WebDriver Bidi Unveiled: What's New & How to Use It! | LambdaTest

Summary

WebDriver By is a new cross-browser automation protocol that combines the strengths of WebDriver Classic and Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP). It introduces bidirectional communication, enabling real-time updates from the browser, and grants access to low-level browser controls like JavaScript errors, console logs, and network requests. Unlike CDP, which is limited to Chromium browsers, WebDriver By is a W3C specification supported across multiple browsers. This protocol addresses key limitations of WebDriver Classic and CDP, offering enhanced speed, flexibility, and cross-browser compatibility for automation tasks.

Takeaways

• 😀 WebDriver by is a new bidirectional protocol designed for cross-browser automation.
• 😀 WebDriver by combines the benefits of both WebDriver classic and the Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP).
• 😀 WebDriver classic communicates with browsers via HTTP requests, making it slower and unidirectional.
• 😀 CDP uses WebSockets for communication and provides more low-level access to browser dev tools, but it is limited to Chromium-based browsers.
• 😀 WebDriver by offers fast bidirectional communication, enabling real-time updates from the browser for improved debugging.
• 😀 Unlike WebDriver classic, WebDriver by allows access to low-level controls like JavaScript errors, console logs, and DOM mutations.
• 😀 WebDriver by supports cross-browser automation, unlike CDP, which is mainly for Chromium-based browsers.
• 😀 Popular automation tools using WebDriver classic include Selenium WebDriver, WebDriver IO, and Appium.
• 😀 WebDriver by is still under development in some areas, like network interception, which is partially implemented in some browsers.
• 😀 The introduction of WebDriver by addresses the limitations of WebDriver classic, including its slowness and lack of low-level control access.
• 😀 WebDriver by is designed to work across multiple browsers, providing a more standardized approach to browser automation than CDP.

Q & A

What is WebDriver By, and why was it introduced?

WebDriver By is a new cross-browser automation protocol designed to combine the benefits of WebDriver Classic and the Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP). It was introduced to address limitations in existing automation protocols, providing bidirectional communication, better access to browser dev tools, and broader cross-browser support.

How does WebDriver By differ from WebDriver Classic?

WebDriver Classic is a unidirectional protocol that communicates with the browser using HTTP requests, limiting its ability to access low-level browser controls. WebDriver By, on the other hand, offers bidirectional communication, real-time updates from the browser, and access to dev tools, enhancing its capabilities for browser automation.

What are the limitations of WebDriver Classic?

WebDriver Classic has several limitations, including synchronous communication (which can slow down tests), limited access to low-level dev tools, and unidirectional communication. It lacks the ability to receive real-time updates from the browser and requires repeated polling to check for element states.

What are the key features of the Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP)?

CDP provides low-level control over the browser, such as interacting with the browser's dev tools. It allows for WebSocket communication and supports advanced browser interactions like network interception, JavaScript error logging, and DOM mutation detection. However, it is mainly limited to chromium-based browsers.

What is the main difference between WebDriver Classic and CDP?

The primary difference is that WebDriver Classic is a W3C standard and supports all browsers, but lacks advanced dev tool access, while CDP is specific to chromium-based browsers and supports low-level browser controls through WebSocket communication. CDP also allows more precise control but is not cross-browser compatible.

What are the benefits of WebDriver By over WebDriver Classic and CDP?

WebDriver By combines the strengths of WebDriver Classic and CDP, offering bidirectional communication, cross-browser compatibility, access to dev tools, and support for real-time updates. It also supports advanced features like network interception, console logging, and JavaScript error monitoring.

What limitations does CDP have?

CDP's limitations include browser compatibility (it primarily supports chromium-based browsers), and version dependencies (new Chrome releases may deprecate or modify CDP commands, causing compatibility issues). Additionally, its partial support for non-Chromium browsers is another limitation.

How does WebDriver By improve test automation speed and reliability?

WebDriver By improves test automation by providing bidirectional communication, which enables real-time updates from the browser. This eliminates the need for constant polling as in WebDriver Classic, making tests faster and more efficient. It also offers better debugging capabilities through access to browser dev tools.

What is the status of WebDriver By's implementation in test automation tools?

WebDriver By is still under development, with some features already implemented, such as JS error logging and console log capturing. Network interception is being worked on and is expected to be fully implemented in the future. Tools like Selenium and WebDriver IO have already integrated some parts of WebDriver By.

What are the practical applications of WebDriver By in automation?

WebDriver By can be used to automate browser tests more effectively by providing detailed browser interaction, such as listening to JavaScript errors, capturing console logs, and intercepting network requests. It also helps developers test real-time browser behavior, making debugging and testing more accurate and comprehensive.