Selenium is an open-source framework used to automate web browser interactions. Primarily utilized for functional and regression testing, it allows developers to write scripts in languages like Java, Python, and C# to simulate user behavior across browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Unlike many tools, Selenium is not a single application but a suite of software, including Selenium WebDriver, which provides a direct communication link to the browser; Selenium IDE for record-and-playback prototyping; and and Selenium Grid for parallel testing across machines.
The name “Selenium” originated as a witty jab at a competitor. In 2004, creator Jason Huggins joked that his team could cure “mercury poisoning”—referring to Mercury Interactive, the company behind the dominant (and expensive) QuickTest Professional tool. Since selenium is a chemical element known to detoxify mercury, the name stuck.
Practically, Selenium is the backbone of the testing industry. Tech giants like Google, Netflix, and Fitbit use it to ensure their web applications function across different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and operating systems. By automating repetitive manual tests, Selenium enables continuous integration and faster release cycles, ensuring that a single code change does not break existing site features.
The logo
The Selenium logo is a minimalist, professional design that directly references the chemical element from which the software takes its name. It consists of the chemical symbol Se (the atomic symbol for Selenium) set within a square box, mimicking the look of an element’s tile on the Periodic Table.
