WebDriver is the main interface in Selenium that provides a set of methods to automate web browsers. It allows you to programmatically control a browser—opening it, navigating web pages, performing user actions, and retrieving information from the browser. Selenium WebDriver supports multiple browsers (like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) and programming languages (Java, Python, C#, etc.).
In simpler terms, WebDriver acts as the bridge between your automation scripts and the actual web browser, enabling you to write code that simulates user behavior for testing web applications.
Common Methods of Selenium WebDriver (Java)
Below is a table listing essential methods of the WebDriver interface, along with their descriptions and basic Java syntax:
| Method | Description | Syntax (Java) |
|---|---|---|
get(String url) | Opens the specified URL in the browser. | driver.get("http://example.com"); |
getCurrentUrl() | Returns the current page URL as a String. | String url = driver.getCurrentUrl(); |
getTitle() | Returns the current page title as a String. | String title = driver.getTitle(); |
getPageSource() | Returns the source code of the current page. | String source = driver.getPageSource(); |
findElement(By by) | Finds the first matching element on the page. | WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.id("id")); |
findElements(By by) | Finds all matching elements as a list. | List<WebElement> elements = driver.findElements(By.className("class")); |
close() | Closes the current browser window. | driver.close(); |
quit() | Quits the driver, closing all windows. | driver.quit(); |
navigate() | Returns a Navigation interface for additional navigation commands. | driver.navigate().to("http://example.com"); |
getWindowHandle() | Returns a unique identifier for the current browser window. | String handle = driver.getWindowHandle(); |
getWindowHandles() | Returns a set of identifiers for all open browser windows. | Set<String> handles = driver.getWindowHandles(); |
manage() | Returns an Options interface for browser settings (cookies, window size, timeouts, etc.). | driver.manage().window().maximize(); |
switchTo() | Used to switch context (windows, frames, alerts, etc.). | driver.switchTo().frame("frameName"); |
Explanation of Key Method Groups
1. Browser Control
get(),close(),quit(): Open or close browsers and pages.navigate(): Move back, forward, refresh, or to a new page.
2. Page Information
3. Finding Elements
findElement(),findElements(): Locate HTML elements for interaction.
4. Window and Frame Handling
getWindowHandle(),getWindowHandles(),switchTo(): Manage and switch between windows, frames, and alerts.
5. Browser Options
manage(): Adjust browser properties (window size, cookies, timeouts).
These core methods provide the foundation for web automation with Selenium WebDriver in Java. Most advanced operations in Selenium are built on top of these basic methods and interfaces.