then we use this option.
• Run current test: This option in the toolbar executes the current or selected test case. It only executes one test case at a time.
• Run current command: It allows you to run a test case using the Selenese command to see each activity step by step during test execution.
• Speed control: It is used to control the execution speed of a test case from low to high.

3. Address Bar

URLs of target web applications are present in the Address bar.

Selenium IDE Address Bar

In the above, Address URL bar we need to enter the project link that we wish to test for example: www.geeksforgeeks.com. It is even known as the Base URL bar. When the user uses the “open” command without a target value, the base URL will be launched on the browser. In simple terms, it shows the address of our testing web application. It contains the address of all URLs over which we execute the test.

4. Test Case Panel

Selenium IDE Test Case Panel

• In the test case panel, we can see all the test cases of one project.
• We can create multiple test cases in this panel by clicking the “+” option in one project, and a project can have multiple test cases for testing different scenarios. For example login test, error handling test case.
• The tool has the capability of opening more than one test case at the same time under the test case panel and the user can easily shuffle between the test cases. The editor section organizes all the test steps of these test cases.
• The test case panel contains the summary of all the failed/ passed test cases in the project.

5. Test Script Editor Box

Selenium IDE Test Script Editor Box

• The test script editor box will show the text execution results and if any errors are found on the text create case while it’s executing, it will show a red color.
• It contains the record of all the activities we performed during the execution of the test.
• We can verify the result of each activity in the test case using the Selenese command. We can run multiple times one test case by providing different values to the target.
• The test script Editor is divided into three columns i.e. command, value, and target.
• The command contains the record of action performed during the test like click, open, etc.
• Value contains the different parameters provided to the target components.
• Target means the component on which the command or action is performed.

6. Start/Stop Recording Button

Selenium IDE Start/Stop Recording Button

• Disable Breakpoints: All the steps have the breakpoints set for debugging and those steps will not be considered during execution if using this option.
• Pause on Exceptions: One can use this option to halt the test cases on getting any exceptions.
• Start/Stop Recording: The activities performed on the application will be recorded and then can be stopped.
• Steps to use the Start/Stop Recording Button:
  • The start and stop button is used in projects to create the test case steps.
  • Enter the website link of our project on the address bar.
  • Click on the record button to execute the script.
  • Now a new window will open on Google Chrome and we will be able to see your website.
  • Now, if we are checking on website linking, then we should click on all links of pages and back.
  • When we click on links, the steps will be recorded for this test case.
  • Now, when we click all links at the end, we can see the IDE and click on stop recording.
  • Our test case will then be successful and we can execute the test.

7. Log and Reference Panel

log and reference panel(successful completion of test)

• When we execute the test case, the results of every step will be shown on the log panel. If you see something as shown in the above image, it means the test step results are passed.

log and reference panel(error or failed test case)

• If any step is not a clear pass, then it will show that it’s a failed step. If we click on test execution and then click on stop, then it will show the result of those steps.

Selenium IDE Industrial Applications

1. Beyond the expected:

• Selenium is venturing into uncharted territories, applying its automation prowess to previously unexplored fields.
• Imagine streamlining quality assurance in healthcare applications, ensuring the safety and reliability of vital software.
• We’re even seeing its use in testing mobile apps you use daily, guaranteeing a smooth and bug-free experience.
• And who thought it possible? Selenium is even being employed to automate tasks within games, ensuring fair and consistent gameplay.

2. Innovation at the core:

• The world of Selenium is constantly evolving, embracing novel approaches to enhance its capabilities.
• Headless browsers operate discreetly in the background, freeing up resources and speeding up testing processes.
• Parallel testing unleashes the power of multi-threading, drastically reducing test execution time.
• The exciting realm of machine learning is being integrated, offering AI-powered testing that intelligently adapts to website changes and identifies potential issues with remarkable accuracy.

3. The future unfolds:

• Selenium is actively developing powerful new functionalities.
• Soon, native mobile app testing support will eliminate the need for emulators, simplifying the testing process.
• Additionally, advancements in handling dynamic content will ensure Selenium effortlessly navigates even the most unpredictable websites.

4. Stay ahead of the curve:

• This is just a glimpse into the exciting future of Selenium.
• With its continuous innovation and diverse applications, it remains a vital tool for anyone involved in software testing.
• Stay tuned for even more remarkable uses and advancements in the world of Selenium!

Conclusion

The above article describes Selenium IDE and its different features such as a toolbar, recording tool, test case panels, test editor panel, and log reference panel. Where the toolbar contains different options that are used to execute the recorded test cases, the address bar contains the URL of the testing application. The test case panel shows the different test cases created by the tester in the project, the edit panel is used to run test cases with different parameters, and values, moreover, recording panel is used to record the test case and the log panel is used to track the performance and activities of test case while it is executing.

FAQs

1. What is Selenium IDE used for?

Ans: Selenium IDE is a tool to test websites automatically. Testers can record, edit, and play back tests right in a web browser.

2. Can Selenium IDE handle multiple browsers?

Ans: Yep, it can! Selenium IDE lets you test on different web browsers, making sure your website works well everywhere.

3. Is Selenium IDE suitable for beginners?

Ans: Absolutely! It’s made to be easy. If you’re new to testing, Selenium IDE has a simple and easy-to-use design.

4. How does Selenium IDE handle cross-browser testing?

Ans: Selenium IDE helps with cross-browser testing by running your tests on various web browsers. This makes sure your website behaves the same in different situations.

5. Can I customize my test scripts in Selenium IDE?

Ans: You can make your test scripts better in Selenium IDE using Selenese commands, which is like a special language made by Selenium.