Posted in Selenium

What is DesiredCapabilities in Selenium? what is the purpose , use case and when to use it?

   September 5, 2024

DesiredCapabilities in Selenium are key-value pairs that allow users to customize and configure the testing environment for their automated tests. They specify various properties related to the browser, operating system, and other settings that are necessary for executing Selenium test scripts effectively.

Purpose

The primary purpose of DesiredCapabilities is to provide a way to define the specific requirements for a test environment, including:

  • Browser Type: Specify which browser to use (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
  • Browser Version: Indicate the version of the browser.
  • Operating System: Define the operating system on which the browser will run (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux).
  • Additional Settings: Configure other options such as timeouts, proxy settings, and whether to accept insecure SSL certificates.

Use Cases

  1. Cross-Browser Testing: DesiredCapabilities are essential for running tests across different browsers and versions to ensure compatibility and functionality.
  2. Selenium Grid: When using Selenium Grid for parallel execution on multiple machines, DesiredCapabilities help specify the environment for each test instance, enabling efficient resource utilization.
  3. Mobile Testing: When testing mobile applications, DesiredCapabilities can be used to define the mobile platform (iOS or Android) and the specific device or emulator to be used.
  4. Custom Browser Configurations: They allow testers to customize browser settings, such as enabling/disabling JavaScript, setting browser window size, or managing cookies.

When to Use DesiredCapabilities

  • Setting Up Remote WebDriver: When connecting to a remote Selenium server or grid, DesiredCapabilities are used to define the desired environment.
  • Running Tests on Different Configurations: If your testing requires running on various browsers, operating systems, or device types, use DesiredCapabilities to specify these configurations.
  • Configuring Specific Browser Options: When you need to set specific options for a browser (like starting maximized or running in headless mode), DesiredCapabilities can be utilized.

Example of DesiredCapabilities in Java

Here is a simple example of how to set DesiredCapabilities in Java:

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.remote.DesiredCapabilities;
import org.openqa.selenium.remote.RemoteWebDriver;
import java.net.URL;

public class DesiredCapabilitiesExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        DesiredCapabilities capabilities = new DesiredCapabilities();
        capabilities.setBrowserName("chrome");
        capabilities.setVersion("89");
        capabilities.setPlatform(Platform.WINDOWS);

        WebDriver driver = new RemoteWebDriver(new URL("http://localhost:4444/wd/hub"), capabilities);
        driver.get("http://www.example.com");
        System.out.println("Title: " + driver.getTitle());
        driver.quit();
    }
}

In this example, DesiredCapabilities are used to specify that the tests should run on Chrome version 89 on a Windows platform. This setup is crucial for ensuring that tests are executed in the intended environment.

In summary, DesiredCapabilities are a fundamental aspect of Selenium that enable testers to define and control the environment in which their tests run, ensuring compatibility and efficiency across different platforms and browsers.

Author: learnwithdey