Understanding Broken Links in Selenium WebDriver

Selenium is a tool that is frequently used for testing web pages and other applications. It is an entire collection of testing software. Selenium can be divided into several parts. In the same way, there is Selenium Web Driver, Selenium IDE, Selenium RC, etc. Those Selenium IDE users who don’t have a background in computer science utilize it. There is no need for programming experience, just like in Selenium IDE. It may be applied easily. But for the Selenium Web Driver, programming expertise is necessary. Python and Java are two programming languages that support Selenium Webdriver. You can check out a good online Selenium training to know more but here is an introduction to broken links and Selenium.

To begin with, a link is an HTML object that, when clicked, permits users to move from one web page to another. It is a way to move through the internet’s many web pages.

A broken link, also known as a dead link, does not function or does not send the user to the intended website. This typically happens as a result of the website or specific web page becoming unavailable or nonexistent. An error notice appears when a broken link is clicked.

Broken links could be the result of a server error, which would therefore prevent the related page from functioning and being shown. A URL with a 2xx HTTP status code is legitimate.  Broken links, which are basically invalid HTTP requests, have 4xx and 5xx status codes.

The 4xx status code relates to an error that is client-based, while the 5xx status code usually points to a server response error.

Common Reasons for Broken Links.

The user shouldn’t be directed to an error page, so you should always check the site for broken links.

If the rules are not changed properly or the server does not have the required resources, an error will occur.

Because each web page may have a huge number of links and the entire process must be done for all pages, manually checking links is a laborious task. Here are some of the reasons that can generate broken links.

Typing Error: The coder is primarily to blame for this. The link needs to be pasted into the application when linking two web pages. Sometimes unintentionally, a letter is removed while paying for a link in the application. This could result in a broken link issue. Removal of a single letter from the link can make it an invalid link. This generates the broken link problem.

Deleted Webpage: On occasion, the desired web page is removed. One or more web pages need to be deleted since the websites have undergone some changes. This could lead to this issue. The link should then be updated, and the new target link should be pasted there.

Modified Link: The server or domain may occasionally change. Organisations transfer their servers to other suppliers due to pricing issues. This could result in a void connection. The current links deteriorate. There were additional instances of this issue there.

Renaming the Webpage: The target web pages themselves have occasionally undergone changes. This could result in a broken link issue. Such issues can arise when a website is renamed or its connections to other web pages are severed.

Code error: When creating websites, developers may need to create a lengthy piece of code. The developers could make a mistake there for a variety of reasons. This could have devastating consequences. Sometimes faulty coding might impede the process of connecting to another webpage. This will happen repeatedly. Sometimes programmers will repeatedly paste a link to a specific website. This may also become problematic.

Different Format File: Sometimes people can download a certain file by clicking on the link. However, those files occasionally need to be updated & adjusted. The format of the file could change during the alteration. The code there will get disconnected as a result. So, the link which downloads the file to the machine is able to execute the same. This may generate a broken link.

A Broken Link: On occasion, the link’s supplier will unintentionally offer a broken link. There might not be an issue on the company’s or the developer’s end. However, inserting an incorrect link will have the same result. As a result, mistakes of this nature are uncommon. But this also contributes to the broken link issue.

Other reasons that might generate a broken link are:

• 404 Page Not Found: The owner has deleted the requested web page
• 400 Bad Request: Because the URL address provided in the link’s HTTP request is incorrect, the server is unable to handle it.
• The user’s firewall settings prevent the browser from accessing the desired web page.
• The URL contains a typo.

Conclusion: Selenium can be used to detect broken links and there are some steps to take. But you can learn more about Broken links in Selenium by checking out a good online Selenium certification course.