21 May 2024 Leave a comment Tech-Help
Writing efficient Selenium scripts often involves waiting for elements to be present or visible on a webpage. This guide will walk you through how to implement a function to wait for a table with a class identifier in Python using Selenium WebDriver.
Using WebDriverWait with Expected Conditions
One of the most effective methods for waiting for elements in Selenium is using the WebDriverWait class combined with expected conditions. This approach is both flexible and powerful, allowing you to wait for various conditions such as visibility, presence, and more.
Here is a sample implementation:
import contextlib
import selenium.webdriver as webdriver
import selenium.webdriver.support.ui as ui
with contextlib.closing(webdriver.Firefox()) as driver:
driver.get('http://www.google.com')
wait = ui.WebDriverWait(driver, 10)
inputElement = driver.find_element_by_name('q')
inputElement.send_keys('Cheese!')
inputElement.submit()
wait.until(lambda driver: driver.title.lower().startswith('cheese!'))
wait.until(lambda driver: driver.find_element_by_id('someId'))
Implementing Visibility Checks
Selenium’s Python bindings include a support class for expected conditions, which can be used to check if an element is visible within a specified timeframe. This can be particularly useful for ensuring that elements are fully loaded before interacting with them.
Here is an example of how to check for element visibility:
from selenium.common.exceptions import TimeoutException
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
import selenium.webdriver.support.expected_conditions as EC
import selenium.webdriver.support.ui as ui
@classmethod
def setUpClass(cls):
cls.selenium = WebDriver()
super(SeleniumTest, cls).setUpClass()
@classmethod
def tearDownClass(cls):
cls.selenium.quit()
super(SeleniumTest, cls).tearDownClass()
def is_visible(self, locator, timeout=2):
try:
ui.WebDriverWait(driver, timeout).until(EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.CSS_SELECTOR, locator)))
return True
except TimeoutException:
return False
Combining Methods for Robust Waiting
By combining different waiting strategies, you can create robust and reliable Selenium scripts. For instance, using both implicit waits and explicit waits can help manage different loading times across various environments.
Here’s a combined approach:
import time
from selenium import webdriver
driver = webdriver.Firefox()
driver.get('http://example.com')
driver.implicitly_wait(10)
def wait_for_element(element):
count = 1
while count < 30:
if driver.find_element_by_id(element):
return True
else:
time.sleep(1)
count += 1
return False
Enhancing Test Automation with Repeato
While writing custom wait functions in Selenium can be effective, leveraging a dedicated test automation tool like Repeato can streamline the process significantly. Repeato is a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android that helps you create, run, and maintain automated tests for your apps efficiently.
Repeato’s intuitive test recorder and scripting interface allow testers to automate complex use cases quickly. Moreover, Repeato supports testing websites within an Android emulator or device, making it a versatile solution for your automation needs.
For more information on how Repeato can enhance your test automation, visit our documentation section.
