Protractor vs Selenide: What are the differences?

Introduction

Protractor and Selenide are both popular automated testing frameworks used for web application testing. While they serve similar purposes, there are key differences between them that make each suitable for different scenarios. In this article, we will explore the differences between Protractor and Selenide to help you make an informed decision.

1. Browser Specificity: One key difference between Protractor and Selenide is their browser specificity. Protractor is designed primarily for testing AngularJS applications and has built-in support for Angular-specific elements and events. On the other hand, Selenide is a more general-purpose framework that can be used for testing various web applications developed with different technologies.

2. Synchronous vs Asynchronous: Another significant difference lies in the way Protractor and Selenide handle asynchronous operations. Protractor has built-in support for handling asynchronous operations in Angular applications, making it easier to write tests that involve waiting for events. Selenide, however, follows a more synchronous approach and requires explicit use of wait commands to handle dynamic elements and asynchronous operations.

3. Programming Language: Protractor is built on top of the WebDriverJS framework and is primarily used with JavaScript, making it a suitable choice for teams working with JavaScript-based technologies. Selenide, on the other hand, is based on the Selenium WebDriver framework and is compatible with Java, making it more suitable for Java-based projects.

4. API Syntax: Protractor and Selenide differ in their syntax and usability. Protractor uses a DSL (Domain-Specific Language) inspired by the Jasmine testing framework, which provides a more expressive and readable syntax. Selenide uses a more traditional WebDriver API syntax, which may be more familiar to users already experienced with Selenium.

5. Test Execution: Protractor and Selenide also differ in how tests are executed. Protractor executes tests in a browser environment using a Selenium WebDriver instance, allowing for interactions and validations on the web page. Selenide, on the other hand, relies on a web driver to interact with the web page and perform validations, but the actual execution happens outside the browser, minimizing the impact of browser-based issues.

6. Community and Support: Lastly, Protractor and Selenide have different community sizes and levels of support. Protractor, being widely used for testing Angular applications, has a larger community and receives regular updates and enhancements. Selenide, while less popular, still has an active community and provides regular updates, but the level of support may not be as comprehensive as Protractor.

In summary, Protractor and Selenide differ in their browser specificity, approach to handling asynchronous operations, supported programming languages, API syntax, test execution methods, and levels of community and support. It is important to evaluate these differences and consider your specific project requirements when choosing between Protractor and Selenide.