Set Up Your First Selenium WebDriver Project in Eclipse

This Selenium Eclipse tutorial helps you start Selenium automation testing. It’s super easy for beginners. You’ll create a Selenium WebDriver project in Eclipse to run web tests. We use cool tools like Maven and ChromeDriver, popular in 2025. Follow these simple steps for a Selenium WebDriver setup. It’s fun and clear!

Checklist for Your First Selenium WebDriver Project

• Install Eclipse and Java for Selenium testing.
• Make a project with Maven for easy setup.
• Add Selenium and ChromeDriver tools.
• Write a simple test script for your project.
• Run your first web test with Selenium.

Setup Your First Selenium WebDriver Project

Selenium WebDriver runs web browsers for testing. It clicks buttons or fills forms on websites. Setting up a project in Eclipse makes tests super easy. You keep code and tools in one place. This saves time and makes tests clear and nice.

Step 1: Get Your Tools Ready

You need Eclipse, Java, and Maven for Selenium automation testing. Let’s set them up fast.

1. Install Eclipse:
   • Visit the Eclipse website.
   • Get the latest Eclipse IDE for Java Developers (2025 version or newer).
   • Install it on your computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Follow the easy steps.
   • Cause and Effect: Install Eclipse. It lets you write nice test code.
2. Install Java:
   • Go to the Oracle website for Java.
   • Pick JDK 17 or newer. Selenium needs it to work.
   • Install it. Set the JAVA_HOME path (look up a guide for your system).
   • Cause and Effect: Add Java. It runs your Selenium test code.
3. Install Maven:
   • Download Maven from the Maven website.
   • Follow the setup guide for your computer. Add Maven to your PATH.
   • Cause and Effect: Install Maven. It gets Selenium tools for you.
   Tool Tip: Open a terminal. Type mvn -version. If you see a version, Maven is ready.

Step 2: Make a Maven Project in Eclipse

Maven makes adding Selenium tools super simple. Let’s create a project now.

1. Start a New Project:
   • Open Eclipse. Click File > New > Project.
   • Pick Maven > Maven Project. Click “Next.”
   • Check “Create a simple project.” Click “Next.”
   • Cause and Effect: Start a Maven project. It holds your test code nicely.
2. Set Project Names:
   • Enter Group Id: com.example.
   • Enter Artifact Id: SeleniumTest.
   • Click “Finish.” Eclipse makes your project folder.
   • Cause and Effect: Name your project. It creates a place for your code.
   Tool Tip: Look at Eclipse’s sidebar. Your project has a pom.xml file for tools.

If you use Firefox as your primary browser, try our quick guide on Selenium testing with Firefox.

Step 3: Add Selenium and ChromeDriver

Maven adds Selenium and ChromeDriver easily. Update the pom.xml file.

1. Open pom.xml:
   • Find pom.xml in your “SeleniumTest” project. Double-click it in Eclipse.
   • Cause and Effect: Open pom.xml. It lists your project’s tools.
2. Add Tools:
   • Replace the pom.xml content with this:

<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
         xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
         xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
    <groupId>com.example</groupId>
    <artifactId>SeleniumTest</artifactId>
    <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.seleniumhq.selenium</groupId>
            <artifactId>selenium-java</artifactId>
            <version>4.18.1</version>
        </dependency>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>io.github.bonigarcia</groupId>
            <artifactId>webdrivermanager</artifactId>
            <version>5.6.2</version>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>
</project>

• Cause and Effect: Add this code. Maven gets Selenium and WebDriverManager for you.

Tool Tip: Save pom.xml. Eclipse shows “Building project.” Wait for it to finish.

Step 4: Create a Test Class

Now, write a simple test to check your Selenium WebDriver setup.

1. Make a Package:
   • Right-click src/main/java in “SeleniumTest.” Choose New > Package.
   • Name it com.example.tests. Click “Finish.”
   • Cause and Effect: Create a package. It keeps your test code organized.
2. Add a Test Class:
   • Right-click the com.example.tests package. Choose New > Class.
   • Name it FirstTest. Check “public static void main(String[] args).” Click “Finish.”
   • Cause and Effect: Add this class. It runs your Selenium test.
3. Write the Test Code:
   • Open “FirstTest.java.” Replace its code with this:

package com.example.tests;

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import io.github.bonigarcia.wdm.WebDriverManager;
import java.time.Duration;

public class FirstTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Set up Chrome browser
        WebDriverManager.chromedriver().setup();
        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

        // Open a website
        driver.get("https://www.saucedemo.com/");
        driver.manage().window().maximize();
        driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(Duration.ofSeconds(10));

        // Check the page title
        String title = driver.getTitle();
        if (title.contains("Swag Labs")) {
            System.out.println("Test passed! Title is: " + title);
        } else {
            System.out.println("Test failed! Title is: " + title);
        }

        // Close browser
        driver.quit();
    }
}

Code Explanation

• Imports: Add tools for Selenium, ChromeDriver, and time handling. They run your test.
• WebDriverManager: Sets up ChromeDriver. It opens Chrome easily.
• Selenium Actions: Opens saucedemo.com. Makes the window big. Waits 10 seconds for the page.
• Check Result: Gets the page title. If it has “Swag Labs,” the test passes. If not, it fails.
• Cause and Effect: Run this code. It checks if the website loads correctly.

Step 5: Run Your Selenium Test

Test your setup to see Selenium WebDriver work.

1. Check Your Setup:
   • Make sure pom.xml has Selenium and WebDriverManager.
   • Confirm “FirstTest.java” is in the com.example.tests package.
   • Cause and Effect: Check these. They make your test run smoothly.
2. Run the Test:
   • Right-click “FirstTest.java” in Eclipse. Choose Run As > Java Application.
   • Chrome opens. It visits saucedemo.com and checks the title.
   • The console shows “Test passed!” or “Test failed!” with the page title.
   • Cause and Effect: Run the test. It shows if your setup works.
   Tool Tip: Look at Eclipse’s “Console” tab for errors. Fix issues like missing tools.

Step 6: Fix Errors with Autosuggest

Eclipse makes fixing code errors super easy.

1. Use Autosuggest:
   • See red lines under code? Hover your mouse over them.
   • Eclipse shows fix options, like adding imports. Click the right one (e.g., “Import WebDriver”).
   • Cause and Effect: Use autosuggest. It fixes errors quickly.
   Tool Tip: Press Ctrl+1 on a red line. It shows fix options fast.

Try some cool stuff with Selenium – Switch to Close the Window

What To Do Next

• Write more tests. Try clicking buttons or filling forms.
• Learn more. Visit Selenium Documentation for cool testing tips.
• Practice. Add new test classes to your project.
• Tool Tip: Use Eclipse’s “Debug” mode. It finds code problems fast.

Your First Selenium WebDriver Project: Key Takeaways

Great work! You set up a Selenium WebDriver project in Eclipse. You learned to:

• Install Eclipse, Java, and Maven for testing.
• Create a Maven project for Selenium automation.
• Add Selenium and ChromeDriver tools.
• Write and run a simple web test.

Got questions? Comment below. Share this Selenium Eclipse tutorial on LinkedIn or Twitter. Help others learn Selenium automation testing!

Happy testing,
TechBeamers