Automation testing is a technique uses an application to implement an entire life cycle of the software in less time and provides efficiency and effectiveness to the testing software. Automation testing is an Automatic technique where the tester writes scripts by own and uses suitable software to test the software. It is basically an automation process of a manual process. Like regression testing, Automation testing also used to test the application from load, performance and stress point of view.

In other words, Automation testing uses automation tools to write and execute test cases, no manual involvement is required while executing an automated test suite. Usually, testers write test scripts and test cases using the automation tool and then group into test suites. The main goal of Automation testing is to increase test efficiency and develop software value.

Functions to automate using Automation testing tools:

It’s true that everything is not to be automated using the Automation testing process, things to be automated are; login forms, registration forms, and the place where numbers of users access the Software simultaneously can be automated. Moreover, all GUI items, connections with databases, field validations and many-more can be efficiently tested automatically rather than manually.

Selenium

Selenium is a free (open source) automated testing suite for web applications across different browsers and platforms. Testing done using the Selenium tool is usually referred to as Selenium Testing. It has four components.

  • Selenium Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
  • Selenium Remote Control (RC)
  • Web Driver
  • Selenium Grid

Selenium IDE

Selenium Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is the simplest framework in the Selenium suite and is the easiest one to learn. It is a Firefox plug-in that you can install as easily as you can with other plug-ins. However, because of its simplicity, Selenium IDE should only be used as a prototyping tool. If you want to create more advanced test cases, you will need to use either Selenium RC or Web Driver.

Selenium RC

Selenium RC was the flagship testing framework of the whole Selenium project for a long time. This is the first automated web testing tool that allowed users to use a programming language they prefer.

Web Driver

The Web Driver proves itself to be better than both Selenium IDE and Selenium RC in many aspects. It implements a more modern and stable approach in automating the browser’s actions. Web Driver, unlike Selenium RC, does not rely on JavaScript for Automation. It controls the browser by directly communicating with it.

Selenium Grid

Selenium Grid is a tool used together with Selenium RC to run parallel tests across different machines and different browsers all at the same time. Parallel execution means running multiple tests at once.

Features:

  • Enables simultaneous running of tests in multiple browsers and environments.
  • Saves time enormously.
  • Utilizes the hub-and-nodes concept. The hub acts as a central source of Selenium commands to each node connected to it.