Selenium WebDriver has established itself as the preeminent tool for web application automation testing. Version 4 introduces several enhancements and new features to streamline the testing process further.
With the release of Selenium WebDriver 4.11.0, the Selenium Manager component was introduced, providing automated browser and driver management capabilities. However, for projects or organizations still utilizing older versions of Selenium (before 4.11.0), the necessity to download third-party browser drivers (WebDrivers) and configure them within the testing framework remains.
This blog focuses on WebDriverManager, a utility designed to alleviate the challenges associated with manual WebDriver management in Selenium. We will demonstrate how WebDriverManager facilitates automated driver management, ultimately enabling testers to dedicate their time and efforts to more critical tasks within the testing lifecycle.
What is Selenium WebDriver?
A WebDriver serves as a framework for automating web browsers. It receives commands and directs them to a web browser for execution.
Simon Stewart developed WebDriver within Selenium in 2006, marking a significant milestone as the first cross-platform testing framework capable of browser control at the operating system level.
Selenium WebDriver is a programming interface for crafting and executing test cases. It can test various programming languages, browsers, and operating systems. Its diverse language bindings enable Selenium WebDriver to facilitate coding in multiple languages, seamlessly enabling cross-platform testing.
Selenium WebDriver Architecture
The WebDriver architecture within Selenium delves into the internal mechanics of the Selenium toolset, comprising four integral components to facilitate web application testing:
- Selenium WebDriver Client Libraries:
These programming libraries, often called language bindings, contain commands encapsulated in external JAR files. Compliant with the W3C Selenium Protocol, these libraries contain two key elements: WebDriver Protocol Clients and WebDriver-based tools. They are crucial in supporting multiple programming languages within the Selenium framework.
- JSON Wire Protocol:
The JSON Wire Protocol, leveraging JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), is pivotal in Selenium’s architecture. It functions as an open standard for data exchange between client and server, translating client requests into HTTP requests for server comprehension and vice versa. Due to its efficacy in data readability and writing, JSON has emerged as an industry standard for various REST (Representational State Transfer) web services.
- Browser Drivers:
Browser Drivers act as intermediaries facilitating the execution of Selenium commands within web browsers. Each browser possesses its specific driver, which serves as a bridge between Selenium Client Libraries and browsers. These drivers establish secure connections with browsers while maintaining the confidentiality of internal browser functionalities.
- Browsers:
Selenium supports many browsers, including Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox. These browsers serve as the platforms for executing Selenium test scripts, enabling automated testing of web applications.
How Selenium WebDriver Works Internally
Let’s briefly summarise how Selenium WebDriver operates from start to finish.
- The tester writes an automation test script targeting a specific browser driver (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
- When the “Run” button is clicked, the test script is converted into an API format with data in JSON format.
- The JSON data is transferred to the browser driver using the JSON Wire Protocol over an HTTP network as a RESTful API.
- The browser driver receives and validates the JSON data.
- If the validation is successful, the browser driver communicates the actions to the target browser via HTTP.
- If the validation is rejected, the errors are communicated to the client.
- The browser initializes, and the driver performs the actions individually, simulating a manual tester’s actions through automation.
- The commands are sent from the driver to the browser through HTTP, and the responses are received via the same protocol.
- This process of sending commands and receiving responses continues until all the actions in the test script are performed.
- After executing all actions, the browser shuts down.
- The driver communicates the test script’s final results (pass/fail) to the client.
Note: For the browser driver to communicate with the target browser, the actual browser must be installed on the local system.
What is WebDriverManager in Selenium?
WebDriverManager is a Java library that automatically manages the drivers required for different browsers when using Selenium WebDriver for automation testing. It handles tasks like:
- Finding the correct driver binary for your system (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.).
- Downloading the latest or specified version of the driver binary.
- Setting up the driver binary path in your test scripts.
Without WebDriverManager, you would have to perform these steps manually for each browser driver you need: find the correct driver version for your machine, download it, extract it, and configure the driver path in your code. WebDriverManager automates all of this.
It supports managing drivers for browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and more. Using WebDriverManager, you can avoid hard-coding driver paths or copying driver binaries into your project. It keeps your test setup simple and low maintenance.
In the past, Selenium developers had to procure WebDriver executables for their preferred browsers manually and then either set the system path or specify the driver’s location within their test scripts. This manual process could become burdensome, mainly when dealing with multiple platforms or different browser versions. WebDriverManager simplifies this workflow by automatically identifying the installed browser version on the system and fetching the corresponding WebDriver executable from the appropriate source.
Benefits of Using WebDriverManager
Incorporating WebDriverManager into your Selenium automation framework offers several key advantages:
Automated Driver Management:
- Eliminates manual intervention for downloading, configuring, and setting up WebDriver executables.
- Saves time and effort, allowing focus on writing and executing tests.
Cross-Platform Compatibility:
- Supports different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Ensures uniform performance and seamless integration across environments.
Version Management Simplification:
- Automatically detects installed browser version and downloads appropriate WebDriver executable.
- Reduces risk of version mismatches.
Improved Reliability and Consistency:
- Automates driver management process, minimizing human errors.
- Ensures accurate and reproducible test results, improving software quality.
Caching and Bandwidth Optimization:
- Caches previously downloaded driver binaries locally.
- Reduces redundant downloads, saving bandwidth and improving performance.
Flexible Configuration:
- Offers various configuration options for customization.
- Supports custom download sources, SSL/TLS handling, proxy settings, etc.
Integration with Testing Frameworks:
- Seamless integration with popular frameworks like JUnit, TestNG, Cucumber
- It simplifies the setup process and reduces the overhead of managing dependencies.
Community Support and Active Development:
- Open-source project with an active community.
- Ensures updates, bug fixes, and adaptation to browser/WebDriver changes.
- Provides a robust and sustainable solution for Selenium projects.
Getting Started with WebDriverManager
Getting started with WebDriverManager in your Selenium project is a straightforward process. Here are the steps to incorporate WebDriverManager into your project:
Add the WebDriverManager dependency:
If you’re using Maven, add the following dependency to your pom.xml file:
| //XML <dependency> <groupId>io.github.bonigarcia</groupId> <artifactId>webdrivermanager</artifactId> <version>5.3.2</version> </dependency> |
If you’re using Gradle, add the following dependency to your build. gradle file:
| //groovy implementation ‘io.github.bonigarcia:webdrivermanager:5.3.2’ |
Make sure to use the latest version of WebDriverManager by checking the project’s releases on GitHub.
Import the required classes:
In your test class, import the necessary classes from WebDriverManager. For example, to use the Chrome driver, you would import:
| //java import io.github.bonigarcia.wdm.WebDriverManager; |
Set up the WebDriver instance:
Before creating a new instance of the WebDriver, call the setup() method from WebDriverManager for the desired browser. For example, to set up the Chrome driver:
| //java WebDriverManager.chromedriver().setup(); WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver(); |
WebDriverManager will automatically detect the installed Chrome version and download the compatible ChromeDriver executable if it’s not already on your system.
Use the WebDriver instance:
With the WebDriver instance set up, you can write your Selenium tests as you normally would.
| //java driver.get(“https://www.example.com”); WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.id(“myElement”)); // Perform actions with the WebDriver |
Additional configuration (optional):
WebDriverManager provides various configuration options to customize its behavior. For example, you can set specific versions, specify custom binary sources, handle SSL/TLS issues, and more. Refer to the WebDriverManager documentation for more details on available configurations.
Here’s an example of how to set a specific Chrome version:
| //java WebDriverManager.chromedriver().browserVersion(“109.0.5414.74”).setup(); |
Great! With these steps completed, you’ve successfully integrated WebDriverManager into your Selenium project. Now, you can enjoy automated management of WebDriver binaries, making your test execution process more efficient and hassle-free.
Also read: Exploring Advanced Configuration Options in Safari Browser for Selenium Testing
Best Practices for Effective WebDriver Management
Here are some best practices to consider when working with WebDriverManager:
Leverage Caching Capabilities:
- WebDriverManager caches downloaded driver binaries.
- Avoids redundant downloads, improving performance.
- Beneficial for CI/CD environments and frequent test runs.
Keep WebDriverManager Updated:
- WebDriverManager is actively maintained.
- Check for updates regularly.
- Upgrade to benefit from bug fixes, improvements, and new browser support.
Utilize Configuration Options:
- WebDriverManager provides customization options.
- Configure custom binary sources, SSL/TLS, and proxy settings.
- Tailor configuration to project-specific needs.
Centralize WebDriver Management:
- Centralize WebDriver instance creation and configuration.
- Create a dedicated utility class or setup module.
- Ensures consistent management across the test suite.
Integrate with Testing Frameworks:
- WebDriverManager integrates with popular frameworks.
- JUnit, TestNG, Cucumber, etc.
- Simplifies the setup process.
Handle Browser Updates and Versions:
- Track browser updates and new version releases.
- Ensure WebDriverManager can handle new versions.
- Check for necessary updates or configuration changes.
Leverage Parallel Test Execution:
- WebDriverManager supports parallel test execution.
- Run multiple test instances concurrently.
- Improves test execution times for larger test suites.
- Ensure test design accommodates parallelization.
Monitor and Optimize Performance:
- Monitor the performance of Selenium tests.
- Identify and address bottlenecks or resource constraints.
- This is especially important for parallel execution.
Implement Proper Error Handling:
- Implement robust error handling in tests.
- Handle exceptions related to driver setup, network issues, etc.
- Essential for reliable test execution.
Leverage Containerization and Cloud Services:
- Consider containerization technologies like Docker.
- Leverage cloud-based platforms like LambdaTest, it is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that lets you run manual and automated tests at scale with over 3000+ real devices, browsers, and OS combinations.
- Streamline and scale Selenium testing infrastructure.
- Additional benefits: parallelization, cross-browser testing, and consistent environments.
Conclusion
WebDriverManager is a beneficial tool for managing WebDrivers in Selenium projects. It makes downloading and setting up the right WebDriver for different browsers much more accessible, so you no longer have to do this manually.
Using WebDriverManager has many benefits. It saves time and effort. It works consistently across operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux. It automatically gets the correct WebDriver version for the browser you have installed. It improves reliability by reducing human errors. It downloads WebDriver files only once and remembers them to save bandwidth. You can customize how it works. It works well with popular testing tools like JUnit and Cucumber.
WebDriverManager is regularly updated to support new browser versions and improvements. There are best practices to use it effectively, like caching files, keeping it updated, customizing settings, and handling errors properly.
Overall, WebDriverManager makes Selenium testing smoother by automatically handling WebDriver setup. This lets you focus on writing good tests instead of dealing with WebDriver issues, helping you deliver high-quality software more efficiently.
