By Rafikul Sk 
Web applications should be tested across platforms and browsers for a strong digital user experience. This project uses the popular open-source automation tool Selenium. Selenium ChromeDriver automates and controls Chrome when testing.
This article has all the Selenium ChromeDriver installation and usage instructions. To speed up the process, you can use cloud testing or a local environment.
What is Selenium ChromeDriver?
Selenium ChromeDriver is a server that works on its own and supports the W3C WebDriver interface for Chrome. To put it more simply, it connects Selenium scripts to the Chrome browser so that automatic tests can behave like real people do in Chrome.
ChromeDriver turns commands you give Selenium to evaluate material, click a button, or open a page into browser-based actions.
Note: ChromeDriver is maintained by the Chromium project team to make sure it is compatible with the latest versions of Chrome.
How ChromeDriver Works with Selenium?
You must understand how Selenium and ChromeDriver interact if you want to automate browsers. In short, they collaborate in the following ways:
- Languages like Python, Java, and JavaScript are used to write the Selenium test scripts.
- Selenium WebDriver turns your test steps into orders in JSON format.
- ChromeDriver gets these orders and acts as a link between your script and Chrome.
- ChromeDriver reads the orders and tells the Chrome browser what to do, like click on buttons, fill out forms, or move from one page to another.
- After the steps are done, the browser sends responses back to Selenium through ChromeDriver. This completes the communication loop.
Your automated tests can replicate actual user activity in Chrome thanks to this organized interaction, which guarantees more accurate and trustworthy test results.
How to Set Up Selenium ChromeDriver?
Although Selenium ChromeDriver setup is simple, it is crucial to follow each step carefully to prevent mistakes.
To begin, perform the following actions:
Step 1: Install Google Chrome Browser
Install Google Chrome first. If not, you can download it from the Chrome website.
Step 2: Check Your Chrome Version
To get the right ChromeDriver, you need the version of Chrome.
- Open Chrome.
- Go to the URL bar and type: chrome://settings/help
- Note the version number (e.g., 123.0.6312.105).
Step 3: Download ChromeDriver
- Visit the ChromeDriver download page.
- Get ChromeDriver for the latest Chrome.
- Choose the right version based on whether you have Windows, Mac, or Linux.
Step 4: Extract ChromeDriver
- After downloading, extract the chromedriver.zip file.
- The chromedriver executable should be put in a known folder on your machine.
Step 5: Include ChromeDriver in the system path
This makes it easier to call ChromeDriver without specifying its full path every time.
On Windows:
- Right-click PC → Properties → Advanced system settings → Environment Variables.
- Under System Variables, find the Path variable → Edit.
- Add the folder where chromedriver.exe is located.
- Click OK to save.
On Mac/Linux:
Open your terminal and run:
export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/chromedriver
(Replace /path/to/chromedriver with your actual folder path.)
That line should be added to your.bash_profile,.bashrc, or.zshrc file to make it last.
Step 6: Install Selenium
If Selenium WebDriver is not installed yet, you can easily install it via pip (for Python):
pip install selenium
You could also use Maven/Gradle for Java projects or npm for JavaScript ones.
Step 7: Write and Run Your First Selenium Script
Here’s a quick Python example:
import webdriver from selenium
# Launch the Chrome browser
driver = webdriver.Chrome()
# Open a website
driver.get(‘https://www.example.com’)
# Print the page title
print(driver.title)
# Close the browser
driver.quit()
If everything is set up correctly, Chrome should open automatically and perform the actions!
System Requirements for Selenium ChromeDriver
Make sure your PC meets the following specifications before installing the Selenium ChromeDriver:
- The most up-to-date stable version of the Google Chrome browser should be installed.
- Make sure that the ChromeDriver you buy works with the Chrome version you have open.
- Before you install the WebDriver, you should first check your Selenium project settings. Pip for Python, npm for JavaScript, and Maven for Java.
- This tool lets you use Python, Java, or Node.js.
- You need internet connectivity if you intend to review websites hosted online.
Common Errors and Troubleshooting for Selenium ChromeDriver
Users frequently run into issues while running tests, even after correctly configuring Selenium ChromeDriver. Problems are usually caused by different versions, missing files, or wrong setups.
Here is a list of some of the most typical issues along with solutions.
1. SessionNotCreatedException: “This ChromeDriver version only works with Chrome version X.”
Cause: Your Chrome browser version and ChromeDriver version do not match.
Solution:
- Check your current Chrome version: open chrome://settings/help.
- Get the version of ChromeDriver that works with your computer from the official site.
- Update either your Chrome browser or ChromeDriver to ensure they are compatible.
2. WebDriverException: “Message: unknown error: cannot find Chrome binary”
Cause: ChromeDriver cannot locate your Chrome browser installation.
Solution: Ensure Chrome is properly installed.
In the event that Chrome is installed in an unusual location, manually enter the binary path:
from selenium import webdriver
import Service
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options
chrome_options = Options()
chrome_options.binary_location = “/path/to/your/chrome”
driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=Service(), options=chrome_options)
3. Trouble with the PATH: “chromedriver executable needs to be in PATH”
Cause: ChromeDriver’s executable location isn’t recognized by your system.
Solution: Add ChromeDriver’s folder to your system’s PATH environment variable.
Alternatively, provide the executable path directly in your script:
driver = webdriver.Chrome(executable_path=’/path/to/chromedriver’)
4. ElementNotInteractableException
Cause: Selenium is connecting to an unready or hidden resource.
Solution: Use explicit waits to confirm element interaction before advancing.
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui
import WebDriverWait
import expected_conditions as EC from selenium.webdriver.support
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(
EC.element_to_be_clickable((By.ID, “yourElementId”))
)
5. StaleElementReferenceException
Cause: The DOM has been refreshed or changed since Selenium located the element.
Solution: Re-locate the element before interacting with it. Also, avoid holding references to web elements for long durations during dynamic page actions.
6. TimeoutException
Cause: An operation took longer than the specified timeout (waiting for page load or element).
Solution: Increase the timeout duration and Optimize your waits (use a mix of explicit waits and page load strategies).
7. ChromeDriver Crashes Unexpectedly
Cause: Excessive resource usage, out-of-memory issues, or version incompatibility.
Solution:
- Keep ChromeDriver updated.
- Reduce memory load during automation (e.g., by using headless mode).
- Monitor and optimize browser sessions — close tabs you no longer need.
Best Practices for Using Selenium ChromeDriver
Using Selenium ChromeDriver efficiently not only improves the stability of your automation scripts but also saves you time and reduces debugging efforts.
Here are some proven best practices to follow:
1. Keep Chrome and ChromeDriver Versions in Sync
- Always ensure that the Chrome browser and ChromeDriver versions are compatible.
- An outdated or mismatched version can lead to session errors or failed test execution.
2. Use Explicit Waits Instead of Hardcoded Delays
Instead of using fixed sleep() calls, use explicit waits (like WebDriverWait) to wait dynamically for elements to load.
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC
element = WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(
EC.presence_of_element_located((By.ID, “myElement”))
)
This approach makes your tests faster and more reliable.
3. Configure ChromeDriver Options
Use Chrome options to control browser behavior such as:
- Running in headless mode for CI/CD
- Disabling extensions during testing
- Maximizing window size on startup
- Setting custom user agents
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options
options = Options()
options.add_argument(“–start-maximized”)
options.add_argument(“–disable-extensions”)
4. Manage Resources Wisely
Always close the browser instance after the test using:
driver.quit()
This ensures that Chrome processes do not keep running in the background, consuming system resources.
5. Implement Robust Exception Handling
Automate error recovery using try-except blocks. This helps prevent crashes and provides better debug information.
try:
driver.get(‘https://example.com’)
except Exception as e:
print(f”An error occurred: {e}”)
driver.quit()
6. Use Headless Mode When UI Is Not Required
Headless testing speeds up test execution by eliminating the browser GUI rendering. It is especially useful in continuous integration (CI) pipelines.
options.add_argument(“–headless”)
7. Enable Logging for Debugging
Capture browser and driver logs to debug JavaScript errors, page crashes, or console warnings.
importing selenium.webdriver.common.desired_capabilities
caps = DesiredCapabilities.CHROME.copy()
caps[‘goog:loggingPrefs’] = {‘browser’: ‘ALL’}
You can then fetch logs with:
logs = driver.get_log(‘browser’)
for log in logs:
print(log)
8. Structure Tests Using Page Object Model (POM)
For scalable and maintainable code, adopt a Page Object Model pattern:
- Keep locators and actions separated in page classes.
- Reduce redundancy and make maintenance easier if UI changes.
9. Leverage Cloud Testing for Scalability
For larger test suites or cross-browser/device testing, integrate with cloud platforms.
10. Secure Sensitive Data
- Avoid hardcoding passwords, API keys, or login credentials inside test scripts.
- Use environment variables or secret managers instead to keep your data secure.
Running ChromeDriver in Headless Mode
When running automated browser tests, opening a full browser window can slow down execution. This process is known to consume more resources, and even create issues in Continuous Integration (CI) environments.
Headless mode solves these problems. It allows Chrome to run without a visible user interface—in the background.
Let’s understand how to use ChromeDriver in headless mode and why it’s so useful.
What Is Headless Mode?
The Graphical User Interface (GUI) can be hidden when using Chrome in headless mode.
Although everything takes place behind the scenes, the browser nevertheless functions precisely like a typical Chrome session, loading pages, interacting with components, and running scripts.
You can activate headless mode by adding Chrome options before starting the driver.
from selenium import webdriver
Selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options
# Set up Chrome options
chrome_options = Options()
chrome_options.add_argument(“–headless”) # Run in headless mode
chrome_options.add_argument(“–disable-gpu”) # Recommended for Windows
chrome_options.add_argument(“–window-size=1920,1080”) # Set screen size (important for responsive testing)
# Launch Chrome with options
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=chrome_options)
# Open a website
driver.get(‘https://www.example.com’)
# Print page title
print(driver.title)
# Close the browser
driver.quit()
Running Selenium ChromeDriver tests just on your local computer soon becomes restrictive as your testing requirements increase. For the best user experience, test across platforms, operating systems, and browsers. Manually putting up and managing this infrastructure is expensive and time-consuming.
This is where cloud testing comes in.
If you’re looking for a reliable, developer-friendly platform to scale your Selenium ChromeDriver tests, LambdaTest is an excellent choice.
LambdaTest is a leading cloud testing platform that offers:
- Online Selenium Grid supporting 10,000+ real devices, 3000+ browsers and OS combinations.
- Parallel test execution to speed up release cycles
- Headless browser testing support
- Geolocation testing across different countries
- Integrations with popular CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, CircleCI, and more
- Automatic screenshots and video capture simplify test debugging.
LambdaTest speeds up browser automation and improves app quality for single coders, QA engineers, and large testing teams.
Conclusion
Making trustworthy web automation solutions requires learning Selenium ChromeDriver setup and use. By properly setting up your system, ensuring versions function together, and following best practices, you can create robust tests that simulate ChromeDriver usage.
Consider headless processing, parallel testing, and cloud-based infrastructure as your projects grow to obtain feedback faster and test more areas. Automation demands more than scripts—a testing ecosystem that is successful, scalable, and easy to maintain.
Successfully automating UI testing and cross-browser automation with Selenium ChromeDriver improves releases and user experience.