Navigation (back, forward, refresh) in Selenium Java - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this Selenium navigation code?

Consider the following Selenium Java code snippet. What will be printed after execution?

Selenium Java

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get("https://example.com/page1");
driver.navigate().to("https://example.com/page2");
driver.navigate().back();
System.out.println(driver.getCurrentUrl());
driver.quit();

A https://example.com/page1

B https://example.com

C https://example.com/page2

D Throws NoSuchWindowException

💡 Hint

Remember that navigate().back() goes to the previous page in browser history.

The code first opens page1, then navigates to page2. Calling navigate().back() returns to page1, so getCurrentUrl() prints page1's URL.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Which assertion correctly verifies the page refresh?

You want to verify that after refreshing the page, the page title remains the same. Which assertion is correct?

Selenium Java

String titleBefore = driver.getTitle();
driver.navigate().refresh();
String titleAfter = driver.getTitle();

A assertNull(titleAfter);

B assertNotEquals(titleBefore, titleAfter);

C assertTrue(titleBefore.contains(titleAfter));

D assertEquals(titleBefore, titleAfter);

💡 Hint

Refreshing should not change the page title.

After refresh, the page title should be the same, so assertEquals is the correct assertion.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this navigation code throw an exception?

This Selenium Java code throws an exception. Identify the cause.

Selenium Java

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.navigate().back();
driver.get("https://example.com");

A navigate().back() called before any page is loaded causes exception

B driver.get() must be called before navigate() methods

C ChromeDriver does not support navigate().back()

D Missing driver.quit() causes exception

💡 Hint

Think about browser history when calling back navigation.

Calling navigate().back() before loading any page causes an exception because there is no history to go back to.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

What is the difference between driver.get() and driver.navigate().to()?

Choose the correct statement about driver.get() and driver.navigate().to() in Selenium Java.

A driver.get() can only open URLs in new tabs, navigate().to() cannot

B navigate().to() clears browser history, driver.get() does not

C driver.get() waits for page load, navigate().to() may not wait

D navigate().to() is deprecated and should not be used

💡 Hint

Consider how each method handles page loading.

driver.get() waits for the page to fully load before returning, while navigate().to() may not wait for full load.

❓ framework

expert

How to implement a reliable test for browser back navigation?

You want to write a Selenium Java test that verifies the browser back button works correctly between two pages. Which approach is best?

A Call navigate().back() twice, then assert URL is page1

B Navigate to page1, then page2, call navigate().back(), assert URL is page1

C Navigate to page2 only, call navigate().back(), assert URL is page1

D Navigate to page1, call navigate().back(), assert URL is page1

💡 Hint

Browser back requires history to exist.

To test back navigation, you must have visited page1 then page2. Calling back returns to page1, so asserting page1 URL is correct.

Practice

1. What does the driver.navigate().back() method do in Selenium WebDriver?

easy

A. It closes the browser window.

B. It navigates the browser to the previous page in history.

C. It navigates the browser to the next page in history.

D. It refreshes the current page.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the back() method

   The back() method simulates clicking the browser's back button, moving to the previous page in history.

2. Step 2: Compare with other navigation methods

   forward() moves forward, refresh() reloads the page, and closing the browser is done by driver.close().

3. Final Answer:

   It navigates the browser to the previous page in history. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   back() = previous page [OK]

Hint: Back() always goes to the previous page in browser history [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing back() with refresh()
• Thinking back() closes the browser
• Mixing back() with forward()

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to refresh the current page using Selenium WebDriver in Java?

easy

A. driver.navigate().refresh();

B. driver.refresh();

C. driver.navigate().reload();

D. driver.refreshPage();

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the refresh method syntax

   In Selenium Java, refreshing the page is done by calling driver.navigate().refresh();.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   driver.refresh(), driver.navigate().reload(), and driver.refreshPage() are not valid Selenium WebDriver methods.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.navigate().refresh(); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   refresh() method is under navigate() [OK]

Hint: Use navigate().refresh() to reload the page [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using driver.refresh() directly
• Using non-existent reload() method
• Confusing refresh with back or forward

3. Consider the following Selenium Java code snippet:

driver.get("https://example.com/page1");
driver.get("https://example.com/page2");
driver.navigate().back();
String currentUrl = driver.getCurrentUrl();

What will be the value of currentUrl after execution?

medium

A. "https://example.com/home"

B. "https://example.com/page2"

C. "https://example.com/page1"

D. Throws an exception

Solution

1. Step 1: Trace navigation steps

   The driver first opens page1, then page2. Calling navigate().back() moves back to page1.

2. Step 2: Check current URL after back()

   After going back, getCurrentUrl() returns the URL of page1.

3. Final Answer:

   "https://example.com/page1" -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   back() returns to previous URL [OK]

Hint: Back() returns to the last visited URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming current URL stays on page2
• Expecting an exception on back()
• Confusing back() with refresh()

4. Identify the error in the following Selenium Java code snippet:

driver.get("https://example.com");
driver.navigate().forward();
String url = driver.getCurrentUrl();

What is the problem?

medium

A. driver.get() should be replaced with driver.navigate().to().

B. Syntax error in navigate().forward() method call.

C. driver.getCurrentUrl() returns null after forward().

D. Calling forward() without a previous back() navigation does nothing.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand forward() behavior

   The forward() method moves forward in browser history only if there is a forward page available.

2. Step 2: Analyze code context

   Since no back() was called before, there is no forward page, so forward() does nothing.

3. Final Answer:

   Calling forward() without a previous back() navigation does nothing. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   forward() needs prior back() [OK]

Hint: Use back() before forward() to enable forward navigation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting forward() to always change page
• Thinking forward() causes syntax error
• Confusing get() and navigate().to()

5. You want to test that after navigating back and then forward, the browser returns to the original page URL. Which sequence of Selenium Java commands correctly achieves this?

hard

A. driver.navigate().back(); driver.navigate().forward(); String url = driver.getCurrentUrl();

B. driver.navigate().forward(); driver.navigate().back(); String url = driver.getCurrentUrl();

C. driver.navigate().refresh(); driver.navigate().back(); String url = driver.getCurrentUrl();

D. driver.navigate().back(); driver.navigate().refresh(); String url = driver.getCurrentUrl();

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand navigation flow

   To test returning to the original page, first go back, then forward to return to the original page.

2. Step 2: Verify correct command order

   driver.navigate().back(); driver.navigate().forward(); String url = driver.getCurrentUrl(); correctly calls back() then forward(), then gets the current URL.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.navigate().back(); driver.navigate().forward(); String url = driver.getCurrentUrl(); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Back then forward returns to original URL [OK]

Hint: Back then forward returns to original page URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling forward() before back()
• Using refresh() instead of forward()
• Not checking URL after navigation