Session 22 - Selenium with Java|Locators(ID,Name,LinkText,PartialLinkText,Class&Tag)|2024 New series

Introduction

This tutorial covers the basics of using Selenium with Java, focusing on various locators such as ID, Name, Link Text, Partial Link Text, Class, and Tag. Understanding these locators is crucial for effectively interacting with web elements during automation testing.

Step 1: Understanding Selenium Locators

• Locators are essential for identifying web elements.
• There are basic and customized locators:
  • Basic locators include ID, Name, Class Name, Tag Name, Link Text, and Partial Link Text.
  • Customized locators are more complex and can be used to target specific elements.

Step 2: Basic Locators in HTML

• Familiarize yourself with basic locators in HTML:
  • ID: Unique identifier for an element.
  • Name: Name attribute of an element.
  • Class Name: Class attribute for styling.
  • Tag Name: The HTML tag (e.g., div, input).
  • Link Text: Full text of a link.
  • Partial Link Text: A portion of the link text.

Step 3: Using Locators to Locate Elements

• To interact with a web element, you need to use the appropriate locator.
• For example, using ID:

  WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.id("elementID"));
  

• Preferred use of link text over partial link text is recommended for better accuracy.

Step 4: Understanding findElement vs findElements

• findElement: Retrieves the first matching web element.
• findElements: Returns a list of matching web elements.
• Example usage:

  WebElement singleElement = driver.findElement(By.className("className"));
  List<WebElement> elements = driver.findElements(By.tagName("a"));
  

• Always check if the element exists before performing actions to avoid exceptions.

Step 5: Using Tag Name as a Locator

• Tag names can be used to capture groups of web elements. For example:

  List<WebElement> links = driver.findElements(By.tagName("a"));
  for (WebElement link : links) {
      System.out.println(link.getText());
  }
  

• This approach is useful for iterating through multiple elements on a page.

Conclusion

Understanding and effectively using locators in Selenium with Java is fundamental for successful automation testing. Start by implementing basic locators and gradually explore more complex methods as you become familiar with the framework. Next steps may include practicing with real web applications and experimenting with different locators to enhance your automation skills.