Everything You Need to Know About the ChromeDriver in Selenium

The most common web browser used today is Google Chrome. Google Chrome is widely used globally, making it essential for all the websites on Chrome to be tested. This article on ChromeDriver in Selenium will help you understand the basics of ChromeDriver and explain how a ChromeDriver is used for automated testing.

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What Is ChromeDriver?

A ChromeDriver is a separate executable or a standalone server that Selenium WebDriver uses to launch Google Chrome. Here, a WebDriver refers to a collection of APIs used to automate the testing of web applications. 

Initializing the object of ChromeDriver is possible with the help of this command:

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver

Why Use a ChromeDriver?

As Google Chrome dominates the browser market, the use of a ChromeDriver becomes a must. Selenium WebDriver uses the ChromeDriver to communicate test scripts with Google Chrome. It is used to navigate between web pages and provide input to the same.

Setting Up a Chrome Driver

Four prerequisites are to be kept in mind when thinking of downloading and installing the Selenium ChromeDriver. They are as follows:

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  1. Java / JDK / JRE (https://www.oracle.com/in/java/technologies/javase-downloads.html)
  2. Eclipse IDE (https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/)
  3. Selenium (https://www.selenium.dev/)
  4. Chrome Browser (https://www.selenium.dev/)

To learn how we can download and install Selenium on our system, you can refer to the video above. In the video, you will not only learn how to install Selenium but also see the way to run the first automated test in Selenium.

Conclusion

By now you would have learned what ChromeDriver is all about, and what is the relevance of the same. In addition to that, you would be well-versed with the way to install Selenium and Selenium ChromeDriver. The hands-on demo would have helped you to understand the way to automate your tests using the Selenium ChromeDriver.

If you are planning to learn and excel in DevOps, consider enrolling in Simplilearn’s DevOps certification training course. 

And if you have any questions for us, please mention it in the comment section of the "All you need to know about the ChromeDriver in Selenium" article and we'll have our experts answer it for you at the earliest!

About the Author

Ishan GabaIshan Gaba

Ishan Gaba is a Research Analyst at Simplilearn. He is proficient in Java Programming, Data Structures, and Project Management. Graduated in Information Technology, Ishan is also passionate about writing and traveling.

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