Currently, application developers deploy automation testing practices to improve the testing operations on modern applications. This is because modern apps consist of thousands of elements that work in close coordination to provide the highest level of user satisfaction. However, while using manual test cases, the app developers will find it very difficult to verify the functioning of these elements. Moreover, manual test cases are very inefficient and can take several months to complete all the testing processes. Some of the most important segments of automation testing include Selenium Testing. This is because it helps app developers to simplify the automation testing of web applications. Selenium is also one of the market leaders in the segment of automation testing, which has remained at the top for over 10 years.
While implementing Selenium Testing, the application developers must have a proper strategy for handling dynamic elements and asynchronous operations. So, with this article, we are going to guide the new automation testers toward the effective process of performing these steps.
Understanding Automation Testing
As we already mentioned earlier, automation testing is an effective way of substituting the use of a manual test bench. While implementing automation testing, the system will use a text file that will supply the required parameters and datasets for replicating human interactions. These interactions and communications allow the system to generate a detailed test report showing the usability, user interactivity, and functionality of the application undergoing the development process. With the help of automation testing, it is also possible to understand the influence of high traffic or user interaction errors on the functioning of an application. While implementing automation testing, the app developers can also make changes in the text file to ensure customized test results.
Automation test cases are highly reusable, which means that app developers can reuse almost 60% of the existing automation test data in future app development projects. However, with test automation, app developers must be cautious of the high initial investment. This is because it will incur charges for various plugins, tools, and libraries that are critical for the implementation of automation test cases. Stable returns on investment and high revenue resources can help application developers justify their transition to automation testing practices.
The Contribution of Selenium Testing
Selenium is an open-source umbrella project that consists of multiple tools for implementing and executing automation testing of web applications. All the tools present under the Selenium suit assist the app developers at different project stages. Since Selenium is open source, individual developers and small companies do not have to worry about charges for using all of its features. Selenium is also highly adaptive as it is based on the popular programming language JavaScript. This test suite also has a huge community of tech enthusiasts who are always ready to help newcomers in the industry.
A huge drawback of Selenium is that it is only useful when the application developers are working on web applications. For other apps like cross-platform apps, native apps, and hybrid apps, the companies will be forced to look for an alternative in the market. Now let us understand the role of multiple tools present in this suit:
- First, we would like to discuss the importance of the Selenium WebDriver. This is because, with this tool, the app developers can initiate and execute the automation test cases on the target elements of a modern browser. Moreover, Selenium WebDriver helps app developers to conduct test cases in the native environment of any web browser. For this operation, this tool does not require any dedicated test engine for communication with the system folder.
- Next, we would like to mention the importance of the Selenium Integrated Development Environment for the execution of codeless automation testing. While using this tool, the app developers can initiate the test case creation process based on user interaction. This is because the system analyzes the interactions with the web application and generates the automation test cases in real time.
- Finally, the Selenium Grid is highly useful when app developers are working on complex projects consisting of thousands of different elements. With this tool, it is possible to initiate multiple test instances on different configurations and machines at the same time. Selenium Grid works on the principle of a hub connecting thousands of different nodes.
Effective Handling of Dynamic Elements and Asynchronous Operations in Selenium Tests
Selenium provides various tools and features to help work with dynamic elements and asynchronous operations. So, for the ease of new application developers and testers, we have listed all of these below:
- Explicit and Implicit Waits: There are certain elements present in a web application that depend on each other for proper functioning. So, to avoid errors like false positives and false negatives, the application developers can use implicit and explicit wait with Selenium Testing. With these methods, the application developers can automatically pause the testing process until the execution of the previous instance. After this, the system will automatically resume the testing and finally display the test reports. It is also possible to customize the test cases based on parameters like element clickability, visibility, presence, and many others.
- Page Object Models: With the help of the page object model available with Selenium, the application developers can implement design patterns that separate the test logic from the web elements. This pattern ensures that the application test cases are maintainable and reusable. All the pages present in the web application must have a corresponding page object class which will contain the methods and definitions that are crucial for interacting with these elements. The application developers must remember that when the status of a page changes due to multiple asynchronous operations, they must update the corresponding page object class to handle these changes without any error.
- Dynamic Element Locators: When the testers are working with dynamic elements that have attributes or properties that change dynamically, it is very important to locate these elements with contemporary practices. However, with the help of dynamic locators that come with selenium, the application developers can use flexible locators that can add up to all the changes that an element might go through. CSS selector is one of the most commonly used dynamic element locators in the present market. The application developers can also use partial attribute matching to help locate the dynamic elements present in an application.
- Retry Mechanisms: The application developers can face intermediate failures when the elements are loaded asynchronously. However, with the implementation of retry mechanisms, the application developers can handle these situations without any errors. This is because, with the help of the retry mechanism, app developers can catch exceptions that might occur while interacting with applications. Then the system will retry the operation a certain number of times until it succeeds. However, it is very important to remember that it will display a failure after a certain number of tries to avoid getting stuck in an infinite loop.
- JavaScriptExecutor: With the help of Selenium, the application developers can directly execute the JavaScript codes in the browser. This process is available through the JavaScriptExecutor interface. The major benefit of this process is that the app developers can use it to interact with the dynamic elements or perform multiple operations asynchronously. A great example is that it allows the developers to use JavaScript for scrolling in a particular element, triggering events asynchronously, or waiting for an element to become visible in the interface of the web application.
- Libraries and Frameworks: The application developers can consider implementing libraries and frameworks which will provide additional capabilities for handling asynchronous operations and dynamic elements. For instance, the Selenium WebDriverWait class provides a smooth interface to wait for certain parameters or conditions. There are also other libraries like Selenium Grid which allow the app developers to evenly distribute the test execution evenly, making it easier to handle asynchronous operations.
Finally, we would like to advise the application developers and testers to have a thorough understanding of the web application that is undergoing the development process. This is because, with the help of this knowledge, they can deploy useful features and methods for handling asynchronous operations and dynamic elements. Functions like analyzing application behavior, identifying patterns of element changes, and choosing appropriate testing techniques can massively boost this process.
Using Various Automation Tools and Platforms with Selenium Testing
The introduction of various platforms and tools can help app developers not only simplify the testing project but also improve its quality. For instance, various cloud-based solutions help achieve accurate test results on real devices while eliminating the hassle of storing these devices on-site. This is because the cloud platforms grant access to all real devices through remote servers that can be accessed with the help of the Internet. Moreover, with the help of cloud servers, it is possible to remove the geolocation barriers and access such devices that are no longer available in the market. To further boost our knowledge about the influence of cloud-based solutions in modern app development, we can use LambdaTest:
LambdaTest is an intelligent unified digital experience testing platform that allows enterprises to test execution faster and drastically reduce time to the market. With LambdaTest’s 3000+ test environments and real devices, cloud businesses can assure their website quality for various real-world scenarios. More than 10000+ enterprises rely on LambdaTest for their testing needs, making it one of the most robust and credible software testing platforms.
The Conclusion
With this article, we listed some of the effective steps that can help the application developers to handle dynamic elements and asynchronous operations that they will encounter while working with Selenium Testing. This is critical knowledge that will help app developers maintain the quality of the app and create a positive image for their brand. Moreover, while working with automation testing, it is very important for app developers and testers to constantly update their knowledge regarding all the new trends and innovations in this segment. It will help them to maintain the quality of their application in this competitive segment. While choosing the automation testing tool, the app developers must ensure that it is compatible with not only their requirements but also the project’s requirements. A comprehensive idea about the market requirements can also help the app project.
