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To use Selenium with PHP, install the community php-webdriver/webdriver Composer package, install Chrome or Chromium, and run a compatible ChromeDriver endpoint. Your PHP script then connects to that endpoint using WebDriver, opens a page, interacts with its elements, checks a result, and closes the browser session.
How Selenium with PHP works
Selenium WebDriver is an interface and protocol for automating a browser. In a PHP project, the community php-webdriver/webdriver library acts as the client: it sends WebDriver commands to a browser-specific driver, which controls the actual browser. Selenium’s setup overview describes the necessary pieces as a language binding, a browser, and that browser’s driver (Selenium: Getting started; Selenium WebDriver).
The browser can run on your development machine or elsewhere. This beginner example uses Chrome locally. PHP is not listed among the Selenium project’s supported language bindings in the documentation reviewed here; php-webdriver/webdriver is a community-maintained PHP client, not an official Selenium PHP binding.
Install the PHP WebDriver client
In your project directory, install the library with Composer:
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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composer require php-webdriver/webdriverThe package name is php-webdriver/webdriver. Older instructions may use facebook/webdriver, the previous package name. Composer creates the dependencies and autoloader your script will use.
At the Packagist snapshot dated December 28, 2025, version 1.16.0 was listed, with PHP ^7.3 || ^8.0 and the curl, json, and zip extensions as requirements (Packagist package record). Package versions and requirements can change; check the current package record when setting up a new project.
Install Chrome and start ChromeDriver
The Composer package does not install a browser or its driver. Install Chrome or Chromium, then install a ChromeDriver version compatible with the browser version you have. ChromeDriver is a separate executable that exposes a WebDriver endpoint for Chrome (Chrome for Developers: Get started with ChromeDriver). Because browser and driver releases change, use the current browser-vendor instructions rather than relying on a copied, old version pin.
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- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Install Chrome or Chromium on the machine that will run the test.
- Install a compatible ChromeDriver using the current ChromeDriver instructions.
- Start the driver and leave it running while your PHP script uses it. The php-webdriver README documents the local endpoint pattern on port 4444, at
http://localhost:4444(php-webdriver project README).
This is a direct connection to a local browser driver; it is not the same setup as Selenium Server or Grid. A direct driver is a straightforward starting point for local development. Selenium Server/Grid is a separate option when you need remote browsers, multiple browser types, CI orchestration, or distributed runs.
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Write and run a first PHP browser test
Save this as first-test.php in the Composer project directory. It opens Example Domain, checks that the page title is the expected value, and closes the WebDriver session whether the check succeeds or throws an exception.
<?php
require_once __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
use FacebookWebDriverRemoteDesiredCapabilities;
use FacebookWebDriverRemoteRemoteWebDriver;
$driver = RemoteWebDriver::create(
'http://localhost:4444',
DesiredCapabilities::chrome()
);
try {
$driver->get('https://example.com');
$title = $driver->getTitle();
if ($title !== 'Example Domain') {
throw new RuntimeException("Unexpected page title: {$title}");
}
echo "Title check passed: {$title}n";
} finally {
$driver->quit();
}Run it from the project directory with:
php first-test.phpWith ChromeDriver running and dependencies installed, the script should print Title check passed: Example Domain. The PHP client’s documented pattern is to create a remote WebDriver session with a server URL and browser capabilities, navigate with get(), find and interact with elements as needed, and call quit() to end the session (php-webdriver project README).
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- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Find elements, interact, and wait for the page
For interaction tests, identify an element with a locator, then use the element methods to act on it or inspect its state. Prefer a stable ID or CSS selector when the target page provides one. For example, after navigation, a lookup follows this pattern:
use FacebookWebDriverWebDriverBy;
$button = $driver->findElement(WebDriverBy::cssSelector('#submit'));
$button->click();The selector above is illustrative: it works only if the page actually contains an element with that ID. Choose locators based on the target page’s DOM rather than assuming every page has the same markup.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallDo not use an arbitrary sleep as the default synchronization strategy. Dynamic pages may not have finished rendering or loading the element when the next command runs. WebDriver documentation treats waiting strategies as a core browser-automation concern; use an explicit wait for the condition your test needs, and keep assertions in your chosen test runner when you turn the script into a test suite (Selenium WebDriver). Always close the session with quit(), including when an assertion or interaction fails.
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- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
When to use Selenium Server or Grid
Start with the direct local driver for learning and local browser checks. Consider Selenium Server/Grid when the test environment needs remote machines, several browser types, CI coordination, or distributed execution. The php-webdriver project documentation distinguishes direct browser-driver communication from connecting through Selenium Server and describes the latter for broader or distributed setups (php-webdriver project README).
| Setup | Where the browser runs | Best fit | Operational trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct ChromeDriver | On the local machine running ChromeDriver | First scripts and local development | Simple endpoint model, but you manage the browser and compatible driver on that machine. |
| Selenium Server/Grid | On a server or Grid node, possibly remote from PHP | Multiple browsers, CI, or distributed runs | Adds server/Grid setup and orchestration in exchange for remote or broader execution. |
Troubleshooting common setup problems
- Composer succeeds, but no browser starts: Installing the PHP binding does not install Chrome/Chromium or ChromeDriver. Install both, ensure driver compatibility, and start the driver endpoint.
- PHP cannot connect to
http://localhost:4444: Confirm ChromeDriver is running on that host and port, and that your PHP script uses the same endpoint. If the driver runs on another machine,localhostrefers to the PHP machine, not the remote host. - Session creation fails: Check that Chrome is installed and that the ChromeDriver release is compatible with it. Consult the current ChromeDriver setup instructions rather than using a stale driver download or version pin.
Class not founderrors: Run the script from the Composer project and includevendor/autoload.php. Verify thatcomposer require php-webdriver/webdrivercompleted successfully.- Composer reports a PHP version or extension conflict: Compare your PHP runtime and installed extensions with the current Packagist requirements. The December 28, 2025 package snapshot listed PHP
^7.3 || ^8.0andcurl,json, andzip; check for updated requirements before treating those as current. - The script exits but leaves a browser running: Put browser work in a
tryblock and call$driver->quit()fromfinallyso cleanup occurs after failures too. - An element lookup fails or runs too early: Confirm the locator matches the live page DOM and wait for the required element or state instead of assuming navigation means all dynamic content is ready.
Or skip the browser setup
If you need a website screenshot rather than browser interactions, ScreenshotNeo returns a screenshot or PDF from one API request. Its consent-banner, popup, and chat-widget cleanup runs before capture and can be turned off; bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed. It also provides an MCP server for AI agents, including Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots.
cURL example (see the ScreenshotNeo API documentation):
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpSign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month—no card required.
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is php-webdriver/webdriver an official Selenium PHP binding?
No. It is a community-maintained PHP client library; the Selenium documentation reviewed here does not list PHP among its supported language bindings.
Do I need Selenium Server to run a local PHP browser test?
No. For a first local test, PHP can connect directly to a running browser driver such as ChromeDriver.
What should I use instead of facebook/webdriver in new setup instructions?
Use the Composer package name php-webdriver/webdriver.
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