The following are the differences between the Selenium RC and Selenium Web Driver:
Difference 1:
Selenium RC
|
|---|
| Selenium Server is required to start. Explanation: Selenium RC don't call the browsers directly instead it uses Selenium Server to communicate with the Test Browsers on the same machine or different machine. So we've to start the Selenium Server before running the Selenium RC tests. How Selenium RC uses Selenium Server ? Selenium RC works the same way for each supported browser by injecting the JavaScript functions into the browser using Selenium Server when the browser is loaded and also drives the application under test in the browser using Selenium Server (Selenium Server uses Java Script to driver the application under test in the browser). Drawbacks: Selenium RC server doesn't use the Browser's built in support for test automation. Hence it has to use Selenium Server as a mediator. |
| Selenium Web Driver |
| Selenium Server is not required to start. Explanation: Selenium Web Driver makes direct calls to the Test Browsers on the same machine without using Selenium Server as a mediator. Exception Case: Selenium Server will be used as a mediator by Selenium Web Driver when the Selenium Automation tests need be run on a different machine (i.e. While implementing Selenium Grid concept which distributes the Automation tests over multiple machines. This concept may require the Selenium WebDriver to communicate with the test browsers not on the current machine. Hence it uses Selenium Server to communicate with all the test browsers which are not on the current machine.) How can the Selenium Web Driver make direct calls to the test browsers ? Selenium Web Driver uses Browser's native support/built in support for test automation. i.e. While writing the Selenium Web Driver automation tests we also use driver code of the browser to be tested. Suppose if we have to run our tests on Firefox Browser, then we will use Firefox Driver code in our Selenium WebDriver automation tests. (Browser Drivers will be explained in the upcoming posts). Hence usage of Selenium Server is not required when the Automation tests and the test browsers are on the same machine. |
Difference 2:
| Selenium RC |
| Selenium RC code looks different from the Selenium WebDriver code (Selenium RC uses different commands to perform the operations when compared to Selenium Web Driver ) |
| Selenium Web Driver |
| Selenium WebDriver code looks different from the Selenium RC code (Selenium Web Driver uses different commands to perform the operations when compared to Selenium RC ) |
Difference 3:
| Selenium RC |
| Simple and compact API when compared to Selenium Web Driver API. |
| Selenium Web Driver |
| Complex and a bit large API when compared to Selenium RC API. |
Difference 4:
| Selenium RC |
| Less object oriented API. |
| Selenium Web Driver |
| Complete Object Oriented API. |
Difference 5:
| Selenium RC |
| Cannot automate to move the mouse cursor using Selenium RC automation |
| Selenium Web Driver |
| Can automate to move the mouse cursor using Selenium WebDriver automation. |
Difference 6:
| Selenium RC |
| Cannot test iPhone/Android applications |
| Selenium Web Driver |
| Can test iPhone/Android applications. |
Go through the following links to get more clarity and more differences:
http://www.guru99.com/introduction-webdriver-comparison-selenium-rc.html
http://www.vietnamesetestingboard.org/zbxe/?document_srl=641375
Please comment below to feedback or ask questions.
Create a JUnit Selenium Web Driver test using Selenium IDE will be explained in the next post.
Create a JUnit Selenium Web Driver test using Selenium IDE will be explained in the next post.
