Why do we use WebDriver instead of Selenium IDE?

Question

Why can't we just record all of our test cases in Selenium IDE, export it to Java/WebDriver and run it in WebDriver with Eclipse?

I need a clear explanation as I am very much confused in using WebDriver!

And can anyone please explain why IDE recorded scripts fail in WebDriver?

Answer 1

Between Selenium IDE and WebDriver, Selenium IDE is a Record and Playback tool but is not reliable. Since web applications are frequently changed, the IDE is not a good solution for a production environment.

Assume that you recorded your test, and you found an element with a dynamic ID. Yes, you can import it into eclipse, but what happens when that test starts failing? But why not simply make your test agile and independent to catch these in the first place?

So, IDE is designed to be a quick solution to automation, but it is not a solution to a full regression suite.