A hybrid testing automation engine tests a main application using a client browser and includes an object learning module to parse code describing a web page destined to be rendered by the client browser to identify predetermined types of page elements and associate therewith a respective plurality of identification means to locate such elements and store such data in an object repository. A test data manager module manages test data in a hierarchy including a global level, a scenario level, and a step level and store such data in a test data repository. A scripting module facilitates script generation but also includes the capability of recording steps (actions) for playback during testing. A test execution module executes a test scenario including the playback of recorded steps and/or execution of scripts with reference to the object repository and the test data repository.