What You Need To Know About Selenium Testing As Remote Tester – CTR

What You Need To Know About Selenium Testing As Remote Tester

The internet has become an integral part of our lifestyle, and nobody can deny that. Lots of businesses and firms are operating on the internet – the new and the older ones too.

To stay relevant, they need to keep their websites accessible, attractive, and user friendly. But how do they know what’s working on their website and what’s not? Enter Selenium Testing.

Selenium is an open-source, portable framework focussed on testing different aspects of your website and web-based applications. You can write tests in C#, Groovy, Java, PHP, Python, Scala, etc.

Licensed under Apache 2.0 (which means users can distribute, modify, and distribute modified versions of the software freely), it can run tests against various modern and legacy browsers.

Initially developed by Jason Huggins in 2004, it is compatible with Linux, Windows and macOS. It not just tests websites and web applications but instead automates the process of testing.

Before selenium testing, the job was done with testers comparing actual outcomes with predicted outcomes manually. Now you can write small scripts in different languages, and Selenium will do everything else.

Selenium was initially developed as an internal tool. Later, different programmers came together to make it what it is today, a collection of different components. Each Selenium component is used for different goals, but collectively, they serve the same purpose.

Table of Contents

Things You Need To Know About Selenium Testing

This article assumes you have little information about web testing and you know what is Selenium and what it does.

Four components

Selenium Suite has four components, namely Selenium IDE, Selenium RC, Webdriver, and Selenium Grid. Each of these components fulfils different goals and purposes.

Selenium IDE should be used as a prototyping tool. It is easy to learn and requires no programming knowledge at all. Selenium RC stands for Selenium Remote Control and performs looping and conditional operations.

Webdriver helps automate the browser’s actions and is easier to install and work. Selenium Grid is used together with Selenium RC to run parallel tests on multiple machines and browsers.

Selenium IDE

IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment. Selenium IDE creates a virtual environment where the user can deploy their web applications and test them against various test cases.

It is a Chrome extension and Firefox add-on aimed at automatic testing of web apps. It has been designed to create a prototype of the tests, and it even provides supports for extensions.

Although Selenium IDE is a beneficial tool, it has some cons too. It doesn’t support iteration and conditional operations. It’s also very slow when compared to other components of the Selenium Suite.

Selenium RC

It is the flagship Selenium component which is being used for testing since a very long time. It is based on Javascript. It has faster execution than IDE and supports data-driven testing.

Javascript codes cannot access elements from those domains which are different from the domain which launched those elements. It is called the “Same Origin Policy Issue.”

Due to the Same Origin Policy Issue, Selenium RC needed local copies of both selenium core and the testing web server. This process makes sure that both belong to the same domain.

However, installing Selenium RC is more complicated, and you would need good programming skills to master it. It has a slower execution than WebDriver, and browser integration is less realistic.

WebDriver

It is better than both the Selenium IDE and Selenium RC in numerous ways. It is faster, has a simple installation process, and does not need a separate component like Selenium RC.

It communicates directly to the browser and controls it at an OS level. Simon Stewart created it in 2006. The biggest drawback this tool had that it has no built-in mechanism for logging runtime messages and generation of test results.

Unlike Selenium IDE, it requires good programming skills to master it too. To overcome these shortcomings, Selenium Grid came into play.

Selenium Grid

Selenium Grid is the most versatile tool in the Selenium Suite. It allows running tests in multiple browsers and environments simultaneously, which saves lots of time.

It contains a central source which stores all the Selenium commands and then sends it to different nodes. It can help you run a vast test suite, and that too in the shortest time possible.

LambdaTest is another tool that helps you perform automated cross-browser testing on real browsers and online operating systems. You can even check the responsiveness of the website with just a single click.

Selenium 1, 2, and 3

Selenium Remote Control is also referred to as Selenium 1. It was the flagship testing tool of Selenium Suite and depended on the core libraries upon which any browser supporting javascript would run.

Selenium 2 is the updated version of Selenium 1. WebDriver and Selenium RC were combined into a single framework. It also uses multiple programming languages like C#, Perl, Python, PHP, etc.

WebDriver contributes its object-oriented API for the Document Object Model (DOM). It is faster than Selenium 1 and is preferred by many people.

Selenium 3 is not based on ‘Selenium 1 core’ like Selenium 2 did. It is independent and provides a better testing experience than its predecessors.

To Sum Up

Selenium Suite is a highly useful tool for websites and web applications testing. It has been in the market for about 15 years now. It has only improved and got better since that time.

Selenium 3 is already being used in many places. It uses tools such as Appium for mobile automation which is excellent for testing for even mobile phones.

However, a lot of people still use Selenium 2 as it supports Selenium RC API and Selenium RC technology below the WebDriver API altogether.

For better cross-browser testing requirements, you can bank upon LambdaTest for all your needs. Happy testing!

Exploring Remote Test Labs for Selenium

Selenium is such a good web application testing tool. It provides a tester with an opportunity to automate browser actions to ensure that a Web App is functioning as per expectation. However, one must get the most from Selenium using something more than the local machine. Here is where remote test labs come in. Such remote labs will enable you to test on different devices and browsers without physically possessing them. This can save you time and money while boosting the quality of your testing.

This blog will delve into the many remote test labs available, with special preference given to LambdaTest. We will examine how such labs improve your testing effort, why it may be an important part of your testing strategy, and much more.

Understanding Remote Test Labs

Let’s start with the basic question

What are Remote Test Labs?

Remote test labs are online platforms. They provide access to a range of computer environments. You can use them to test how your web apps perform on different browsers and devices. This means you do not need to have these devices or systems physically. You can access them over the Internet.

Purpose of Remote Test Labs

The main goal of using a remote test lab is to simulate how your applications behave in various environments. This is crucial because users will access your web applications from different devices and browsers. Testing in these varied environments ensures your application delivers a consistent experience for all users.

Benefits for Selenium Testing

1. Multiple Environments: Remote test labs offer various browsers and operating systems. This means you can test your app’s work on the latest browsers and older versions without installing them on your local machine.
2. Scalability: You can run multiple tests simultaneously across different environments. This helps you scale your testing efforts quickly and efficiently.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: Instead of investing in multiple devices and systems for testing, you can access them for a fee from a remote lab. This reduces the overhead costs of maintaining a large inventory of hardware.

Key Features to Look for in Remote Test Labs

When choosing a remote test lab for Selenium testing, certain features are essential:

1. Browser and OS Variety: A good remote test lab offers a wide selection of browsers and operating systems. This variety helps ensure that your web applications work well across all user platforms.
2. Real-Time Testing Capabilities: Being able to interact with your application in real-time on any browser or OS is crucial. It helps you understand better how real users will experience your application.
3. Integration Options: Look for labs that integrate easily with other tools. For example, integration with project management or continuous integration tools can streamline your workflows.

Importance of Security and Support

Security is vital when running tests that might involve sensitive data. Ensure the remote lab provides secure access and data protection. Support is also crucial. Access to technical support when needed can help you solve problems quickly, keeping your testing schedule on track.

Impact on Test Cycles

These features directly affect how effectively you can test your applications. For instance, having a variety of environments and real-time testing capabilities can help you catch and fix problems faster. This leads to more robust software and a better user experience.

Overview of Popular Remote Test Labs

Several well-known remote test labs offer diverse features and capabilities. Here, we’ll look at LambdaTest, Amazon Device Farm, and Azure Lab Services, comparing their features, user interfaces, and pricing structures.

1. 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.
2. Amazon Device Farm: It’s an Amazon service for app testing on real devices—smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices. This would be pretty handy for mobile app developers who want to test their applications in the real world on varying amounts of devices.
3. Azure Lab Services: Azure Lab Services is Microsoft’s facility to gain access to labs for testing, training, and other educational uses. In short, this is not so much of a tool for browsing and device testing like LambdaTest or Amazon Device Farm, but it does truly offer you fast access to virtual machines of different configurations and setups in testing your application in many environments.

Comparison

• Features:
  • LambdaTest: Offers a huge variety of browser and device combinations, supports extensive integrations with other tools, and provides features for both manual and automated testing.
  • Amazon Device Farm: Specializes in real device testing with a strong focus on mobile applications. It offers automated and interactive testing environments but has a more limited browser testing capability than LambdaTest.
  • Azure Lab Services: Focuses on creating and managing virtual labs for various use cases, including development and testing. It’s flexible regarding environment configuration but less specific to browser/device testing.
  • LambdaTest: Known for its user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of setting up, running, and monitoring tests.
  • Amazon Device Farm: Provides a straightforward interface, though some users might find the setup process for testing slightly more complex due to the diverse options available.
  • Azure Lab Services: Offers a clean, integrated experience within the Azure ecosystem, which is highly appreciated by those already using Azure services.
  • LambdaTest: Offers flexible pricing plans that cater to small teams and large enterprises, including pay-as-you-go options for casual users.
  • Amazon Device Farm: Utilizes a pay-as-you-use pricing model, which can be economical for sporadic testing needs but potentially expensive for continuous high-volume testing.
  • Azure Lab Services: Pricing is generally based on the virtual machines used and the operational duration, making it scalable but potentially costly depending on the configuration.

  Each of these labs has unique strengths, and the best choice depends on your specific testing needs and budget. LambdaTest is ideal for those needing extensive browser and desktop testing, Amazon Device Farm is great for mobile developers, and Azure Lab Services suits those who need a customizable testing environment within a broader educational or development framework.

  In-Depth Look at LambdaTest

  LambdaTest is a cloud-based platform that allows you to test your web applications across various browsers and devices. This platform is designed to simplify your testing process and enhance your productivity.

  Key Features of LambdaTest

  Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing

  LambdaTest increases your capability to perform cross-browser testing over over 3000 browsers and their versions with different operating systems like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. This means that applications can be tested on browser versions from the latest compatibility down to legacy browsers of the most common, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and less commonly used Internet Explorer.

  Selenium Grid Online

  LambdaTest’s online Selenium Grid enables developers to work from the same operation in the cloud. The parallel test setup can let the user run any number of tests on different browsers and operating system combinations at a time, which eventually reduces the test phase time by many folds.

  Integration with Multiple Frameworks and Tools

  LambdaTest supports integration with popular test frameworks and tools that include Selenium, Cypress, TestNG, Jenkins, and TravisCI, among others. Such compatibility easily integrates LambdaTest with the current CI/CD, whereby automated tests are a part of regular development and do not require changes to be done in workflow configuration.

  Real-Time Testing and Debugging

  LambdaTest offers real-time testing capabilities, allowing developers to interact with their web applications on any browser directly from their own browsers. This is particularly useful for debugging issues that only appear under specific conditions. Moreover, LambdaTest provides tools like video recording, screenshots, and logs to help identify and document issues during test sessions.

  Advantages of Selenium Tests

  Using LambdaTest for Selenium tests offers several advantages:

  • Flexibility: Run Selenium scripts across multiple environments simultaneously, reducing the time needed for extensive testing phases.
  • Accessibility: Easily access remote devices and browsers without the need for local setups.
  • Scalability: Scale your testing efforts as your project grows without significant additional costs.

  Customer Success Stories

  LambdaTest users often report improved test coverage and faster execution times. For example, a tech company reduced its testing time by 40% after switching to LambdaTest. Their teams could identify bugs earlier in the development process, thanks to the comprehensive testing environment provided by LambdaTest.

  Setting Up Selenium with LambdaTest

  Setting up Selenium with LambdaTest is straightforward. Here’s how you can get started:

  Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Create a LambdaTest Account: Sign up and log into LambdaTest.
  2. Configure Test Environment: Choose the browsers and devices you want to test on.
  3. Set Up Your Selenium Scripts: Adjust your Selenium scripts to connect to LambdaTest’s Selenium Grid.

  Example Configuration

  Here is a simple example of how to configure a Selenium script to run on LambdaTest:

  from selenium import webdriver

  “build”: “Python Selenium Test”,

  “name”: “LambdaTest Sample Test”,

  “platform”: “Windows 10”,

  # Connect to LambdaTest

  https://www.computertechreviews.com/selenium-testing-as-remote-tester/

  Exploring Remote Test Labs for Selenium