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To use Selenium 2 in a Maven Java project, add org.seleniumhq.selenium:selenium-java:2.53.1 inside the <dependencies> element of your pom.xml, then let Maven resolve it. Version 2.53.1 is a historical release dated June 30, 2016—not the default choice for a new project. If you are starting fresh, follow Selenium’s current Java installation guide and choose a current release; use 2.53.1 when your project specifically needs Selenium 2 compatibility.
Add Selenium 2 to the Maven project
Open the project’s pom.xml and add the dependency within its existing <dependencies> element:
<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.seleniumhq.selenium</groupId>
<artifactId>selenium-java</artifactId>
<version>2.53.1</version>
</dependency>
</dependencies>If the POM already has a <dependencies> section, add only the inner <dependency> block; do not create a second section. The Selenium Java installation guide uses this Maven dependency pattern and a version property in its example. Maven Central lists the 2.53.1 artifact as org.seleniumhq.selenium:selenium-java:2.53.1.
Option: put the version in a property
A property makes the selected version easier to change and reuse. This is a POM configuration convenience, not a Selenium requirement:
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<selenium.version>2.53.1</selenium.version>
</properties>
<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.seleniumhq.selenium</groupId>
<artifactId>selenium-java</artifactId>
<version>${selenium.version}</version>
</dependency>
</dependencies>Resolve the dependency and verify Maven sees it
- Save
pom.xml. - In an IDE, reload or reimport the Maven project. From a terminal in the directory containing the POM, run
mvn dependency:resolveto ask Maven to resolve project dependencies. - Check the build output for dependency-resolution errors. To see Selenium artifacts in the resolved dependency tree, run
mvn dependency:tree.
The selenium-java artifact brings in Selenium support code and browser-specific driver modules. It supplies the Java client libraries; it does not make every browser and driver combination compatible with this old Selenium release.
Use the Java client
Once Maven resolves the dependency, Java code can import Selenium’s WebDriver API. This small example shows the Selenium 2 style of opening a browser and navigating to a page:
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import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.firefox.FirefoxDriver;
public class OpenPage {
public static void main(String[] args) {
WebDriver driver = new FirefoxDriver();
try {
driver.get("https://example.com");
System.out.println(driver.getTitle());
} finally {
driver.quit();
}
}
}Place the class in your project’s Java source tree and run it using your project’s usual Maven or IDE workflow. The example assumes an environment in which this Selenium 2 release can start the chosen browser. Because 2.53.1 is historical, check your existing browser and driver setup before treating the example as a current-browser recipe.
Choose the right Selenium version
Selenium’s downloads archive dates 2.53.1 to June 30, 2016. It is useful when maintaining a project that depends on Selenium 2 behavior or APIs, but it should not be silently substituted for a current release in a new project. Use Selenium’s current Java installation guide to select a current version for new development.
The available documentation establishes the historical release date and current installation path, but does not provide a complete compatibility matrix for Java runtimes, browsers, or driver versions. Before upgrading or pinning an old stack, verify compatibility against the specific Java runtime and browser environment your project must support.
Local browser versus Selenium Server
For ordinary local WebDriver use, the selenium-java dependency is the relevant client artifact. Selenium Server is a separate artifact, not a mandatory addition to every Maven project. Consider it when the project connects to a remote Selenium server or Grid; adding the dependency alone does not configure a remote Grid deployment.
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If a project declares multiple Selenium components directly, keep their versions consistent. Maven Central lists the Selenium 2 server artifact as org.seleniumhq.selenium:selenium-server:2.53.1. The official Selenium archive also lists Selenium 2.53.1 Java and Server downloads.
Troubleshoot common Maven setup problems
- Maven says the artifact cannot be resolved: check that the group ID, artifact ID, and version match the declaration above, that the dependency is inside
<dependencies>, and that Maven can reach its configured repositories. - Your code cannot import Selenium classes: confirm the dependency is in the POM for the module that contains the Java source, then reload the Maven project and check
mvn dependency:tree. - A browser does not start: resolving
selenium-javais separate from successfully launching a browser. Check the browser and driver available in the environment and whether they work with Selenium 2.53.1; the cited project materials do not establish a current compatibility matrix. - You added Selenium Server but still cannot connect remotely: the artifact is only one part of a remote setup. The cited artifact listing is not a complete Grid deployment guide; verify the server/Grid configuration and connection details for your environment.
Or skip the browser setup
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. It accepts cookie or consent banners before capture and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers indicate the page verdict and billing status. An MCP server provides screenshot, page-info, and PDF tools for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots.
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