SDETs and Selectors: A Love-Hate Relationship
Learn why SDETs struggle with selectors as complex web applications evolve, and how agentic AI solutions can simplify testing for all.
For many Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs), selectors are both a cherished tool and a source of constant frustration.
Over the years, SDETs have developed a deep understanding and mastery of selectors, using them to interact with elements on a web page, automate tests, and ensure that applications perform as expected.
Yet, as web applications grow more complex, this once-reliable skillset is increasingly becoming a double-edged sword. The frameworks that SDETs have relied on for years are struggling to keep pace with the evolving demands of modern software development, leading to a love-hate relationship with selectors.
The Love: Mastery and Control
Selectors are at the heart of test automation. For SDETs, mastering selectors means having control over the test environment. Whether it’s CSS selectors, XPath, or other locator strategies, selectors have allowed testers to precisely target and interact with elements within an application’s UI, enabling them to build robust test scripts that ensure the quality of their applications. This technical expertise has long been a source of pride and professional identity for SDETs.
The ability to craft custom selectors, debug complex scripts, and optimize test performance is a skillset that SDETs have spent years perfecting. These skills allow them to create highly tailored and effective test cases, giving them a deep sense of ownership and control over the testing process. For many, selectors represent a bridge between development and testing—a tangible way to ensure that the application works as intended.
The Hate: Fragility and Complexity
However, as web applications have evolved, so too have the challenges associated with selectors. Today’s web apps are far more dynamic and complex than those of the past. They often feature dynamic locators, an overwhelming number of elements, and intricate structures such as Shadow DOMs (Document Object Models), which obscure elements and make them harder to target. The traditional frameworks that SDETs use were simply not built to handle this level of complexity.
As a result, selectors have become increasingly brittle. Minor changes to the UI, such as a redesign or an update to the underlying framework, can cause selectors to break, leading to failed tests and a scramble to fix them. This brittleness means that SDETs spend an inordinate amount of time maintaining their test scripts rather than focusing on higher-level testing strategies. The frustration grows as development teams continue to accelerate their release cycles, while the tolerance for escaped defects diminishes. SDETs find themselves under immense pressure to deliver faster, more reliable tests with fewer resources and less time.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that modern web applications are built using frameworks and libraries that introduce additional layers of complexity. React, Angular, and Vue.js, among others, create dynamic components that often require advanced techniques to locate elements accurately. Shadow DOMs, which encapsulate elements to prevent style leakage, hide elements from the regular DOM, further complicating the task of creating reliable selectors.
These challenges often result in test scripts that are fragile, difficult to maintain, and prone to failure—leading to a cycle of frustration and diminishing returns for testing teams.
The Impact: Strain on Testing Teams
The increasing complexity of modern web applications, combined with the speed of development and decreasing tolerance for defects, places enormous strain on testing teams. SDETs are expected to deliver high-quality tests quickly, even as the tools and techniques they rely on become less effective. This pressure can lead to burnout, as SDETs struggle to keep up with the demands placed on them by their organizations.
In some cases, the pressure becomes so intense that it becomes impossible for testing teams to perform at the requested level. Tests that were once reliable and efficient now require constant attention and tweaking. This situation not only affects the morale of the SDET team but also has a direct impact on the quality of the product. As testing becomes more time-consuming and error-prone, the risk of escaped defects increases, threatening the overall success of the development project.
A Way Forward: AI-Driven Testing
The love-hate relationship that SDETs have with selectors is emblematic of a broader challenge facing the testing community. As web applications continue to evolve, the tools and techniques used to test them must also adapt. Many organizations are turning to AI-driven testing solutions to improve the overall quality of tests.
Functionize’s agentic solution offers a way forward, using AI and machine learning to automate the creation and maintenance of tests without relying on brittle, hard-coded selectors. By leveraging AI, Functionize’s platform can dynamically adapt to changes in the application, ensuring that tests remain robust and reliable even as the UI evolves.
This approach frees SDETs from the constant maintenance work associated with traditional testing frameworks, allowing them to focus on higher-level strategic tasks. Rather than being bogged down by the intricacies of selectors, SDETs can contribute to the overall quality of the product in more meaningful ways.
Conclusion
The relationship between SDETs and selectors is complex, shaped by years of experience and a deep understanding of the tools of the trade. While selectors have been a fundamental part of test automation, the growing complexity of modern web applications is making them increasingly difficult to manage. As the demands on testing teams continue to increase, it is clear that a new approach is needed.
Functionize’s agentic solution represents that new approach, offering a way to automate testing without the limitations of traditional selectors. By embracing AI-driven testing, SDETs can move beyond the love-hate relationship with selectors and focus on what truly matters: delivering high-quality products quickly and efficiently.
In this new era of testing, SDETs have the opportunity to redefine their role and leverage their expertise in new ways to continue delivering critical value to their organizations.
