HtmlUnit: An Efficient Approach to Testing Web Applications
TS-4238

Top-to-bottom integration testing is a critical step in ensuring Web application quality. HtmlUnit is an open-source Java technology-based headless browser that provides an efficient means of automating these integration tests. Unlike most other tools in this area, HtmlUnit simulates a browser rather than driving a "real" browser and is capable of emulating the behavior of Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer for a very large number of Web applications: from simple old-fashioned pre-Ajax applications all the way to complex Web 2.0 apps.

HtmlUnit's approach provides obvious benefits in areas such as ease of deployment, performance, scalability, and Ajax testing but also has some limitations. In this session, project committers Daniel Gredler and Ahmed Ashour provide a detailed overview of the library; explain how to get the most out of the HtmlUnit approach; and show why, in many cases, it is far more efficient than working with a "real" browser to ensure the quality of your Web apps.

The session is for Java technology developers who need to write top-to-bottom integration tests for their Web applications.

Attendees will learn about

• The two approaches to Web app integration testing: browser simulation and browser driving
• The cons of the browser simulation approach
• The pros of the browser simulation approach
• Key extension points provided by HtmlUnit
• Wrappers that enable you to hedge your bets and switch between the two approaches