How Can I Manage Geckodriver Memory Consumption in Selenium Tests Without Closing Browser Windows?

Selenium: Addressing Gecodriver Process Impact on PC Memory

Introduction

When executing automated tests using Selenium, controlling browser instances and their impact on system resources is crucial. In certain situations, the geckodriver process can accumulate memory, hindering system performance. This article explores an alternative approach that terminates the geckodriver process without closing the browser window.

Problem Statement

In many test setups, the geckodriver is initialized and used to execute tests. However, if the driver.quit() method is not invoked, the browser window remains open, leading to a buildup of geckodriver processes that consume excessive RAM.

Resolution

While it may seem convenient to leave browser windows open for manual analysis, best practices recommend invoking driver.quit() in the tearDown() method. This command terminates the browser session and releases all WebDriver instances associated with the geckodriver process.

Eliminating Dangling Processes

If, for some reason, terminating the geckodriver process without closing the browser is desired, there are two approaches:

• In-script Automation:

  • Utilize Java or Python code to send commands that terminate geckodriver processes, such as "taskkill /F /IM geckodriver.exe /T" for Windows.

• Cross-Platform Automation:

  • Use the psutil library in Python to identify and terminate geckodriver processes running on any operating system.

Best Practices

It's important to note that the preferred approach for handling WebDriver instances is to invoke driver.quit() in the tearDown() method. This ensures proper cleanup and avoids resource leaks.

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