Selenium is a test framework for automation, it is typically employed for web tests, is open source and free of charge. Test cases may be executed directly on web browsers using this tool, much like a real human works on web browsers. It supports several web navigators (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Opera, Safari, etc). Selenium also includes several other sub-tools to enable diverse methods to automated testing. Users may develop scripting test cases in selenium using a large number of primary programming languages (java, python, PHP, javascript, c#...etc). Then run the script for most major web browsers to check test scenarios. It is not only possible to execute these automation test scripts on Windows, Linux or macOS, but also mobile.
Additional Info
Different types of Selenium Components:
Selenium IDE is a complete built-in selenium test environment (IDE). It is used as an addition for Firefox and Chrome. It enables functional tests to be recorded, edited, and debugged. The Selenium Recorder was previously known. Initially, Shinya Kasatani created Selenium-IDE, and in 2006 donated to the Selenium project. Selenium IDE had been poorly maintained previously. Selenium IDE started to be kept active. Scripts can be automatically saved and manually edited, which provides autocompletion and quick moving of commands. Selenium, a special test scripting language for selenium, records scripts. Selenese provides commands (click a link, select an option) for actions in a browser and the collection of data from the resulting pages. The 2.x release of the Firefox Selenium IDE came to an end after the Firefox 55 update and Selenium IDE 3.x replaced it. Two alternative Selenium IDE extensions, the Open-Source GPL license Kantu and the Katalon Recorder, are active in addition to the official Selenium IDE project (Closed Source).
Selenium client API:- Tests may also be written in several programming languages as an option to writing tests in selenium. These tests are then transmitted to Selenium through the Selenium client API calling methods. Selenium provides Java, C#, Ruby, JavaScript, R & Python Client APIs at this time. A new Client API was launched with Selenium 2 (with WebDriver as its central component). But the old API is still supported by the Selenium class.
Selenium Remote Control:- Remote Control (RC) of Selenium is a Java-written server that accepts browser commands via HTTP. RC enables automated tests to be carried out for a web application, which enables better integration of selenium into existing unit test frames in any programming language. Selenium Project currently provides PHP, Python, Ruby, NET, Java, and Perl Client drivers to make it easier to write tests. You can also use the Java driver with JavaScript (via the Rhino engine). For starting the HTML test case, a Selenium RC Server instance is necessary, so that for every parallel run, the port must be different.
Selenium WebDriver:- Selenium WebDriver in Selenium RC's successor. Selenium WebDriver accepts and sends commands to a browser, either in Selenese or through the Client API. This is done via a browser driver that sends commands to a browser and retrieves results. In fact, most browser drivers are running and accessing an application (for example, Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, or Microsoft Edge); there is a browser driver from HtmlUnit, which simulates a browser using the HtmlUnit headless browser.
Selenium Grid:- Selenium Grid is a server for testing on remote machines using web browser instances. One server serves as the central hub with Selenium Grid. To access browser instances, contact the hub tests. The hub has a list of servers that allow browser instance access (webdriver nodes) for testing. Selenium Grid can run parallel tests on multiple machines and centrally manage various browser versions and browser settings (instead of in each individual test).
Selenium Future Scope:
As web applications are seen as the next major for many companies around the world, market trends in test automation with high demand for Selenium are steadily increasing. Many worldwide leading organizations, for their test automation needs, rely on selenium resources. If you are prepared to immerse yourself in and gain advanced expertise in testing automation, then Selenium will help you reach a better and more profitable position in your career. No software without bugs was ever produced; this clearly shows that automation testing is ever necessary. Therefore Selenium's future looks bright with endless chances. Last but not least, what are your skills to be a Selenium Professional.
Advantages of Selenium:
Support for linguistic and framework:- In all these programming languages you can write your scripts and Selenium will immediately turn it into Selenium-compliant codes. So, just languages are not necessary to know Selenium. In addition, each language supported by Selenium also provides frameworks that aid in building the Selenium Automation Test Script.
The availability of open sources:- It is one of the numerous added benefits of Selenium. As an open-source technology, therefore, Selenium is an automation framework that is open to the public and free, with no upfront fees. So, you may save money here and utilize them for other worthy causes. In automating web browser capabilities and functionality, the selenium community continually helps developers and software engineers. Selenium is an open-source that enables you to better manage code for predefined functions and classes. Selenium is also open source. The simplicity of generation makes selenium the most dependable web automation tool.
Support for Multi-Browser:- The Selenium community is working on and improvising on a Selenium script to all browsers every day. Chrome is the most popular browser globally, as per StatCounter, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Edge. Selenium script supports all of the browsers mentioned above. For every browser, you do not have to rewrite scripts, only one script for all browsers.
Across many operating systems support:- Various individuals use different operating systems, and all of them must be supported by your automation solution. Selenium is still a portable tool, which supports operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Unix, and others, and can operate on them. You can construct a Selenium testing suite on any Windows platform and you can run the same test suite on a different platform, e.g. Mac or Linux. This allows developers and software testing professionals to build test automation scripts without placing a great deal of focus on the platform.
Facility to implement:- A highly user-friendly tool is the selenium automation framework. Selenium offers an interface that supports the easy and efficient creation and execution of test scripts. You may also monitor the running of tests. Detailed selenium test findings may be analyzed and follow-up action is taken. And you're never going to feel alone finally. A large community of Selenium is always willing to help. You may ask your questions and do community brainstorming.
Return and integrations:- As already noted, Selenium test suites may be reused and tested on many browsers and operating systems. The twist is, however, if Selenium is not a comprehensive testing tool for web automation. Thus, it needs frameworks and supplements from third parties to extend test coverage. For example, for test cases and report generation, you need to connect Selenium with TestNG and JUnit. You need to combine them with a few CI/CD devices such as Jenkins, Maven, and Docker to achieve continuous testing. You also require the integration of Selenium with tools such as Sikuli for image-based testing and crossbred performance.
Reflectiveness:- In the testing lifecycle, test management is quite crucial. With Selenium capabilities like grouping and refactoring of test cases, it becomes easier and more efficient. This allows developers and testers to modify code quickly, reduce duplication, minimize difficulties and enhance maintenance. This makes Selenium more versatile and useful than other automation test tools, and hence allows Selenium to maintain its advantage.
Parallel testing and rapid marketing:- Automated testing is mainly aimed at saving time and effort. We may do several tests simultaneously using the Selenium Grid, thereby decreasing the time required for the test. With the assistance of cross-browser cloud grids, you can test in parallel with selenium in hundreds of browsers, thereby saving you time in hundreds.
Unused Hardware:- If you compare Selenium to other supplier-oriented tools such as QTP, UFT, SilkTest, you may determine that Selenium uses less hardware than other testing instruments.
Learning and using easy:- Selenium scripts don't write a complicated algorithm of a hundred pages. Writing Selenium scripting is just a few lines that automate your website's functionality. Documentation on Selenium websites is very important in starting Selenium automation testing for developers and tests. Selenium tutorials, testing, and supporting development are only a Google search away with the expanding community. You may also utilize recording and playback to build Selenium scripts for future reference using the Selenium IDE plugin in the Firefox browser.
Constant Aktualizations:- Because Selenium is maintained by a community and we all know that an active community does not like to remain static, the community of Selenium also continually publishes updates and improvements. The nice thing about having a community is that these improvements are immediately available and easily understood. In comparison to other tools, this makes Selenium helpful and cost-effective.
Selenium Career Opportunities:
It has grown enormously and is now one of the most important components of different businesses. Selenium has surely become one of the best in the sector to help you with automation testing services when it comes to web testing tools. For a tool that can help you achieve very accurate results, the Selenium test must be your best choice. In its approach, it is more expandable and flexible. Thus, you can certainly always have a great chance to work as a selenium test person if you are a qualified and qualified professionals. The written test cases are changed by the respective testers to automation scripts. Therefore you need to know or understand adequately C, C#, Java, and Perl for conversion. Model-based testing will certainly increase and test testers will benefit greatly. The need for Selenium is increasing as a number of companies have started using web apps. Several vendors of tools use Selenium technology to help in web application testing. Selenium has grown successfully over a short time, boosting the test automation market. With the use of selenium, customers will have faster ROI when the test cycles are reduced. As a testing expert, the domain of the specific application on which they work must therefore be fully understood.
Salary Package of Selenium:
There is therefore around 1,950,000 annual average wage for selenium in India. Salary ranges from 1,000,000 to 4,200,000 per year for selenium workers. This pay variance relies on several aspects such as workplace, experience, training, employer, diplomas, etc. With regard to pay, Synechron Technologies is certainly leading the pack by providing its employees an average of 1 m INR each year. The company Sapient has been closely behind Synechron Technologies, and its employees receive an average annual salary of 970K. With its annual offer of 925k, Capgemini may also be considered among the highest-paid firms. The second one is Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., which provides Senior Quality Assurance (QA) / Test Automation Engineers with an adequate annual payment of INR 767k. Somewhere about INR 761K yearly, Tata Consultancy Services Limited compensates its staff. With a yearly offer of 750 k, Accenture is second to Tata. Experience is also a key element in the influence of wages in this area. An early-stage Senior Quality Assurance (QA)/Test Automation Engineer with a 1-4-year of experience may expect to earn INR 662, 335 per annum. This includes incentives, advice, and rewards for overtime. The average INR 973.246 remuneration is eligible to be paid by a senior automation tester with a mid-term experience of about 5 to 9 years. An automated testing professional's mean pay is around INR 1540,558, which is very remarkable and is roughly 10 to 19 years old.