Selenium Frameworks: An Overview
Selenium is a tool that helps developers and testers automate web application testing. It saves time and reduces manual testing efforts. To further optimize the process, developers use Selenium Frameworks, which are sets of guidelines and best practices for Selenium implementation.
Top Selenium Frameworks include TestNG, JUnit, and Cucumber. Each has its own strengths and caters to specific needs, allowing for efficient and reliable testing.
By incorporating Selenium and its frameworks, developers can achieve predictable and repeatable testing with fast feedback, helping them ship fresh, bug-free versions in 2-4 weeks.
Understanding Selenium Frameworks
Selenium is a powerful, open-source testing framework that is ideal for validating web applications across different browsers and platforms. It enables testers to write test scripts using a variety of programming languages, including Java, C#, Python, and more.
Selenium is not just a single tool but a suite of software components that organizations can use to meet their specific testing requirements. In this article, we explore the top Selenium frameworks and their applications.
What are Selenium Frameworks?
Selenium frameworks are coding frameworks that simplify code maintenance and streamline the testing process. Without frameworks, code and data cannot be reused or understood properly. Using frameworks can increase code reusability, portability, and readability, while decreasing script maintenance cost. However, frameworks may also have negative consequences.
Top Selenium Frameworks
Code:
Here are some popular frameworks for Selenium:
Linear Scripting Framework
Linear Scripting Framework is a basic test automation framework that utilizes the “Record and Playback” method and is executed in a linear fashion. This type of framework is suitable for testing small-sized apps. Testers record each step, such as browsing, navigation, user inputs, and checkpoints, and then play back the scripts to perform the tests.
Benefits:
– Quick generation of test scripts without prior preparation.
– No coding knowledge required.
– Simple method for generating test scripts.
Disadvantages:
– Lack of reusability due to auto-generated scripts.
– Unable to execute with multiple data sets as the data is hardcoded.
– Maintenance costs are substantial, and even minor adjustments require a significant amount of work.
Code tag.
Act like API.
Modular Testing Framework
The Modular Testing Framework entails testers developing individual test scripts for each module of the application. These test scripts are then combined using a master script to execute end-to-end test scenarios.
To ensure that modifications made in individual tests don’t affect the master module, testers create function libraries that act as an abstraction layer. The modular testing framework offers numerous benefits such as scalability, maintenance ease, and independent test script development.
However, it requires more time to examine test cases and find reusable processes than it takes to write them. Also, the test scripts don’t allow multiple data sets since they include hard-coded data. Building the framework demands coding skills.
Library Architecture Testing Framework for Testing Library Architecture
The Library Architecture Testing Framework, also known as Structured Scripting or Functional Decomposition, is a modular framework to test the library architecture. We identify common tasks and combine them into functions that are stored in a library. Test scripts use these libraries to generate new test cases.
Benefits:
– Easy script upkeep
– Scalable
– Reusable function library
Disadvantages:
– Require coding skills
– Test script preparation time is longer than usual
– Scripted test data is hardcoded.
Data-Driven Test Automation Framework
Data-Driven framework separates test scripts logic from data used in tests. It generates test scripts by providing multiple sets of test data, which needs to be saved in external files like Excel Sheets, Access Tables, SQL Database, XML Files, etc. Test scripts connect with other services to access test data. This framework reduces the number of test scripts remarkably by using reusable tests for different types of test data. It provides flexibility in executing tests by altering only the input test data and offers great test coverage. However, testers need programming experience to create test scripts, and more time is needed to set up the framework and test data. It requires the expertise of professional automation testers to design the framework.
Keyword-Driven Testing Framework
Keyword-Driven Testing Framework is a testing framework that uses excel sheet keywords to drive the testing process. Testers with limited programming knowledge can create automation test scripts using this frame. The framework reads keywords from the excel sheet and runs automation test scripts based on the provided keywords. The advantages of the keyword-driven framework include easy reusability of code and tests can be created before the application development. However, the initial setup may require more competence and experienced automation testers to design.
Hybrid-Driven Testing Framework
A hybrid-driven testing framework combines two or more frameworks for test automation. It leverages the strengths and benefits of each framework for the particular test environment it supports. Many teams currently use this approach in the market.
Behavior Driven Development Testing Framework
The BDD Testing Framework enables easier participation from Business Analysts, Developers, Testers and everyone involved in the software development process. It encourages communication and collaboration between teams to create test requirements in non-technical language. Consumers don’t need to know a programming language. The framework supports JBehave, Cucumber, and other similar BDD tools.
Types of Test Automation Frameworks
There are several types of test automation frameworks such as Data-Driven, Keyword-Driven, and Hybrid. Data-driven framework stores test data in excel sheets and uses TestNG’s data provider to run test cases. In a keyword-driven framework, keywords are created in an excel sheet for running test cases. A hybrid framework consists of both.
Selenium is widely used for automation testing due to its compatibility with various browsers and devices. It is a practical, adaptable, and cost-effective alternative to other testing frameworks, ensuring a consistent end-user experience that aligns with the continuous delivery approach to development.
Frequently Asked Questions about Selenium Framework
Q1: What is the most widely used Selenium Framework?
A: TestNG is one of the most widely used frameworks for Selenium Webdriver. It includes data-driven functionality and is typically used in industries where data is critical for operational efficiency.
Q2: Why do we use frameworks in Selenium?
A: Using the Selenium Framework makes code maintenance easier, enhances code re-use, increases portability, lowers script maintenance costs, and boosts code readability.
Q3: Why does Selenium include Cucumber?
A: Selenium includes Cucumber to make it easy for managers, non-technical stakeholders, and business analysts to comprehend the test cases because they are written in simple feature files.
Q4: Does Selenium support Gherkin?
A: Yes, Gherkin is supported by Selenium. Top companies use Selenium because it is easy to combine with Gherkin, enabling comprehension and automation of the flow to be done simultaneously.
Additional Resources:
Here are some helpful resources related to software testing:
