Migrating From Selenium IDE to Katalon Recorder Chrome Extension Using Variables in Automated Browser Testing

Using variables in Selenium IDE was helpful when manual tests took too long and you needed to reuse values throughout the test.

The Selenium IDE "store" command was invaluable for capturing values and reusing them throughout the test suite—especially when testers needed to retrieve the same value multiple times.

Unfortunately, Selenium IDE stopped receiving updates in 2022 and is no longer available in the Chrome Web Store because of the deprecation of Manifest V2. This means QA professionals and automation engineers need to transition to other solutions for browser-based test automation.

We adopted Katalon Recorder, a Chrome extension that maintains Selenium’s simplicity while introducing enhanced usability and compliance with Manifest V3.

“Katalon Recorder is a free, lightweight web extension that serves as an alternative to Selenium IDE. Designed for automating browser actions and tests, Katalon Recorder is available on Chrome.”

The transition was surprisingly smooth — particularly because Katalon Recorder supports most of Selenium IDE’s commands, including the all-important store command for variable handling.

Why Variables Still Matter

Variables make automation more efficient by:

• Reducing redundancy—reuse values like usernames, passwords, and URLs across multiple tests.

• Increasing flexibility—handle dynamic data throughout your test suite.

• Simplifying maintenance—update a single variable to change all dependent tests.

In Selenium IDE, the store command was invaluable for saving dynamic values — such as tokens, user credentials, or URLs — and recalling them later. Fortunately, Katalon Recorder preserves this logic, ensuring testers don’t lose this powerful capability.

Example: Automating a Login with Variables

Below is a practical example of how we automated a login flow using Katalon Recorder:

1. Create a new test case within your test suite.

   

2. Record your test actions (navigating to the login page, entering credentials, clicking submit).

   

3. Add a store command manually to capture variables, such as the password.

   

4. Run the test — your stored variables now appear under the Variables tab.

   

5. Reuse variables in subsequent commands using this syntax: ${<variableName>}

   

This approach keeps your tests clean, modular, and easy to maintain.

Wrap Up

Switching from Selenium IDE to Katalon Recorder isn’t just changing a tool; it’s improving the way QA automation works.

With Katalon Recorder, testers can still use variables to make tests faster, easier to manage, and more reliable. It retains the flexibility of Selenium IDE while offering improved performance, enhanced security, and future support for Chrome updates.

For companies, the benefits are simple:

• Faster test cycles

• Less maintenance work

• QA teams ready for the future of browser automation

In summary, Katalon Recorder helps teams stay efficient, secure, and prepared for what’s next in automation.