Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSelenium IDE records browser interactions as editable Selenium command-based tests. You can organize those tests into suites, save a project as a .side file, and replay it in the IDE. For broader browser coverage or team automation, use the command-line runner and, where appropriate, a Selenium Grid—but plan for browser, driver, and runtime setup.
What Selenium IDE does
Selenium describes IDE as a tool that “records and plays back a user’s actions” in a browser, using Selenium commands. It can also help newcomers learn those commands. Selenium’s overview, last modified December 7, 2021, describes a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge (Selenium IDE overview).
That description needs version context. SeleniumHQ’s v4 materials describe a move away from the web-extension model, and the current project repository describes Selenium IDE as an Electron desktop application, with release binaries, npm installation, and manual-build options. These descriptions refer to different product generations and distribution approaches; don’t assume an older browser-extension setup guide matches the current release. Consult the Selenium IDE repository and the v4 project wiki for current installation information.
How to record your first test
The basic workflow is to create a project, set its application’s base URL, record a user flow, review the generated commands, and save the project. The official getting-started article was last updated February 19, 2019, so treat its sequence as a guide to the concepts rather than a promise that current menus have identical labels (Getting Started).
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- Create a project. Open Selenium IDE and start a project. Give it a descriptive name tied to the feature or behavior under test.
- Set the base URL. Enter the application’s starting address. This gives the project a common origin for recorded navigation.
- Start recording. Let the IDE open the application, then perform a small, repeatable user journey—for example, opening a page, entering test data, and submitting a form.
- Stop and inspect. Review the recorded commands and selectors. Recording captures actions; it does not prove that the chosen locators will remain stable or that the test verifies the intended result. Add or adjust commands as needed.
- Organize and save. Keep related tests together in suites. A new project has a default suite, according to the getting-started guide. Save the project as a single
.sidefile. - Replay the test. Select a test or suite and use the IDE’s playback controls. The guide says playback uses the existing recording window when available or opens another window. Check the current IDE interface for the exact control names.
What a .side file contains—and what it does not
A .side file is the saved Selenium IDE project: it keeps the project and its test organization in a form the IDE and related tooling can use. It is not, by itself, a running browser or a complete execution environment. To run tests outside the IDE, install and configure the relevant runner, browser, driver, and—if running remotely—a Grid endpoint.
The repository also lists exporters for C#, Java, JavaScript, Python, and Ruby. Exporting offers another path from a recorded project, but it is distinct from retaining and running the project in its .side-centered workflow. Check the repository for current exporter and release details rather than assuming every exporter or runtime combination has identical support.
Running tests beyond the IDE
In-IDE playback is useful for authoring and quick checks. The command-line runner is the documented route for running suites beyond that window, including browser selection, headless configuration, and remote Grid execution. Its setup categories remain useful, but its page includes Node.js 8 or 10 prerequisites and older examples; do not treat those as the current supported runtime matrix. Confirm requirements against the current runner package and release information (Command-line runner).
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Local browser execution
A local runner setup needs the runner package, a compatible browser, and the browser driver needed for that local browser. The Selenium runner documentation describes browser selection through capabilities and names Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer in its examples. Availability and compatibility depend on the current browser, driver, and runner releases; the examples are not proof that every combination is supported today.
Expect local execution to require maintenance of these components. A browser update can affect the matching driver or change application behavior, so keep the project’s runtime requirements explicit and verify the test after environment updates.
Parallel runs and Selenium Grid
The runner documentation describes suite-level parallelism and configurable worker counts. Parallel execution can shorten wall-clock test time, but it also increases resource demand and can expose tests that share accounts, data, or other mutable state. Make tests independent before increasing concurrency.
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For remote sessions, the runner can connect to a Selenium Grid using a server URL. The documentation also gives Sauce Labs as an example of hosted Grid infrastructure. A remote Grid shifts browser execution to infrastructure you connect to, but still requires correct capabilities and a reachable endpoint. Verify current provider availability, pricing, and browser coverage directly with the provider; this guide does not establish those details.
Will recorded tests stay reliable?
Not automatically. SeleniumHQ lists selector accuracy as an ongoing area of work. A recorded test may use a locator that changes when the application’s markup changes, and a sequence of clicks can pass without checking the result that matters. Review locators, add meaningful assertions, and rerun tests against realistic application changes before relying on them as regression coverage.
- Prefer stable application attributes or accessible labels over fragile selectors tied to layout or generated markup.
- Check that each test asserts an outcome, not merely that recorded actions completed.
- Keep test data and account state controlled, especially when running suites in parallel.
- When a test fails, distinguish a real application regression from a stale locator, changed test data, or environment mismatch.
When Selenium IDE is a good fit
| Need | Fit | Trade-off to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Learn Selenium commands or capture a first browser flow | Strong starting point: recording creates editable command-based tests. | Review commands and selectors; recording alone does not make a durable test. |
| Quick replay during test authoring | Use the IDE to run a selected test or suite. | This is not the same as setting up repeatable command-line or remote execution. |
| Automate broader browser execution or run suites in parallel | Use the command-line runner and local browsers or a Selenium Grid. | Browser, driver, runtime, capabilities, and infrastructure must be configured and kept compatible. |
| Build a maintainable, code-first automation suite | Consider exported code or hand-authored automation when it better suits the team’s review and maintenance practices. | Code-first authoring takes more direct implementation effort; exporting does not remove the need to validate selectors and test behavior. |
What changed in Selenium IDE v4?
SeleniumHQ’s v4 wiki explains the project’s move away from the web-extension model, including limitations around browser-level operations and extension constraints. The repository describes the current project as an Electron application with modular components, including the IDE, a Node.js side-runner, a shared side-runtime, and exporters. For installation, migration, and runtime details, use the current project materials rather than combining old extension instructions with v4-era setup steps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Selenium IDE run tests in other browsers?
Yes. The documented route for browser selection beyond IDE playback is the command-line runner; supported combinations depend on current runner, browser, and driver releases.
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Does a .side file run by itself?
No. It is a saved project file. Running it outside the IDE requires a configured command-line runner and the relevant browser and driver, or a remote Grid endpoint.
Where should I check the current Selenium IDE installation requirements?
Use the SeleniumHQ repository and release information. Older official pages may describe a different product generation or runtime requirements.
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