Data-Driven Testing in Selenium

Object Repository: A Foundation for Efficient Test Automation

Object Repository is a centralized repository that stores information about the elements or objects that are used in automated testing. It acts as a single source of truth, making it easier to manage and maintain test scripts. By storing object properties in a structured manner, object repositories help to:

Improve maintainability: When object properties change, updates can be made in one central location rather than across multiple test scripts.
Enhance reusability: Reusable test components can be created using object repositories, reducing redundancy and improving efficiency.
Facilitate collaboration: Multiple team members can work on the same object repository, promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Types of Object Repositories

There are two primary types of object repositories:

Local Object Repository:** Each test script maintains its own object repository. This approach can be suitable for smaller projects, but it can become cumbersome as the number of test scripts grows.

Centralized Object Repository:** A single, shared object repository is used across all test scripts. This approach is generally preferred for larger projects as it offers better maintainability and reusability.

Scenarios and Object Storage

Let's explore three scenarios to understand how objects are stored in an object repository:

Scenario 1: Simple Web Application

Consider a simple web application with a login page. The login page has two input fields (username and password) and a submit button.

Object Repository Structure:

ObjectRepository ├── Login Page │ ├── usernameTextField │ ├── passwordTextField │ └── submitButton

Object Properties:

`usernameTextField`:

`locator`: `id=username`

`description`: "Username input field"

`passwordTextField`:

`locator`: `id=password`

`description`: "Password input field"

`submitButton`:

`locator`: `xpath=//button[text()='Submit']`

`description`: "Login submit button"

Test Script:

from selenium import webdriver from object_repository import Login driver = webdriver.Chrome() driver.get("https://example.com/login") login_page = Login(driver) login_page.username_text_field.send_keys("your_username") login_page.password_text_field.send_keys("your_password") login_page.submit_button.click()

Scenario 2: Complex Web Application

Scenario 3: Mobile Application

Conclusion

By effectively organizing and managing objects in an object repository, test automation teams can significantly improve the efficiency, maintainability, and reliability of their test suites. The chosen approach, whether local or centralized, should align with the specific needs and complexity of the application under test.