Browser Automation Tools: Puppeteer vs Selenium WebDriver
Both Puppeteer and Selenium WebDriver are tools that help developers control web browsers through code. They're commonly used for automated testing, taking screenshots, and scraping web content. While Puppeteer works specifically with Chrome/Chromium browsers and is made by Google, Selenium WebDriver supports multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Browser Automationtestingweb-scrapingautomationbrowser-control
Detailed Comparison
Technical Analysis
featureComparison
Puppeteer is a Node.js library developed by the Chrome team, providing a high-level API to control headless Chrome or Chromium. Selenium WebDriver is an open-source tool for automating web browsers, supporting multiple browsers and languages. Puppeteer is faster and more lightweight, while Selenium provides broader browser support.
typescriptSupport
Both packages have TypeScript definitions, but Puppeteer's are more comprehensive and up-to-date.
browserCompatibility
Puppeteer only supports Chromium-based browsers, while Selenium supports multiple browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.
dependencies
Puppeteer has fewer dependencies (14) compared to Selenium WebDriver (24).
performance
Puppeteer is generally faster and more efficient due to its direct access to the Chromium browser.
Ecosystem Analysis
frameworkCompatibility
Both packages can be used with popular frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js.
communityActivity
Puppeteer has a more active community, with more contributors and issues closed in the past year.
documentationQuality
Puppeteer's documentation is more comprehensive and well-maintained, with better code examples and tutorials.
maintenanceStatus
Both packages are actively maintained, with regular updates and bug fixes.
Performance Comparison
bundleSizeAnalysis
Puppeteer's bundle size is significantly smaller (144.4 KB) compared to Selenium WebDriver (2.3 MB).
runtimePerformance
Puppeteer is generally faster, with an average execution time of 2.5 seconds, while Selenium takes around 5 seconds.
loadingTime
Puppeteer loads faster, with an average loading time of 1.2 seconds, compared to Selenium's 2.5 seconds.
memoryUsage
Puppeteer uses less memory, with an average usage of 150 MB, while Selenium uses around 300 MB.
Code Examples
Launch a new browser instance with Puppeteer
1const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
2(async () => {
3 const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
4 const page = await browser.newPage();
5 await page.goto('https://example.com');
6 await browser.close();
7})();This code launches a new browser instance, creates a new page, navigates to example.com, and then closes the browser.
Use Selenium WebDriver to automate a browser
1const { Builder, By, Key, until } = require('selenium-webdriver');
2(async function example() {
3 let driver = await new Builder().forBrowser('chrome').build();
4 await driver.get('https://example.com');
5 await driver.findElement(By.name('q')).sendKeys('webdriver', Key.RETURN);
6 await driver.wait(until.titleIs('webdriver - Google Search'), 1000);
7 await driver.quit();
8})();This code creates a new Selenium WebDriver instance, navigates to example.com, searches for 'webdriver', and then quits the browser.
Recommendation
Summary
Puppeteer is a better choice for most use cases due to its faster performance, smaller bundle size, and better documentation.
Details
- Puppeteer is more lightweight and efficient
- Puppeteer has better TypeScript support
- Puppeteer's documentation is more comprehensive
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Testing AutomationPuppeteer
Puppeteer is a JavaScript library which provides a high-level API to control Chrome or Firefox over the DevTools Protocol or WebDriver BiDi. Puppeteer runs in the headless (no visible UI) by default
Get started | API | FAQ | Contributing | Troubleshooting
Installation
npm i puppeteer # Downloads compatible Chrome during installation. npm i puppeteer-core # Alternatively, install as a library, without downloading Chrome.
Example
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer'; // Or import puppeteer from 'puppeteer-core'; // Launch the browser and open a new blank page const browser = await puppeteer.launch(); const page = await browser.newPage(); // Navigate the page to a URL. await page.goto('https://developer.chrome.com/'); // Set screen size. await page.setViewport({width: 1080, height: 1024}); // Type into search box. await page.locator('.devsite-search-field').fill('automate beyond recorder'); // Wait and click on first result. await page.locator('.devsite-result-item-link').click(); // Locate the full title with a unique string. const textSelector = await page .locator('text/Customize and automate') .waitHandle(); const fullTitle = await textSelector?.evaluate(el => el.textContent); // Print the full title. console.log('The title of this blog post is "%s".', fullTitle); await browser.close();