Contact Us : +91 90331 80795

Book a Meeting Now

Blog Details

Breadcrub
Blog Detail

19

June

Upgrading to Selenium 4 - Here’s What’s Different from Version 3

Selenium is one of the most widely used tools in software testing for automating web applications. It helps testers save time by automating repetitive tasks and ensuring applications behave as expected. Over the years, Selenium has undergone numerous updates, with Selenium 3 and Selenium 4 being two of the most significant versions.
 
Selenium 3 was a reliable version for many years, and Selenium 4 brought in major improvements that made testing faster, easier, and more in line with modern web technologies. In this blog, we will explain the key differences between Selenium 3 and Selenium 4 using simple language, so anyone—even if you are new to automation testing—can understand.
 
 

Selenium 3:

 
Selenium 3 was released in 2016 and combined the best parts of Selenium RC and WebDriver into a single, stable tool. This version was a major improvement at the time and supported many browsers and platforms.
 

Main Features of Selenium 3:

 

  • Strong support for Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.

  • Introduced WebDriver as the main tool for writing automation scripts.

  • Provided better synchronization tools to handle wait times and element loading.
  • Used the JSON Wire Protocol for browser communication.

  • Stable and widely adopted in the testing community.

 

Limitations of Selenium 3:

 

  • Not fully aligned with modern web standards.

  • Some features, like debugging and parallel testing, were harder to implement.

  • The Selenium Grid was harder to set up and use.
 

Selenium 4:

 
Selenium 4 was officially released in late 2020 and came with many new features that modern testers needed. It brought a better structure, easier setup, and support for the latest web development practices.
 

Key Upgrades in Selenium 4:

 

  • W3C Standard Support: Selenium 4 supports the W3C WebDriver protocol, which means tests run more consistently across different browsers.

  • Better Selenium Grid: The new Grid is easier to use, supports Docker, and is more scalable.

  • Improved Debugging Tools: It is easier to take screenshots, view logs, and troubleshoot errors.
  • New Features in Selenium IDE: Record and playback features are stronger and support control flow commands like if-else and loops.

  • Improved User Interface: The UI is cleaner and more user-friendly, helping testers work faster.

 
WebDriver Improvements: In Selenium 3, WebDriver used the JSON Wire Protocol to talk to browsers. In Selenium 4, it follows the W3C WebDriver Standard. This change makes communication more reliable, reduces bugs, and improves performance.
 

Why This Matters:

 

  • Tests are more stable.

  • Works better across all modern browsers.

  • Reduces compatibility problems.

 

Selenium Grid: Old vs. New

 

  • Selenium 3 Grid: Difficult to configure. Required more manual setup.

  • Selenium 4 Grid: Easier to install and use. Supports Docker for easy container-based testing. Also supports running multiple tests in parallel more efficiently.

 

Selenium IDE Enhancements:

 
Selenium IDE is a tool for testers who prefer record-and-playback rather than coding. In Selenium 4:
 

  • It has a better interface.

  • Allows test recording and export to many programming languages.

  • Supports control flow-like conditions and loops.

 

Debugging Made Easier:

 
Selenium 4 allows testers to:
 

  • Capture screenshots at every step of the test.

  • View browser logs.

  • Identify bugs quickly and fix them faster.

 

Scripting Enhancements in Selenium 4:

 

  • Supports new ways to find elements (locators).

  • Works better with modern web frameworks like React and Angular.

  • Lets testers write smarter, shorter, and more reliable scripts.

 

Cross-Browser Testing:

 
Selenium 4 improves how automated tests run across different browsers. Because it supported the W3C protocol:
 

  • Tests behave the same on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.

  • Less time is needed to fix browser-specific issues.

 

Backward Compatibility:

 
One great thing about Selenium 4 is that it supports older Selenium 3 scripts. This means:
 

  • You don’t have to rewrite all your tests.

  • You can slowly move your projects to Selenium 4 without breaking anything.

 

Real-World Use Cases:

 
Imagine testing a website across 3 browsers and 2 operating systems. With Selenium 3, setting this up takes time and effort. Selenium 4’s Grid and WebDriver improvements make this much faster and simpler.
 
 

Which One Should You Choose?

 

  • Choose Selenium 3 if you are working on an older project and don’t need the new features.

  • Choose Selenium 4 if you want better performance, easier setup, and more support for modern websites.

 

Final Thoughts:

 
More than 70% of companies continue to rely on Selenium for automation testing. According to the 2025 Test Automation Survey, over 62% of QA teams have already moved to Selenium 4. The latest version offers faster performance, better browser compatibility, and easier test debugging — making it the smarter choice for modern testing.
 

Let Sparkle Web Help You Upgrade

 
Upgrading to Selenium 4 doesn’t have to be difficult. At Sparkle Web, we help businesses shift from Selenium 3 to Selenium 4 without breaking old scripts. Our team takes care of the setup, updates your code, and ensures smooth testing — so your developers can focus on building great software.
 

Get in touch with us to explore how we can help you move forward with smarter, future-ready testing tools.

    Author

    • Owner

      Sumit Patil

      A highly skilled Quality Analyst Developer. Committed to delivering efficient, high-quality solutions by simplifying complex projects with technical expertise and innovative thinking.

    Latest Blogs

    Contact Us

    Free Consultation - Discover IT Solutions For Your Business

    Unlock the full potential of your business with our free consultation. Our expert team will assess your IT needs, recommend tailored solutions, and chart a path to success. Book your consultation now and take the first step towards empowering your business with cutting-edge technology.

    • Confirmation of appointment details
    • Research and preparation by the IT services company
    • Needs assessment for tailored solutions
    • Presentation of proposed solutions
    • Project execution and ongoing support
    • Follow-up to evaluate effectiveness and satisfaction
    • Email: info@sparkleweb.in
    • Phone Number:+91 90331 80795
    • Address: 303 Capital Square, Near Parvat Patiya, Godadara Naher Rd, Surat, Gujarat 395010