Opening URLs (driver.get) in Selenium Java - Build an Automation Script

Open a web page using Selenium WebDriver

Preconditions (3)

Step 1: Launch the Chrome browser using Selenium WebDriver

Step 2: Navigate to the URL 'https://example.com' using driver.get()

Step 3: Verify that the current URL of the browser matches 'https://example.com/'

✅ Expected Result: The browser opens and loads the page at 'https://example.com'. The current URL matches exactly 'https://example.com/'.

Automation Requirements - Selenium WebDriver with Java

Assertions Needed:

Verify the current URL after navigation matches the expected URL

Best Practices:

Use WebDriverManager or set system property for driver executable

Use explicit waits if needed (not required here since get() waits for page load)

Close the browser after test execution

Use try-finally or @After method to ensure browser closes

Automated Solution

Selenium Java

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;

public class OpenUrlTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Set system property for ChromeDriver executable
        System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "path/to/chromedriver");

        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
        try {
            // Open the URL
            driver.get("https://example.com");

            // Verify the current URL
            String currentUrl = driver.getCurrentUrl();
            assertEquals("https://example.com/", currentUrl, "URL should match the expected URL");

            System.out.println("Test Passed: URL opened correctly.");
        } finally {
            // Close the browser
            driver.quit();
        }
    }
}

This code sets up the ChromeDriver path so Selenium can control the browser. It creates a new Chrome browser instance, then uses driver.get() to open the URL https://example.com. After the page loads, it checks the current URL with driver.getCurrentUrl() and compares it to the expected URL using assertEquals. Finally, it closes the browser with driver.quit() inside a finally block to ensure the browser closes even if the test fails.

This approach is simple and clear, perfect for beginners to understand how to open a URL and verify it using Selenium WebDriver in Java.

Common Mistakes - 4 Pitfalls

{'mistake': 'Not setting the system property or driver path correctly', 'why_bad': 'Selenium cannot find the browser driver executable, so the test fails to start the browser.', 'correct_approach': "Set the system property 'webdriver.chrome.driver' to the correct path of the ChromeDriver executable before creating the driver instance."}

Using driver.navigate().to() instead of driver.get() without understanding difference

Not closing the browser after test execution

Hardcoding incorrect URL without trailing slash and failing assertion

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing to open three different URLs and verify each one

Show Hint

Practice

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

easy

A. It opens the specified URL in the browser and waits for the page to load.

B. It closes the current browser window.

C. It refreshes the current page.

D. It takes a screenshot of the current page.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of driver.get()

   This method is used to open a web page by specifying its URL.

2. Step 2: Recognize the behavior of driver.get()

   It waits until the page is fully loaded before moving on to the next command.

3. Final Answer:

   It opens the specified URL in the browser and waits for the page to load. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   driver.get() opens URL and waits [OK]

Hint: Remember: driver.get() opens URL and waits for full load [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing driver.get() with driver.close()
• Thinking driver.get() refreshes the page
• Assuming driver.get() takes screenshots

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to open "https://example.com" using Selenium WebDriver in Java?

easy

A. driver.get("https://example.com");

B. driver.open("https://example.com");

C. driver.navigateTo("https://example.com");

D. driver.loadUrl("https://example.com");

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct method to open a URL in Selenium Java

   The method is driver.get(String url).

2. Step 2: Check each option's syntax

   Only driver.get("https://example.com"); is valid Selenium syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.get("https://example.com"); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct method is driver.get() [OK]

Hint: Use driver.get() with URL string in quotes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using driver.open() which does not exist
• Using driver.navigateTo() instead of driver.get()
• Forgetting quotes around the URL

3. What will be the output of the following code snippet?

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get("https://example.com");
String title = driver.getTitle();
System.out.println(title);

medium

A. Prints null because the page did not load

B. Throws a syntax error because getTitle() is invalid

C. Prints the title of the page at https://example.com

D. Throws a runtime error because driver is not initialized

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the code flow

   The code opens the URL "https://example.com" and then retrieves the page title.

2. Step 2: Analyze the output of getTitle()

   getTitle() returns the title of the current page, which is printed.

3. Final Answer:

   Prints the title of the page at https://example.com -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   driver.get() loads page, getTitle() returns title [OK]

Hint: driver.get() loads page; getTitle() returns page title [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming getTitle() is invalid
• Thinking page does not load before getTitle()
• Not initializing driver before use

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

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get("https://example.com")
System.out.println(driver.getTitle());

medium

A. driver.get() method does not accept a String argument

B. ChromeDriver cannot be instantiated directly

C. driver.getTitle() is not a valid method

D. Missing semicolon after driver.get() statement

Solution

1. Step 1: Check syntax line by line

   The line driver.get("https://example.com") is missing a semicolon at the end.

2. Step 2: Verify method usage

   driver.get() accepts a String URL, and getTitle() is valid. ChromeDriver can be instantiated directly.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing semicolon after driver.get() statement -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Every statement must end with semicolon [OK]

Hint: Check for missing semicolons after statements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting semicolon at end of statements
• Confusing method parameters
• Assuming ChromeDriver cannot be created directly

5. You want to open a URL and verify the page title contains the word "Example". Which of the following code snippets correctly does this in Selenium Java?

hard

A. driver.navigate().to("https://example.com");
assert driver.getTitle() == "Example";

B. driver.get("https://example.com");
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

C. driver.get("https://example.com");
assert driver.getTitle().equals("Example");

D. driver.open("https://example.com");
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

Solution

1. Step 1: Choose correct method to open URL

   driver.get() is the standard method to open a URL and wait for page load.

2. Step 2: Verify title contains "Example" correctly

   Using contains("Example") checks if the title includes the word anywhere.

3. Step 3: Check assertion correctness

   Using assert with contains is valid; equals or == would require exact match, which may fail.

4. Final Answer:

   driver.get("https://example.com"); assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example"); -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Use driver.get() and contains() for partial title check [OK]

Hint: Use driver.get() and contains() to check title substring [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using driver.open() which does not exist
• Using == or equals() for partial match
• Using driver.navigate().to() without waiting