Selenium Framework for URL Based API Testing

In order to provide effective and efficient software testing services, IT enterprises globally are implementing various automation solutions. At Evoke, we have been actively offering automation solutions for numerous customer engagements across multiple industry verticals. Our team is constantly developing new and innovative approaches for test automation utilizing Selenium framework, thereby helping enterprises to improve their service quality and reduce costs.

As part of this endeavor, we have come out with a Selenium framework that helps testing teams to automate the validations of URL based APIs and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The Selenium driven framework developed by Evoke automates submission of requests and validates the response using a web browser, thus reducing significant manual effort.

Selenium Based Automation Regression Suite

The below Selenium framework is a data driven solution consisting of:

• Driver scripts developed in Java.
• Test data provided in an Excel spreadsheet.

The Excel utility is developed in such a way that the URL based requests are dynamically created. While the driver code undertakes the following activities:

• Reads the data from request column in an Excel spreadsheet.
• Invokes the web browser and navigates to the URL based on the request.
• Validates the response returned via browser body against the expected value in an Excel spreadsheet.
• Updates the test case result in the spreadsheet.

Benefits of Selenium Framework

• Preparing the test data and validating each scenario manually takes approximately 10 minutes.
• To prepare the data and validate 350 scenarios takes approximately 7 man days per resource. However, with the implementation of the recommended selenium framework the time is reduced to 1.5 hours (approximately).
• Selenium framework is easy to develop and the test cases can be maintained effortlessly, as all the test scenarios and test data are driven off the Excel spreadsheets.
• This Selenium framework can be readily integrated with Continuous Integration (CI) build deployment process.

Prerequisites

Below are some of the prerequisites to implement the Selenium framework:

• NetBeans IDE
• Microsoft Excel
• JDK 1.8
• Selenium-WebDriver-2.51.0 jar file
• Poi-bin-3.13 jar file
• javax.mail-1.3.3.01 jar file

Setting up the Environment

Before making use of the aforementioned Selenium framework, software testers need to set and configure the environment by downloading and installing the Java platform, Microsoft Excel and NetBeans IDE.

In the NetBeans IDE, create a new project with a Java application.

• Click on the File menu and select ‘New Project’ in NetBeans IDE 8.1

• Select ‘Java’ in categories and then select ‘Java Application’ in the ‘projects’ section and click on the ‘Next’ Button.

• Provide a ‘Project Name’ and click on the ‘Finish Button’.

• Right click on the ‘Project Libraries’ folder and select ‘ADD JAR/Folder’.

• Select the jar files from your local machine and click on ‘Open’ button. The next step is to add the below mentioned jar files to the project.

1. Selenium-WebDriver-2.51.0
2. Poi-bin-3.13
3. Javax.mail-1.3.3.01

• Provide the path or location of the Excel spreadsheet.

Execution Process

Here’s the process to execute the Selenium framework.

• Provide the API URL values in the Excel spreadsheet.
• Create a new spreadsheet for execution of reports.
• Include the sheet number in the ‘exeSheetNum’ variable.
• Add the execution report sheet number into the ‘reportSheetNum’ variable.
• Click on the ‘Run’ button on the NetBeans IDE.
• The NetBeans IDE automatically launches the ‘Internet Explorer’ browser and passes the URL value into the browser. Subsequently, it obtains the response value and compares it with the expected value, thereby displaying the results (PASS/FAIL).
• After successful execution of all the above steps, the execution reports are updated in the spreadsheet number mentioned in the Selenium framework.

Sample Test Scenario

Here’s a sample test scenario based on the above Selenium framework

Conclusion

Selenium framework for URL based API testing, simplifies API validation by building test cases.  The same can be leveraged for a selenium driven automation engine to validate and update the test execution results.

Evoke’s QA and Testing Services

Evoke offers top-notch QA and software testing services, which accelerate and improve software application performance across the enterprise. Our QA frameworks incorporate a blend of modern tools and automation frameworks that help enterprises improve their software quality and enhance performance of their software applications. Our end-to-end testing services include:

• Test Process Consulting
• Functional Testing
• Test Automation
• Performance Testing
• Security Testing
• Compatibility Testing
• Regression Testing

To know more about Evoke’s world-class IT services, please connect with us at +1 (937) 660-4925 or write to us at sales@evoketechnologies.com.

Author

Shiva Prasad Banda is a Software Test Engineer at Evoke Technologies. His area of expertise includes manual testing, developing automation solutions using tools such as UFT, Selenium, SOAP, etc. Shiva is constantly engaged in upgrading his skills by exploring new testing technologies and frameworks.