Choosing the right plugin for your test automation suite is very important as it is a key to building stable, efficient, and maintainable tests.
Both WPF and UIA enable automated testing of Windows applications, however, they have a few differences.
WPF Plugin
The WPF plugin is designed for .NET(WPF) applications. It interacts directly with the framework and has a lot of great benefits, such as:
- WPF-specific properties: The WPF plugin provides access to properties unique to WPF controls, such as custom attributes and complex controls. This level of detail helps with creating robust and scalable tests.
- Optimized for WPF Controls: WPF applications often use advanced controls, like data grids, templates, and custom components. The WPF plugin is designed to handle these complex structures, making tracking different UI parts easier.
- High Performance: The WPF plugin is designed specifically for WPF applications. It interacts directly with the WPF framework, allowing it to interact with WPF applications at a native level.
You should use the WPF plugin when you are working purely with WPF applications, automating complex controls, or prioritizing performance in your test solutions.
UIA Plugin
The UIA plugin uses Microsoft’s UI Automation framework, which provides a standardized interface for accessibility and automation across various Windows UI technologies.
UIA is mainly recommended for these cases:
- Broad compatibility – UIA works across multiple UI technologies, including WPF, WinForms, UWP, etc… UIA offers consistent automation across these platforms.
- Accessibility: Because UIA is a core part of Microsoft’s accessibility infrastructure, it’s widely supported across different Windows UI technologies. This is especially useful for applications that prioritize accessibility.
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Ease of use – while UIA can’t access all the properties and controls of the elements, it provides the basic details that can be used to identify them uniquely.
For applications that combine multiple frameworks, the UIA plugin provides a unifying interface to automate those applications.
| Feature | UIA Plugin | WPF Plugin |
| Compatibility | Works with WPF, WinForms, UWP | Optimized for .NET(WPF) applications |
| Performance | Moderate performance | Very fast performance for WPF applications |
| Object Recognition | Basic object recognition across different Windows applications UIs | Precise identification for WPF including custom controls and properties |
| Complex Control Support | Limited for WPF-specific controls | Excellent for advanced WPF controls |
| Custom Control Support | Moderate | Excellent for WPF custom controls |
| Use Case | Mixed-technology, accessibility-focused apps | WPF apps with complex UIs and high performance needs |
UIA is very versatile, although it doesn’t offer the same level of control and specific access as WPF. It can help with automating legacy applications that may heavily rely on third-party controls.
Want to learn more about what works best for you and how to build your tests?
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