What is an Object Repository in Selenium?

An Object Repository is a centralized location where all the web elements (objects) and their locators used in test scripts are stored and managed.

Why it matters:

• ✓All locators are in one place — easy to find and update
• ✓Changes to the UI require updating only the repository, not every test
• ✓Promotes reuse — multiple tests can reference the same element

In Selenium, Object Repositories are implemented using:

1. Page Object Model (POM) — each page class IS the object repository for that page:

public class LoginPage {
    private By usernameField = By.id("username");  // stored here
    private By passwordField = By.id("password");
    private By loginButton   = By.cssSelector(".btn-login");
}

2. Page Factory with @FindBy — annotations serve as the repository:

@FindBy(id = "username")
WebElement usernameField;

3. Properties file / Excel — store locators externally:

# locators.properties
username.locator=id=username
password.locator=id=password

Why not hardcode locators in test methods:

// BAD — locator repeated in every test method
driver.findElement(By.id("username")).sendKeys("admin");  // test 1
driver.findElement(By.id("username")).sendKeys("user2");  // test 2

// GOOD — locator defined once in page class
loginPage.enterUsername("admin");
loginPage.enterUsername("user2");