Creating Object Repository in Selenium WebDriver

In the world of automation testing, Selenium WebDriver is widely regarded as one of the most powerful tools for automating web applications. As part of any selenium software testing project, handling web elements efficiently is essential. This is where an Object Repository becomes critical. Object Repository in Selenium simplifies element identification, improving code readability and maintainability, especially in larger test automation frameworks.

For professionals pursuing selenium training or looking to enhance their skills through selenium online classes, mastering the concept of Object Repository is key to building robust and scalable test automation projects.

Importance of Object Repository in Selenium WebDriver

Using Object Repositories offers several benefits:

Improved Readability: Object Repositories provide a clean structure to your code by keeping locators separate from the business logic, making it easier for developers and testers to understand and maintain.
Easier Maintenance: When UI changes occur, only the repository needs to be updated, without touching multiple test scripts, reducing the time and effort required for test script modifications.
Reusability: Objects in the repository can be reused across multiple test cases. This reduces redundancy and improves test coverage.
Team Collaboration: Teams can work more efficiently by having a shared repository where all the locators are stored and updated as needed, ensuring consistency across automation scripts.

Types of Object Repositories in Selenium

There are multiple ways to implement Object Repositories in Selenium WebDriver. Below are the most common approaches:

1. Using Properties Files

A properties file is a simple text file used to store key-value pairs. In Selenium, you can use properties files to store the locators of web elements (keys) and their corresponding XPath or CSS selectors (values).

Advantages:

Properties files are lightweight and easy to implement.
It simplifies modifications when locators change.

Disadvantages:

Not suitable for large or complex projects with numerous objects.

Example:

usernameField = //input[@id='username']
passwordField = //input[@id='password']
loginButton = //button[@id='login']

You can access the properties file using Java’s Properties class:

FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream("path_to_properties_file");
Properties prop = new Properties();
prop.load(fis);
String usernameLocator = prop.getProperty("usernameField");
driver.findElement(By.xpath(usernameLocator)).sendKeys("testUser");

2. Using Excel Files

Excel files are often used for creating object repositories, especially when testers are comfortable with spreadsheet tools like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Storing locators in Excel files allows you to store additional metadata like element descriptions, making it easier for testers to understand each web element’s purpose.

Advantages:

Useful for larger projects with complex web elements.
Easy to integrate with test management and reporting tools.

Disadvantages:

Slightly more complex to implement due to the need for Excel file handling libraries like Apache POI.

Example Structure:

Element Name	Locator Type	Locator Value
Username	XPath	//input[@id=’username’]
Password	XPath	//input[@id=’password’]
LoginButton	XPath	//button[@id=’login’]

In Java, you can read Excel files using Apache POI:

FileInputStream file = new FileInputStream(new File("path_to_excel_file"));
XSSFWorkbook workbook = new XSSFWorkbook(file);
XSSFSheet sheet = workbook.getSheet("ObjectRepository");
String usernameLocator = sheet.getRow(1).getCell(2).getStringCellValue();
driver.findElement(By.xpath(usernameLocator)).sendKeys("testUser");

3. Using Page Object Model (POM)

The Page Object Model (POM) is a design pattern that abstracts the UI elements of a web application into classes. Each page of the application has its corresponding class, where the web elements are stored as variables, and interactions with the page are defined as methods.

Advantages:

Provides better organization and structure.
Promotes reusability and readability by encapsulating page-specific functionality.

Disadvantages:

Requires additional setup and is best suited for large projects.

Example:

public class LoginPage {
    WebDriver driver;

    @FindBy(id="username")
    WebElement usernameField;

    @FindBy(id="password")
    WebElement passwordField;

    @FindBy(id="login")
    WebElement loginButton;

    public LoginPage(WebDriver driver){
        this.driver = driver;
        PageFactory.initElements(driver, this);
    }

    public void login(String username, String password){
        usernameField.sendKeys(username);
        passwordField.sendKeys(password);
        loginButton.click();
    }
}

In the test class, you would interact with the page like this:

LoginPage loginPage = new LoginPage(driver);
loginPage.login("testUser", "password123");

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating an Object Repository Using Properties Files in Selenium

Now that you understand the different approaches, let’s go through a step-by-step guide to creating an Object Repository using properties files.

Step 1: Create a Properties File

In your project, create a new .properties file named ObjectRepository.properties.
Store the locators of your web elements in key-value pairs. For example:properties
username = //input[@id='username'] password = //input[@id='password'] loginButton = //button[@id='login']

Step 2: Load the Properties File in Your Test Script

Use the Properties class in Java to load the properties file in your test script:
FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream("path_to_properties_file"); Properties prop = new Properties(); prop.load(fis);

Step 3: Access the Locators in Your Test Methods

You can now access the locators from the properties file:java String usernameLocator = prop.getProperty("username"); driver.findElement(By.xpath(usernameLocator)).sendKeys("testUser"); String passwordLocator = prop.getProperty("password"); driver.findElement(By.xpath(passwordLocator)).sendKeys("password123"); String loginButtonLocator = prop.getProperty("loginButton"); driver.findElement(By.xpath(loginButtonLocator)).click();

Step 4: Run the Test and Validate

Execute your test script to validate that the Object Repository is working correctly. If any locator needs updating, simply modify the .properties file without touching the test code itself.

Case Study: How Object Repository Enhanced Efficiency in Selenium Testing

In a real-world scenario, a team of automation engineers working on a banking application faced constant UI changes during the development phase. Initially, they hardcoded all locators into their test scripts, leading to significant rework every time the UI was updated.

By adopting the properties file based Object Repository, they reduced script maintenance by 60%, as they only needed to update locators in one central file. This approach saved the team hours of redundant code updates, improving their efficiency and reducing test execution time by 20%.

Best Practices for Object Repositories in Selenium WebDriver

Centralized Storage: Always store your Object Repository files in a centralized location accessible by all team members to ensure consistency across test scripts.
Clear Naming Conventions: Use descriptive names for your element keys (e.g., loginButton instead of btn1) to improve readability and maintainability.
Version Control: Place your Object Repository under version control (e.g., Git) to track changes and roll back when necessary.
Regular Updates: Keep the Object Repository updated with the latest locators, especially after UI changes. Regular audits can help maintain accuracy.
Segregation of Pages: For large projects, consider creating separate Object Repository files for each page or module to keep things organized and easy to manage.

Conclusion:

Creating and managing an Object Repository in Selenium WebDriver is a fundamental skill that can significantly improve the maintainability, scalability, and efficiency of your test automation framework. Whether you choose to use properties files, Excel files, or the Page Object Model, incorporating an Object Repository into your Selenium project is a smart choice for handling UI elements.

To fully master Selenium WebDriver, including Object Repository management, consider enrolling in selenium online classes offered by H2K Infosys. Our selenium training program provides in-depth, hands-on learning with expert guidance to help you become proficient in automation testing.

Key Takeaways:

Object Repository centralizes web element locators, improving test script maintainability.
Different approaches, such as properties files, Excel, and POM, can be used based on