Opera Browser Testing: Running Selenium WebDriver Tests in Opera

The quality of web applications for automation depends fully on testing results. Selenium WebDriver serves as the leading system for browser automation tasks in software testing processes. Selenium works well as a testing tool when you use it along with the Opera browser. It is necessary to test web applications on many browsers to validate their compatibility across different platforms. Cloud testing can further enhance this process by allowing tests to be run across multiple environments without the need for complex local setups.

This article explains how to execute Selenium WebDriver tests within the Opera browser. This post explains why you need to test Opera alongside other browsers and shows how to start Selenium WebDriver tests on Opera.

Introduction to Selenium WebDriver

Selenium serves as a top web browser automation tool for software quality verification. Developers can use its APIs to operate browsers and perform basic user activities through their software. Selenium WebDriver gives users a direct way to control their browser through the Selenium framework, while SQL (Remote Control) was its previous version.

The WebDriver system works with five main browser platforms, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge. WebDriver helps maintain smooth web application performance by driving the browser to expected results, which results in fewer bugs and irregularities.

Why Test on Opera Browser?

Though less popular than Chrome and Firefox, Opera remains essential as it is based on Chromium, and its benefits appeal to many users. Users rely on Opera because it runs faster than other browsers and offers both secure internet access and built-in tools such as a virtual network and encryption support. Opera exists for people who use its software across multiple devices, yet it has less web browser usage than Chrome and Firefox.

The acceptance of cross-browser testing by developers depends on including Opera in their testing list. Your application will display its intended results equally on Opera alongside other browsers since you test this platform as part of your overall quality assurance process. Furthermore, Opera has a unique user base, and by testing your application on it, you can ensure compatibility with these users as well.

Setting Up Opera Browser for Selenium

Before you can run Selenium WebDriver tests in Opera, there are several setup steps to follow. Below is a step-by-step guide to installing and configuring the necessary components for testing on Opera.

1. Installing Opera

Open this guide if you have not already installed Opera browser on your system. Here’s how:

• Go to the official Opera website.
• Get the program version that matches your operating system choice between Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Use the system prompts to finish installing the software.

2. Installing OperaDriver

OperaDriver is required to interface with the Opera browser. OperaDriver is a separate executable that is compatible with the WebDriver protocol, allowing Selenium to control the Opera browser. It is based on Chromium’s WebDriver (also known as ChromeDriver) but is specifically built for Opera.

To install OperaDriver:

• Visit the official OperaDriver page.
• Download the appropriate version of OperaDriver that corresponds to your Opera version and operating system.
• Extract the downloaded file and place the operadriver executable in a location where your Selenium tests can access it. You can also add it to your system’s PATH for easy access from anywhere.

3. Installing Selenium WebDriver

To add Selenium to your system, use a package handler such as pip for Python or Maven for Java. You can install Selenium using pip commands on the terminal by entering this command:

pip install selenium

Install the specific Selenium version that OperaDriver supports because various versions might not work with each other.

Configuring Opera with Selenium WebDriver

After both Opera and OperaDriver setup completes you need to set Selenium WebDriver preferences for Opera browser usage.

1. Configuring WebDriver to Use Opera

You need to tell Selenium to use the OperaDriver in your test scripts. Below is a sample configuration in Python that shows how to initialize the Opera WebDriver.

from selenium import webdriver

from selenium.webdriver.opera.service import Service

from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By

# Specify the path to the OperaDriver executable

opera_driver_path = “/path/to/operadriver”

# Set up the Opera WebDriver service

service = Service(opera_driver_path)

# Initialize the WebDriver

options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()  # Use ChromeOptions since Opera is Chromium-based

driver = webdriver.Opera(service=service, options=options)

# Open a website

driver.get(“https://www.example.com”)

# Perform actions or assertions

print(driver.title)

# Close the browser

driver.quit()

Note that OperaDriver uses ChromeOptions since Opera is built on Chromium, and both share similar configurations.

2. Handling Opera-Specific Features

Opera provides multiple features that need separate setup in Selenium especially for its built-in VPN protection and power-saving options. The included features in Selenium tests usually function without impact but need adjustment to boost test speed.

You can enable this control through changes to the options object. To switch off both VPN and ad blocker features, you need to insert these commands:

options.add_argument(“–disable-extensions”)

options.add_argument(“–no-sandbox”)

These configurations will help prevent any interference during the test runs.

Writing Selenium WebDriver Tests for Opera

Now that your environment is set up, it’s time to write and execute tests on the Opera browser using Selenium WebDriver.

1. Setting Up WebDriver for Opera

A basic test demonstrates how to launch Opera and then navigate to a website to confirm the displayed title appears properly:

from selenium import webdriver

from selenium.webdriver.opera.service import Service

from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By

import time

# Path to OperaDriver executable

opera_driver_path = “/path/to/operadriver”

# Set up Opera WebDriver

service = Service(opera_driver_path)

options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()  # Opera is based on Chromium

driver = webdriver.Opera(service=service, options=options)

# Open a website

driver.get(“https://www.example.com”)

# Check page title

assert “Example Domain” in driver.title

# Print page title

print(driver.title)

# Wait for a few seconds to observe

time.sleep(3)

# Close the browser

driver.quit()

This script opens the Opera browser, navigates to “https://www.example.com“, checks the page title, and prints it. It also closes the browser after the test.

2. Running a More Complex Test

You can set up advanced tasks that work with HTML elements in the website. You can program the tool to carry out operations such as button presses and form entries, as well as confirm page elements.

# Example: Filling out a form

driver.get(“https://www.example.com/form”)

# Locate form fields and submit button

input_field = driver.find_element(By.ID, “name”)

submit_button = driver.find_element(By.ID, “submit”)

# Fill in the form and submit

input_field.send_keys(“Test User”)

submit_button.click()

# Verify the result

assert “Thank you” in driver.page_source

This script simulates user behavior by entering text into a form and submitting it. It then verifies that the success message appears on the page.

Best Practices for Browser Compatibility Testing

To achieve successful browser tests, you should follow standardized testing methods whether you test in Opera or other browsers.

1. Test on Real Devices: Test on Real Devices: Perform real device testing for mobile users since automated tests offer limited value in this area. Cloud mobile testing platforms allow you to run tests on a wide range of real mobile devices hosted in the cloud, making it easier to validate mobile web experiences across multiple browser and OS combinations.

2. Cross-Browser Testing: Check your app performance on many different web browsers to keep compatibility.

While setting up Opera locally for testing is possible, using a cloud-based platform like LambdaTest makes the process more scalable and efficient. LambdaTest is an AI-native cloud testing platform that provides a cloud Selenium Grid that supports Opera and 5000+ other browser and OS combinations. It allows you to run Selenium WebDriver tests in parallel across multiple environments without managing local infrastructure.

Through LambdaTest, you can track test logs and see recording videos together with bug detection tools to fix Opera browser testing problems faster. The platform integrates smoothly with CI/CD tools, including Jenkins, GitHub Actions, and Azure DevOps, which lets you run Opera tests automatically through your continuous testing process to improve the speed and quality of product delivery.

3. Use Headless Mode: To run tests faster, turn on headless operation in your browser tests, as this saves time by not starting the full browser interface.

4. Use Continuous Integration: Assess performance daily through your Continuous Integration process to discover problems immediately.

5. Use Browser-Specific Capabilities: Set unique WebDriver capabilities for every browser to open each test session with proper settings.

6. Automate Regression Testing: Use robot software for regression testing across every supported browser while testing Opera for new development releases or browser adjustments.

7. Monitor Browser Updates: Stay informed about the latest Opera browser and OperaDriver updates. Browser changes can affect functionality, so it’s essential to test your application when a new version is released.

8. Implement Screenshot Comparison: Use visual testing tools or add screenshot comparisons in your Selenium tests to catch UI rendering issues across browsers, especially when layout differences are subtle.

9. Test Different Screen Resolutions: Opera users may access your app from a variety of devices. Test across different screen sizes and resolutions to ensure responsive design and proper element alignment.

10. Isolate Flaky Tests: Identify and fix flaky tests that pass or fail inconsistently in Opera. These tests can lead to false positives/negatives and should be stabilized to maintain test reliability.

Troubleshooting Common Issues in Opera Testing

You may face testing problems when using Selenium WebDriver on Opera. I list common Opera testing problems along with their effective solutions here:

• OperaDriver Not Found: The operadriver executable must exist in the expected path, or users need to add it to their system PATH configuration.
• Version Mismatch: Your Opera Test needs a proper OperaDriver update that matches your browser edition. Check the Opera version by selecting “Settings” and then “About Opera” from the dropdown menu.
• Selenium Version Issues: To succeed with Selenium WebDriver, verify that you work with a version built for use with Selenium. Recent updates to Selenium may come with bugs plus fail to work with particular internet browsers.
• Element Not Interactable: Sometimes, Selenium may fail to interact with certain elements in Opera, even though they are visible. Dynamic content loading, overlays, or timing issues can cause it. To fix this, use WebDriverWait to wait for elements to be clickable or interactable before performing actions.
• Opera Browser Freezing or Crashing During Tests: In some cases, the Opera browser might freeze or crash while running long or complex test cases. It can be mitigated by using headless mode, disabling extensions, and managing resource usage with proper test teardown and garbage collection routines in your code.

In Conclusion

Running WebDriver tests on Opera helps you ensure that users who use Opera’s specific features can access a working and visually matching web application. Opera stands out as a testing necessity for all testing strategies because it uses Chromium and has a dedicated community of users. Following these instructions will let you add OperaDriver support to your automated testing operations.

Using Opera tests helps you enhance application quality while reaching new users across all major browsers using cloud testing through LambdaTest or testing directly on your systems. Additional testing on Opera will expose problems that go undetected when using the dominant browser platforms, Chrome and Firefox.

The modern development environment demands that browser compatibility become essential because multiple operational environments exist today. Using Opera browser testing with your current quality assurance methods makes your products more reliable and increases user satisfaction while keeping you ahead in the digital market.