Apart from Selenium, the other most commonly used automation testing software is QTP or HP QuickTest Professional. Let us compare these two automation testing softwares with each other. In this article, we will be discussing Selenium and QTP, what is Selenium, what is QTP, the Difference between QTP and Selenium, the pros and cons of both QTP and Selenium etc. We begin with a comparative chart depicting the difference between QTP and Selenium. Read on for more.
QTP vs Selenium
Head to Head Comparison Chart
| Selenium | QTP |
|---|---|
| Selenium is an open-source tool suite. | QTP is a commercial tool, and each license has to be purchased. |
| Selenium can be extended for technologies that work with DOM. | QTP has a limited number of add-ons and needs extra add-ons for other technologies. |
| Selenium can execute scripts on different browsers. | QTP can run tests only in specific versions of Firefox, Chrome, and IE. |
| Selenium can execute test scripts across various operating systems. | QTP can work only on Windows. |
| Selenium has mobile device support in itself. | QTP supports mobile devices only with the support of other third-party tools. |
| Selenium executes tests within the browser, so not much attention is needed during script execution. | QTP tool acts by mimicking user actions on the browser; hence it needs attention from the tester. |
| Selenium can run tests in parallel with Selenium Grid. | QTP cannot run tests in parallel by itself, and another commercial tool called HP Quality Center or QC is needed. |
| Selenium supports web applications only. | QTP can run tests for both desktop and web applications. |
| Selenium does not support Object Repository or Recovery Scenarios. | QTP has object repository and recovery scenarios built-in. |
| Selenium cannot access the controls of the browser itself. | QTP has complete access to the controls within the browser, the favourites bar, backward and forward buttons, etc. |
| Selenium does not have a built-in test report generation system. | QTP has a test result generation system within the tool itself by default. |
| Selenium users must rely on the programming language for parameterisation. | QTP has a built-in parameterisation system which is easy to implement. |
Introduction of QTP
QTP stands for Quick Test Professional and is used for functional testing for applications to find out bugs, defects, and other errors. The latest make of QTP is HP Unified Functional Testing and has version 11.5. UFT is an amalgamation of HP QTP and HP Service Test API. Technologies like Java, .NET, Siebel, SAP, Power Builder, Terminal Emulator, Silverlight, Flex, etc.
QTP supports only Microsoft Internet Explorer.
QTP can be used to test web and desktop applications.
The tools come with a built-in IDE.
It requires a license and has excellent technical support services.
Pros of QTP
- It can be used to test web, desktop applications, and client-server
- QTP has enhanced technical support services.
Cons of QTP
- QTP UFT supports only code written in VB script.
- QTP tests are only compatible with QTP IDEs.
- QTP is a commercial software product and requires a license.
Introduction of Selenium
Selenium is an open-source testing tool used for testing web applications. It has a powerful tool to write test scripts without the need for learning the testing language. The latest Selenium version is the 3.141.59. The test framework supports languages like Java, Python, Ruby, C#. Technologies like Maven, Docker, Jenkins, JUnit, and TestNG. Selenium can be executed on all operating systems like Windows, Mac and LINUX.
Selenium supports all browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape, Internet Explorer and Safari. It has four components like the IDE, Selenium Grid, Web Driver and Selenium Remote Control.
Pros of Selenium
- Selenium supports many languages like PHP, Java, Ruby, Python etc.
- Selenium tests can be executed in multiple platforms like Netbeans, Eclipse and Visual Studio.
- Selenium can be executed on multiple browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape, Internet Explorer, and Safari.
- Selenium is open source and is freely available without a license.
Cons of Selenium
- Selenium is an open-source, so it does not have technical support.
- Developers have complained that the tool gets slow sometimes.
Which has better career opportunities, testing with Selenium or QTP?
As per the current trends in the IT industry, it would be an excellent option to start with Selenium testing. As it is a free testing tool and supports multiple programming languages like PHP, Java, Ruby, Python, etc., it will be easier to pick up the basics. Selenium has high industry demand, and a lot of start-ups are choosing Selenium rather than QTP due to the latter’s cost of licenses. Therefore the opportunities for employment will be higher if one wants Selenium, although QTP has similar demand in the industry.
Key Differences between QTP and Selenium
- QTP requires a license. Selenium does not require a license.
- QTP can be used to test web, desktop applications, and client-server But Selenium is used to test only web applications.
- QTP UFT supports only code written in VB script. On the other hand, Selenium supports many languages, like PHP, Java, Ruby, Python, etc.
- QTP tests are only compatible with QTP IDEs whereas Selenium tests can be executed in multiple platforms like Netbeans, Eclipse and Visual Studio.
- QTP has enhanced technical support services. Selenium does not have technical support.
Conclusion
We have analyzed both the testing frameworks, Selenium and QTP in this article. Both frameworks are widely used and have a formidable demand in the IT industry. The ability to test applications on the web, desktop and server-side makes QTP a more powerful tool than Selenium. However, for someone beginning his or her career in automation testing, it is recommended to choose Selenium as it is free and supports multiple programming languages.