16 July 2024 Leave a comment QA
One common challenge in Selenium testing is dealing with dynamic XPaths, especially when elements on the webpage change frequently. This guide will help you understand how to effectively handle dynamic XPaths to ensure your tests remain robust and reliable.
Understanding the Problem
When elements on a webpage have dynamic attributes, traditional XPath expressions can quickly become unreliable. For instance, if the XPath of an element changes every time a new user is added, it can be difficult to locate the element consistently.
Effective Strategies for Dynamic XPaths
Here are some strategies to handle dynamic XPaths:
- Identify Unique Attributes: Inspect the HTML to find unique attributes that are not dynamic. Use these attributes to create more stable XPath expressions.
- Use Parent/Child/Sibling Relationships: If an element does not have static attributes, use the relationships with parent, child, or sibling elements that do have static attributes.
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Utilize XPath Functions: Functions like
contains,starts-with, andnormalize-spacecan help create more flexible XPath expressions.
Examples of Flexible XPath Expressions
Below are some practical examples of XPath expressions that handle dynamic elements:
-
Multiple Conditions:
//div[@class='bubble-title' and contains(text(), 'Cover')] -
Partial Match:
//span[contains(text(), 'Assign Rate')] -
Starts-With:
//input[starts-with(@id,'reportcombo')] -
Value with Spaces:
//div[./div/div[normalize-space(.)='More Actions...']] -
Sibling:
//td[.='LoadType']/following-sibling::td[1]/select -
Complex Conditions:
//td[contains(normalize-space(@class), 'actualcell sajcell-row-lines saj-special x-grid-row-collapsed')]
Practical Example
Let’s consider a scenario where the XPath changes when a new user is added. Instead of relying on the exact position, we can use a more flexible approach:
WebElement content = driver.findElement(By.id("contentText"));
WebElement tblUsers = content.findElement(By.xpath(".//table/tbody/tr[2]/td/table/tbody/tr/td[1]/table"));
List allUsers = tblUsers.findElements(By.xpath(".//tbody/tr"));
for(WebElement user : allUsers) {
WebElement username = user.findElement(By.xpath(".//td/table/tbody/tr/td[1]/strong[2]"));
System.out.println("Username: " + username.getText());
}
Enhancing Your Testing Workflow
Using dynamic XPaths is just one part of ensuring robust test automation. Tools like Repeato can further streamline your testing process. Repeato’s no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests quickly and efficiently. Leveraging computer vision and AI, Repeato ensures your tests are adaptable and easy to manage, even when dealing with dynamic elements.
For more detailed information on advanced testing techniques and best practices, check out our documentation.
