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What changed in Selenium 4?
The Selenium project announced Selenium 4.0.0 for Java, .NET, Python, Ruby, and JavaScript on October 13, 2021. The release centered on alignment with the W3C WebDriver standard, adding features through familiar APIs, and rebuilding Selenium Grid. See the Selenium 4 announcement for the launch details.
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- W3C WebDriver: Selenium 4 uses the W3C protocol and removes support for the legacy protocol. Selenium 3 already supported W3C, so code written to that standard in the latest Selenium 3 should work as expected in Selenium 4.
- Grid: The 4.0 announcement described standalone, hub-and-node, and fully distributed deployment modes. It also highlighted local Docker container management, a revamped UI backed by GraphQL, live VNC previews, and OpenTelemetry support. These are launch-era details; check current documentation for behavior in the version you deploy.
Simon Stewart, a Selenium project contributor, wrote of the migration: “If you’re already a Selenium user, this update should be as easy as just changing your dependency from 3.x to 4.0.0.” He also cautioned that code relying on internal or deprecated APIs could cause problems. Treat the quote as guidance about the intended upgrade path, not a guarantee that every suite will migrate without changes.
How do I upgrade to Selenium 4?
Use the official migration guide alongside the install instructions for your language. The guide organizes the transition around preparing test code, updating dependencies, and addressing errors and deprecation messages. Avoid copying old version numbers or install commands from older examples; package versions and installation instructions vary by binding.
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- Identify your binding and dependency manager. Check whether the project uses Java, .NET, Python, Ruby, or JavaScript, then find its current package instructions on the official Selenium downloads page.
- Inspect custom capabilities and Actions code. A non-W3C capability structure can prevent a session from starting. Review use of the Actions class and any deprecated or internal APIs.
- Update the dependency using the binding’s current instructions. The official downloads page lists different versions for different languages and packages. For example, its .NET Selenium.WebDriver listing showed version 4.49.0, released September 9, 2026, when accessed October 3, 2026; do not assume that number applies to another binding.
- Run the test suite and resolve failures and deprecations. Use the error messages to identify incompatible capabilities, deprecated calls, or reliance on implementation details, then consult the official Selenium 4 upgrade guide.
Which Selenium Grid setup should I use?
The Selenium 4 announcement describes three deployment shapes. The right choice depends on how many machines and environments you need to coordinate, how much infrastructure you want to operate, and whether you need distributed deployment.
| Mode | When it may fit | Trade-off to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone / single process | A straightforward setup contained in one process. | Does not provide the distributed shape described for larger or more complex infrastructure. |
| Hub-and-node | A traditional arrangement where a hub coordinates nodes. | Requires operating and configuring the separate hub and node roles. |
| Fully distributed | Infrastructure designed for distributed operation, including environments such as Kubernetes. | Offers a more distributed setup, with corresponding infrastructure and operations complexity. |
The announcement also described local Docker container management. Check the documentation for the Selenium version you plan to run before relying on any launch-era Grid feature or UI detail.
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