Selenium vs Squish: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare and highlight the key differences between Selenium and Squish - two popular testing tools used for website automation. Both tools have their strengths and weaknesses, making it essential to understand their differences before choosing the right one for your project.

1. Testing Frameworks: Selenium is an open-source testing framework that supports multiple programming languages such as Java, C#, and Python. On the other hand, Squish is a commercial testing framework that mainly focuses on GUI testing and supports scripting in languages like JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and Tcl.

2. Platform Support: Selenium provides extensive platform support and can be used on multiple operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux. Additionally, Selenium supports various browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer. Conversely, Squish primarily focuses on supporting desktop application testing and has better platform support for Windows and Linux.

3. Object Recognition: Selenium primarily relies on locating elements using locators like IDs, class names, XPath, or CSS selectors. Squish, on the other hand, offers an advanced object recognition system that allows testers to identify objects by their properties, appearance, and even textual content.

4. Test Execution: Selenium executes tests directly in browsers, allowing it to precisely mimic user interactions. Squish, however, operates on a different level by using interprocess communication to communicate with the application under test. This approach allows Squish to control and monitor the application from the outside, making it well-suited for testing applications with complex interfaces.

5. Support for Mobile Testing: Selenium provides support for mobile testing through its Selenium WebDriver and Appium, which allows testing on iOS and Android platforms. Squish, on the other hand, does not explicitly offer built-in support for mobile testing, focusing primarily on desktop application testing.

6. Licensing and Cost: Selenium is an open-source tool released under the Apache License, making it free to use and modify. Squish, being a commercial tool, requires a licensing fee for its usage. The licensing cost for Squish can vary depending on factors like the number of users, applications, and platforms.

In summary, Selenium offers extensive platform support, an open-source nature, and excellent browser automation capabilities, making it a popular choice for web automation. On the other hand, Squish specializes in GUI testing, offers rich object recognition capabilities, and is suitable for complex applications, albeit at a commercial cost.