How You Can Create Your First Selenium Webdriver Automation Program: A Step-by-Step Guide for Aspiring Automation QA

Automation testing is essential in software development, offering greater efficiency and reliability than manual testing. Selenium WebDriver is a valuable tool for beginners. This guide provides simple steps and examples to create your first automation program using Selenium WebDriver.

The Role of Automation in Software Delivery

Automation testing has become a cornerstone of modern software development, significantly enhancing the speed and quality of delivery. Industry trends indicate widespread adoption of automation:

• 77% of companies have implemented some form of automated software testing, reflecting a strong industry trend towards automation. (Source:-DogQ)

• 33% of companies have transitioned to automated testing to achieve more comprehensive test coverage across various user scenarios and devices. (Source:-Tech Jury)

• 50% of organizations are considering a fully automated approach by 2025, underscoring the growing emphasis on automation to improve efficiency and speed in software delivery. (Source:- Keysight)

What is Selenium WebDriver?

Selenium WebDriver is an open-source tool that automates web applications across various browsers. It supports multiple programming languages, including Java, C#, and Python, making it popular among developers.

Getting started with Selenium might seem difficult, but you can quickly grasp the concepts with this guide.

Note: The following topic pertains to selenium automation using Java programming.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure your machine is prepared with the following essentials:

• A Computer: You can use any system—Linux, macOS, or Windows.

• Java JDK: Selenium WebDriver is mainly used with Java. Make sure you install the Java Development Kit (JDK).

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE): Choose an IDE that suits you best. Popular options include Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and Visual Studio Code.

• Selenium WebDriver: Download the latest version from the official Selenium website.

• Web Browser: Install a web browser like Chrome or Firefox, along with its corresponding WebDriver.

  
  

Step 1: Install the Java Development Kit (JDK)

To utilize Selenium WebDriver, you must first install the Java Development Kit (JDK).

1. Visit the Oracle JDK download page.

2. Select the version best suited for your operating system.

3. Follow the installation instructions carefully.

   
   

After installation, confirm it by typing `java -version` in your command prompt or terminal. You should see the version number if it's installed correctly.

Step 2: Set Up Your IDE

Following the JDK installation, you can configure your selected Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

1. Download and install your chosen IDE (Eclipse, IntelliJ community Edition, or Visual Studio Code).

2. Launch the IDE and create a new project. For Eclipse, select File > New > Java Project.

3. Give your project a meaningful name, such as "SeleniumTest."

   
   

Step 3: Download Selenium WebDriver

Next, you need to download the Selenium WebDriver.

1. Head over to the Selenium downloads page.

2. In the “Selenium Client & WebDriver Language Bindings” section, choose the Java bindings and download the .zip file.

3. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a directory on your local machine.

   
   

Now, configure your IDE to utilize Selenium WebDriver:

1. In Eclipse, right-click your project, select Build Path > Configure Build Path, and navigate to the Libraries tab.

2. Click on Add External JARs... and choose the JAR files extracted from the Selenium WebDriver download.

Note:

Alternative Approach: Use Maven for Dependency Management (Recommended)

Managing dependencies manually can be cumbersome. Maven automates this process and ensures you're using the correct versions.

1. Convert Your Project to a Maven Project:

   • Right-click your project in Eclipse.

   • Select Configure > Convert to Maven Project.

2. Update the pom.xml File:

   • Open the generated pom.xml file in your project root.

   • Add the following dependency within the <dependencies> section:

<dependencies>
  <dependency>
    <groupId>org.seleniumhq.selenium</groupId>
    <artifactId>selenium-java</artifactId>
    <version>4.9.0</version> <!-- Use the latest stable version -->
  </dependency>
</dependencies>

• Save the pom.xml file.

• Maven will automatically download and include all necessary Selenium libraries.

  
  

Step 4: Download Browser Drivers

Before Selenium Webdriver version 4.6.0 :

Selenium WebDriver needs particular drivers to communicate with the browser you select, which can be downloaded from the official Selenium website.

Once downloaded, place the driver executable in a directory on your system and note the file path.

After Selenium Webdriver version 4.6.0 :

The major update in Selenium version 4.6.0, released in November 2022, was the launch of the Selenium Manager. This tool automates browser driver management, removing the necessity to manually download or specify paths for drivers like ChromeDriver and GeckoDriver. Selenium Manager automatically identifies, downloads, and configures the correct driver for your browser.

Key Points:

• Selenium Manager Introduction: Simplifies driver management in Selenium 4.6.0.

• Automatic Driver Handling: Eliminates the need for manual driver management.

• Supported Browsers: Works with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

Step 5: Write Your First Selenium WebDriver Script

Now comes the fun part—writing your first automation script! Below is a simple Java script that opens a website and performs an action:

public class MyFirstSeleniumTest {
	public static void main(String[] args) {

	WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

		// Navigate to the Google homepage.
		driver.get("https://www.google.com");

		// Verify that the title of the page is "Google".
		String title = driver.getTitle();

		System.out.println("The title of the page is: " + title);

		// Close the browser.
		driver.quit();
	}
}

In this script:

• You create an instance of `ChromeDriver`, allowing you to control Chrome.

• The `get( )` method lets you navigate to a webpage.

• Finally, the script prints the page title and closes the browser.

Step 6: Run Your Script

To run your script, proceed with these steps:

1. Save your file as `FirstSeleniumTest.java` in your IDE.

2. Right-click the file and select Run As > Java Application.

   
   

You should see a browser window open, navigate to your specified URL, and close automatically after completing the script.

Congratulations on Your First Automation Program

You have successfully created your first Selenium WebDriver automation program. This achievement lays the groundwork for a range of possibilities in automating tests for web applications.

As you dive deeper into the world of automation QA, acquiring skills like those offered by Selenium WebDriver can greatly enhance your value in any software testing team.

Stay tuned for more insights, and happy testing!

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

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