WebDriver Factory

This node is responsible for configuring a WebDriver Factory. The WebDriver Factory creates new WebDrivers which are required for example by the Start WebDriver node. The node’s configuration allows to select a concrete WebDriver implementation. The following WebDrivers are supported by default:

• Chrome
• Chrome (bundled) – A version of Chrome which is bundled with the Selenium Nodes. This version is independent from the system installation and guaranteed to be always compatible to the current version of the nodes. We recommend to use this option instead of “Chrome” as it avoids any compatibility issues if the version of the nodes and the system’s Chrome version deviate over time due to automatic updates.
• Edge
• Firefox
• HtmlUnit(deprecated) – HtmlUnit-based headless browser – it is the fastest and and most lightweight implementation of WebDriver. Pros: It runs in pure Java and is platform-independent. Cons: While it allows to run JavaScript if enabled, it uses its own engine “Rhino” which is different from other “real” browsers.
• Internet Explorer(not supported on this system)
• RemoteWebDriver – Allows to connect to a remote browser which is running on a server with Selenium Grid. You can also use this option to connect to third party, cloud-based Selenium services such as BrowserStack.
• Safari(not supported on this system)

All WebDrivers except HtmlUnit and the RemoteWebDriver start an actual browser on your machine. This means, that the browser needs to be installed and accessible on your system. Usually, the browsers can be found automatically, in case they are available in the system’s path variable or they are present at system-specific standard locations. See the WebDriver-specific documentations above for more information.

Capabilities for the WebDriver can be configured using the key-value editor. This is relevant when you need a to set specific browser settings or a proxy configuration. Chrome and Firefox can be launched “headless” — use the “Headless” capability snippets to enable.