Contrasting Selenium RC with WebDriver

Can you explain the key distinction between Selenium RC and WebDriver?

Answer №1

When it comes to automating browsers, Selenium-WebDriver takes a different approach compared to Selenium RC, as stated in WebDriver and Selenium RC:

Selenium-WebDriver communicates directly with the browser using its native support for automation. This method varies depending on the specific browser being used. More details about each 'browser driver' are available later in this chapter.

Unlike Selenium-RC, which injected javascript functions into the browser upon loading to control the application under test (AUT), WebDriver does not rely on this technique. Instead, it interacts directly with the browser using its built-in automation capabilities.

The use of Selenium Server alongside Selenium-WebDriver may or may not be necessary, depending on your intended usage. If you are solely utilizing the WebDriver API and running tests on the same machine without requiring the server, then it is not essential to run the Selenium Server.

However, there are situations where employing the Selenium-Server with Selenium-WebDriver is beneficial:

  • You are implementing Selenium-Grid for distributing tests across multiple machines or virtual machines (VMs).
  • You need to access a remote machine with a specific browser version that is not installed on your local machine.
  • You are working with alternative language bindings (e.g., Python, C#, Ruby) and wish to utilize the HtmlUnit Driver.

Answer №2

Selenium Remote Control (RC) introduces a javascript function to browsers upon loading the webpage.

Selenium WebDriver navigates the browser by utilizing its native support features.

Answer №3

Just to expand on the previous answers, I'd like to mention that while Selenium RC injects Java script code into browsers resulting in similar browser behavior,

With WebDriver, calls are made directly using the native support of a specific browser, making the browsers behave more like how they would with actual user interactions.

Answer №4

Web testing tool, WebDriver, offers the flexibility to work with various programming languages for testing web apps on different browsers. By leveraging WebDriver, users can create robust tests tailored to their preferences in terms of programming language. Compared to Selenium RC, WebDriver boasts superior speed due to its streamlined architecture that enables direct communication with the browser, without requiring assistance from an RC Server. Additionally, WebDriver's API is more succinct compared to Selenium RC's, and it can support HtmlUnit which Selenium RC cannot do. However, some limitations of WebDriver include its inability to easily adapt to new browsers (unlike Selenium RC) and the absence of a built-in command for automatically generating test results.

Answer №5

Let's delve into the features of Web Driver and highlight some drawbacks in comparison to Selenium RC:

  1. No need to start a server to execute programs
  2. Automatically maximizes the window or browser
  3. Command history window is hidden
  4. Page load synchronization is maintained by default, requiring manual maintenance for page refresh using thread.sleep();
  5. RC scripts and web driver scripts can be developed under a single class with 'WebDriverBackedSelenium'
  6. Advanced web driver concepts allow retrieving information from applications
  7. Faster performance than Selenium RC due to simpler architecture
  8. Direct communication with the browser for Web Driver, while Selenium RC relies on the RC Server
  9. Web Driver API is more concise compared to Selenium RC
  10. Supports Html Unit which Selenium RC does not

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