Debugging “Element is Not Clickable at Point” Error in Selenium

Debugging "Element is Not Clickable at Point" Error in Selenium

21 May 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

Encountering the “Element is not clickable at point” error can be frustrating, especially when working with Selenium in Chrome. This error typically occurs when the Selenium WebDriver attempts to click an element that is either not visible or is overlapped by another element. Below, we will explore some common causes and solutions to address this issue effectively.

Common Causes and Solutions

  • Element Not Visible: The element might not be visible to click. Use either Actions or JavascriptExecutor to make it clickable.
    • Using Actions:
      WebElement element = driver.findElement(By("element_path"));
      Actions actions = new Actions(driver);
      actions.moveToElement(element).click().perform();
      
    • Using JavascriptExecutor:
      JavascriptExecutor jse = (JavascriptExecutor)driver;
      jse.executeScript("arguments[0].scrollIntoView()", element);
      element.click();
      
  • Page Refreshing: The page might be refreshing before clicking the element. Implement a wait to handle this.
    Thread.sleep(3000); // or use WebDriverWait for better control
    
  • Overlay or Spinner: An overlay or spinner might be covering the element. Wait until the overlay disappears.
    By loadingImage = By.id("loading_image_id");
    WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, timeOutInSeconds);
    wait.until(ExpectedConditions.invisibilityOfElementLocated(loadingImage));
    

Additional Tips

  • Maximize Browser Window: Sometimes, the issue is due to the browser window being too small, causing the element to be out of view. Maximize the window to ensure all elements are visible.
    driver.manage().window().maximize();
    
  • Use Explicit Waits: Ensure that the element is clickable using explicit waits.
    WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, timeOutInSeconds);
    wait.until(ExpectedConditions.elementToBeClickable(By.id("element_id")));
    

Conclusion

Debugging the “Element is not clickable at point” error requires a combination of making elements visible and ensuring that no overlays interfere with the click action. By following the solutions outlined above, you can effectively address this issue and improve the reliability of your Selenium tests.

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