What's the Point of Selenium?

Question

Ok, maybe I\'m missing something, but I really don\'t see the point of Selenium. What is the point of opening the browser using code, clicking buttons using code, and checking f

Answer 1

Imagine you have 50 pages, all with 10 links each, and some with multi-stage forms that require you to go through the forms, putting in about 100 different sets of information to verify that they work properly with all credit card numbers, all addresses in all countries, etc.

That's virtually impossible to test manually. It becomes so prone to human error that you can't guarantee the testing was done right, never mind what the testing proved about the thing being tested.

Moreover, if you follow a modern development model, with many developers all working on the same site in a disconnected, distributed fashion (some working on the site from their laptop while on a plane, for instance), then the human testers won't even be able to access it, much less have the patience to re-test every time a single developer tries something new.

On any decent size of website, tests HAVE to be automated.