WebDriver BiDi - The future of cross-browser automation  |  Blog  |  Chrome for Developers

The article presents an introduction to WebDriver BiDi, a developing browser automation protocol combining advantages of WebDriver "Classic" and Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP). WebDriver BiDi offers bi-directional communication, cross-browser support, and promises performance and low-level control improvements, aiming for flexibility across tools and browsers.

The WebDriver BiDi Working Group, comprising various vendors and projects, is working collaboratively to develop this new standard. Their tasks include creating specifications, conducting verification tests, and browser implementations, guided by feedback from an RFC process.

Key challenges in developing WebDriver BiDi include maintaining high performance despite potential high latency, ensuring usability without complexity, and balancing JavaScript object retention. Enhancement strategies involve using rapid prototyping with NodeJS.

Web Platform Tests verify cross-browser protocol consistency, vital for BiDi’s success. The roadmap, an evolving document, outlines the project's progress.

The article also clarifies that WebDriver BiDi is not replacing CDP; it targets testing needs while CDP remains for debugging in Chromium-based browsers. WebDriver BiDi's development allows tools like Puppeteer to extend into cross-browser automation without becoming obsolete. Enthusiasts are encouraged to support WebDriver BiDi by testing, sharing, and participating in discussions.