What is Apache POI in Selenium?

Apache POI is a Java library used in Selenium to read, write, and manipulate Excel files (.xls, .xlsx) for data-driven testing. It is a third-party API that allows handling external test data efficiently, making automation scripts more maintainable.

Why Use Apache POI in Selenium?

• Supports reading and writing Excel data dynamically.
• Enables data-driven testing by using external test data.
• Helps store test results in Excel files.

How Does Apache POI Work?

Apache POI provides a Java API for working with file formats based on Office Open XML (OOXML) and Microsoft’s OLE2 standard. It includes:

• HSSF - Works with .xls (Excel 97-2003).
• XSSF - Works with .xlsx (Excel 2007+).
• SXSSF - Handles large Excel files efficiently.
• Other Office File Support - Apache POI also includes classes to work with Word, PowerPoint, and Visio documents.

Common Use Cases:

• Fetching test input data from Excel.
• Writing test results into Excel reports.
• Managing large datasets for automated test execution.

Apache POI is widely used in Selenium automation to separate test data from scripts, improving flexibility and scalability.