Selenium Testing: Tools, Pros & Cons, Alternatives

Selenium automation uses the Selenium toolbox to run tests across different browser instances. Selenium Grid lets you test across multiple instances and machines at once. There are a lot of types of testing it can be used for:

• System testing

• End-to-end testing

• Compatibility testing

• Regression testing

• Integration testing

• Performance testing

Essentially, any test you can think of that can be run in a browser can be run in Selenium if you have the knowledge and training to set it up.

While Selenium Testing is likely to have a place in developer’s toolkits for some time to come, there are a number of things that make it less practical for today’s complex testing requirements:

1It’s complex with a steep learning curve

2It takes a lot of manual coding to build the testing solution you want

3It takes a lot of training to get the most out of it

4Needs additional software to do things like test native, hybrid, and web mobile apps

5No built-in reporting capabilities

6No support apart from user forums

7It’s a lot of work to evolve tests as the apps you develop evolve