Selenium WebDriver vs Selenium RC

Selenium is a popular open-source framework for automating web browsers. Selenium WebDriver and Selenium RC (Remote Control) are two components within the Selenium suite that serve similar purposes but with differences in architecture and functionality. This guide will cover the syntax, examples, output, explanations, use cases, important points, and a summary of Selenium WebDriver vs Selenium RC.

Syntax

Selenium WebDriver

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get("https://example.com");
WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.id("username"));
element.sendKeys("user123");
element.submit();
driver.quit();

Selenium RC

Selenium selenium = new DefaultSelenium("localhost", 4444, "*chrome", "https://example.com");
selenium.start();
selenium.open("/login");
selenium.type("id=username", "user123");
selenium.click("id=submitBtn");
selenium.stop();

Example

Selenium WebDriver

Using Selenium WebDriver to automate login:

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get("https://example.com");
WebElement username = driver.findElement(By.id("username"));
WebElement password = driver.findElement(By.id("password"));
WebElement submitBtn = driver.findElement(By.id("submitBtn"));
username.sendKeys("user123");
password.sendKeys("pass456");
submitBtn.click();
driver.quit();

Selenium RC

Using Selenium RC for the same task:

Selenium selenium = new DefaultSelenium("localhost", 4444, "*chrome", "https://example.com");
selenium.start();
selenium.open("/login");
selenium.type("id=username", "user123");
selenium.type("id=password", "pass456");
selenium.click("id=submitBtn");
selenium.stop();

Output

The output for both Selenium WebDriver and Selenium RC examples would be the automation of the login process on the web application.

Explanation

• Selenium WebDriver is a more modern and robust approach for browser automation, providing a simple and concise API.
• Selenium RC relies on a separate server and has a more complex architecture, introducing an intermediary layer between test scripts and browsers.

Use

• Use Selenium WebDriver when looking for a simpler and more powerful API with better browser compatibility.
• Use Selenium RC in scenarios where backward compatibility with older Selenium versions is necessary.

Important Points

• Selenium WebDriver directly communicates with the browser, leading to more stable and reliable tests.
• Selenium RC is deprecated in favor of Selenium WebDriver, and new projects are recommended to use WebDriver.

Summary

While both Selenium WebDriver and Selenium RC serve the purpose of automating web browsers, Selenium WebDriver has become the preferred choice due to its simpler syntax, improved performance, and better support for modern web technologies. Selenium RC, being deprecated, is recommended only for projects with specific legacy requirements. Consider adopting Selenium WebDriver for new automation projects.