Selenium IDE and Selenium WebDriver are two different components of the Selenium automation testing framework, each serving a distinct purpose in the world of automated web testing.

Selenium IDE:

1. Purpose: Selenium IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is primarily a record-and-playback tool. It allows testers and developers to record their interactions with a web application and then replay those interactions as automated tests.

2. Ease of Use: Selenium IDE is known for its simplicity and ease of use. It’s often used for quick and straightforward test case creation.

3. Browser Compatibility: Selenium IDE is a browser extension and is typically available for Mozilla Firefox. However, there are also versions available for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.

4. Features:

   • Record and Playback: Easily record interactions with a web application by clicking through the application’s UI.
   • Export Test Cases: Test cases can be exported to various programming languages, including Java, Python, C#, and more, to run using Selenium WebDriver.
   • Limited Functionality: Selenium IDE is relatively basic compared to Selenium WebDriver, making it suitable for simple automation tasks but less suited for complex scenarios.

5. Limitations:

   • Limited Cross-browser Testing: Selenium IDE may not support cross-browser testing as effectively as Selenium WebDriver.
   • Limited Flexibility: It can be challenging to handle dynamic web elements and implement advanced testing scenarios in Selenium IDE.

Selenium WebDriver:

1. Purpose: Selenium WebDriver is a powerful programmatic interface for interacting with web applications. It is used for creating customized and complex automation scripts for web testing.

2. Ease of Use: Selenium WebDriver provides a wide range of programming language bindings (e.g., Java, Python, C#, JavaScript) and allows for more complex and flexible test case development. However, it requires coding skills.

3. Browser Compatibility: Selenium WebDriver supports multiple web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and more. It’s highly versatile in terms of cross-browser testing.

4. Features:

   • Full Control: Selenium WebDriver offers complete control over the browser, enabling precise interaction with web elements.
   • Handling Complex Scenarios: It’s well-suited for handling complex testing scenarios, including handling pop-ups, alerts, frames, and more.
   • Advanced Testing: Selenium WebDriver supports parallel testing, integration with testing frameworks, and extensive reporting capabilities.

5. Limitations:

   • Learning Curve: Selenium WebDriver may have a steeper learning curve, especially for those new to programming.
   • Test Maintenance: Creating and maintaining WebDriver scripts can be more time-consuming than using Selenium IDE for simple tasks.