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How to integrate Performance Tests with Selenium WebDriver Automation?
In most MVC-based applications, the UI primarily renders data received from backend services. However, this isn’t always the case — there are scenarios where data transformation logic is implemented directly in the UI, depending on the architecture and organisational requirements. While MVC serves as a guiding principle, we cannot simply criticise or question UI-heavy applications that involve significant processing. In such cases, UI performance becomes crucial, especially when analysing the performance differences between the initial load and subsequent interactions.
In today’s fast-paced web environment, performance is crucial for user satisfaction and SEO. Traditional functional tests often overlook performance aspects, yet slow load times and unresponsive pages can lead to a poor user experience and lost revenue. In this blog, we explore the importance of performance testing and demonstrate how integrating Selenium WebDriver with Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) and Lighthouse can provide deep insights into your web application’s performance. Our example project targets the AutomationExercise website using a modular Page Object Model (POM) framework
The Need for Performance Testing
Web applications are more than just functional interfaces; they must also be fast, responsive, and robust under various conditions. Key reasons for performance testing include:
- User Experience: Slow-loading pages or layout shifts can frustrate users.
- SEO and Ranking: Performance metrics such as First Contentful Paint (FCP) and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) influence search rankings.
- Scalability: Understanding performance under load helps in planning for peak traffic.
- Continuous Integration: Regular performance monitoring can catch regressions early in the development cycle.
Leveraging Selenium 4 CDP and Lighthouse
Why Selenium 4 CDP?
Selenium 4 has integrated support for the Chrome DevTools Protocol, allowing direct access to low-level browser performance data. This integration enables real-time capture of metrics like FCP, LCP, and…
