UFT (Unified Functional Testing), formerly known as QTP (QuickTest Professional), and Selenium are both widely used tools for automation testing, but they cater to different needs and environments.

UFT (Unified Functional Testing)

• Vendor: Developed by Micro Focus (formerly by Hewlett-Packard).
• Type of Testing: Primarily used for functional and regression testing.
• Environment Support: Supports a wide range of applications including web, desktop, SAP, Java, Oracle, mobile apps, and many others.
• Language: Uses VBScript for scripting.
• License: Commercial product; requires a paid license.
• Features: Offers an integrated development environment with a rich set of features including object recognition, object repository management, integration with ALM (Application Lifecycle Management), and more.

Selenium

• Vendor: Open-source project.
• Type of Testing: Primarily used for web application testing.
• Environment Support: Focused on web applications and supports multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge, Safari).
• Language: Supports multiple languages including Java, C#, Python, Ruby, and JavaScript.
• License: Free to use under the Apache 2.0 license.
• Features: Offers a set of tools including Selenium WebDriver for browser automation, Selenium Grid for parallel test execution, and Selenium IDE for record-and-playback of test scripts (mostly used for prototyping).

UFT vs Selenium

1. Application Scope:

   • UFT is broader in scope, covering web, desktop, and even mobile applications.
   • Selenium specializes in web applications.

2. Flexibility and Extensibility:

   • Selenium is more flexible due to its support for various programming languages and integration with other testing frameworks and CI/CD tools.
   • UFT is less flexible in terms of scripting (limited to VBScript) but provides powerful built-in features for test development.

3. Cost:

   • UFT requires a commercial license, which can be expensive.
   • Selenium is free and open-source.

4. Ease of Use:

   • UFT has a user-friendly interface, making it easier for non-programmers to create tests.
   • Selenium requires programming knowledge, which can have a steeper learning curve.

5. Community and Support:

   • Selenium, being open-source, has a large community for support and knowledge sharing.
   • UFT, as a commercial tool, offers professional support from Micro Focus.

Choosing Between UFT and Selenium

• Budget: Selenium is a clear choice for limited budgets.
• Application Type: For diverse application types (not just web-based), UFT is more suitable.
• Resource Skill Set: If your team is proficient in programming, particularly in languages like Java or Python, Selenium is advantageous.
• Integration with Other Tools: For projects requiring integration with modern CI/CD pipelines and other testing tools, Selenium offers greater flexibility.