How to Use Selenium to Test React and Angular Web Applications
If you’re working in Pune, you’ve likely seen how fast startups are building apps using React and Angular. These two front-end frameworks are everywhere—from eCommerce portals to SaaS dashboards. But testing them is a real challenge. It just needs a smarter approach.
Companies in Pune’s IT sector—especially in Kharadi and Hinjewadi—are rapidly shifting to React-based front ends. They’re now hiring testers who can work with Selenium and still manage dynamic interfaces. This is why joining a Selenium Online Training in India with real-world SPA examples is important. It teaches you how to go beyond traditional web testing.
React and Angular apps don’t behave like older websites. Pages don’t reload completely. Components update instantly on screen. So, Selenium can’t rely on the browser loading every page fully. We need better ways to interact with such apps.
Let’s dive into how you can use Selenium to test React and Angular apps effectively.
Understanding the Challenge with React/Angular
These apps load data dynamically. Selenium will throw errors like:
- Element not found
- Element not clickable
- Stale element
To fix this, we use explicit waits.
WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, Duration.ofSeconds(10));
WebElement element = wait.until(ExpectedConditions.elementToBeClickable(By.id(“submit”)));
element.click();
This solves most sync issues with React/Angular.
Practical Tips to Stabilize Selenium with SPAs
Selenium doesn’t know JavaScript or React. It just sees the HTML after it’s loaded. But React changes the HTML after the page loads. So, you need to use better locators.
Avoid using class names. React often changes class names dynamically. Instead, ask your developers to add data-testid attributes. Then use them in your locators.
Example:
WebElement loginBtn = driver.findElement(By.cssSelector(“”));
Also, avoid using Thread.sleep(). It’s unreliable. Instead, go for WebDriverWait or FluentWait. These adjust the wait time based on the situation.
Angular has its own problems. It may delay updates after form inputs. You can fix this using JavaScript triggers like:
((JavascriptExecutor) driver).executeScript(“angular.element(document.body).injector().get(‘$rootScope’).$apply()”);
Real Testing Table: Selenium vs Others
Here’s a comparison of tools when testing SPAs like React and Angular:
| Feature | Selenium | Cypress | Protractor |
| React support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Angular support | Yes | Partial | Native |
| Auto-wait for DOM changes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Browser compatibility | All major | Chrome only | All major |
| CI/CD pipeline integration | Excellent | Excellent | Decent |
| Learning curve | Medium | Easy | Medium |
| Long-term community support | Strong | Growing | Deprecated |
While Protractor was once great for Angular, it’s now deprecated. Cypress is better for fast frontend testing. But Selenium is still the best for full system tests—especially if you want cross-browser results.
Solving Real Problems in Pune’s QA Industry
Many tech companies in Pune run daily CI pipelines. They use Jenkins or GitHub Actions to test apps on every commit. A flaky Selenium test can break their build. That’s why the latest Selenium Testing Training in Pune teaches how to:
- Write headless tests for speed
- Use Dockerized Selenium Grid
- Split smoke and regression tests
- Combine API tests with UI tests
In one Pune-based fintech firm, flaky tests due to Angular routing delayed production releases by 2 days. After switching to data-testid selectors, their Selenium tests became 40% more stable.
This real-world issue is common in dynamic apps. It’s not about writing more tests—it’s about writing smarter tests.
Advanced Tips: Boost Selenium for React/Angular
Use Page Object Model (POM) to organize your test code. This makes it reusable and easy to maintain.
Use JavaScript-based assertions to check if the component state changes after a user action. Like this:
((JavascriptExecutor) driver).executeScript(“return window.myAppState.loggedIn === true”);
You can even use Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) with Selenium 4. This gives more control over network, browser logs, and performance metrics.
How to Learn This the Right Way?
Many tutorials only show basic login tests. But testing React/Angular apps needs more depth. Look for a Selenium Online Course that covers:
- Testing SPAs using smart waits
- Creating dynamic locators with test IDs
- Using JavaScript for component sync
- Integrating tests into CI/CD pipelines
The newer Selenium Testing Training in Noida now even includes basic Cypress modules. This makes testers more flexible. That’s in demand because Noida is fast becoming a DevOps testing hub for SaaS companies.
Sum up,
Selenium can test React and Angular apps, but needs better locators, smart waits, and sometimes JS execution. Avoid outdated practices like class name locators or Thread.sleep(). Use data-testid or custom attributes for stable tests. Integrate your tests into pipelines for automation at scale. Choose the right Selenium course—one that prepares you for modern web apps and real problems.
