Creating new windows/tabs in Selenium Java - Practice Exercises

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this Selenium Java code snippet?

Consider the following Selenium Java code that opens a new tab and switches to it. What will be the output printed?

Selenium Java

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get("https://example.com");
String originalHandle = driver.getWindowHandle();

// Open new tab
((JavascriptExecutor)driver).executeScript("window.open('https://google.com','_blank');");

Set<String> handles = driver.getWindowHandles();
handles.remove(originalHandle);
String newTabHandle = handles.iterator().next();

driver.switchTo().window(newTabHandle);
System.out.println(driver.getCurrentUrl());

A https://example.com

B Throws NoSuchWindowException

C about:blank

D https://google.com

💡 Hint

Remember that window.open with '_blank' opens a new tab with the given URL.

The code opens a new tab with URL 'https://google.com' and switches to it. Printing current URL after switching shows 'https://google.com'.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Which assertion correctly verifies the number of open windows after opening a new tab?

After opening a new tab using Selenium WebDriver, you want to assert that exactly two windows/tabs are open. Which assertion is correct?

Selenium Java

driver.get("https://example.com");
((JavascriptExecutor)driver).executeScript("window.open('https://google.com','_blank');");
Set<String> handles = driver.getWindowHandles();

A assertEquals(2, handles.size());

B assertTrue(handles.size() == 1);

C assertFalse(handles.size() > 2);

D assertEquals(1, handles.size());

💡 Hint

Count of window handles increases by one after opening a new tab.

Opening a new tab adds one window handle, so total handles become 2. The assertion must check for size 2.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this Selenium Java code fail to switch to the new tab?

Identify the reason why the following code fails to switch to the newly opened tab.

Selenium Java

driver.get("https://example.com");
((JavascriptExecutor)driver).executeScript("window.open('https://google.com','_blank');");
String newTabHandle = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().window(newTabHandle);
System.out.println(driver.getCurrentUrl());

A driver.switchTo().window() requires an integer index, not a string

B driver.getWindowHandle() returns the original window handle, not the new tab handle

C JavaScriptExecutor cannot open new tabs

D window.open does not open a new tab in Selenium

💡 Hint

Check what getWindowHandle() returns after opening a new tab.

getWindowHandle() returns the current window handle, which is still the original window. To switch to the new tab, you must get all handles and find the new one.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

What is the best practice to close a newly opened tab and return to the original window?

After opening a new tab and switching to it, you want to close the new tab and switch back to the original window. Which sequence is correct?

A driver.quit(); driver.switchTo().window(originalHandle);

B driver.switchTo().window(originalHandle); driver.close();

C driver.close(); driver.switchTo().window(originalHandle);

D driver.close(); driver.quit();

💡 Hint

Close the current tab first, then switch back to the original window.

driver.close() closes the current tab. After closing, you must switch back to the original window handle to continue.

❓ framework

expert

In a Selenium Java test framework, how to reliably wait for a new tab to open before switching?

You want to wait until a new tab opens after clicking a link that opens a new tab. Which approach is best to wait for the new tab handle before switching?

A Use WebDriverWait with ExpectedCondition that waits until window handles size is greater than original count

B Use Thread.sleep(5000) to wait 5 seconds before switching

C Immediately call driver.switchTo().window(newTabHandle) without waiting

D Use driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(10, TimeUnit.SECONDS) to wait for new tab

💡 Hint

Waiting for a condition is better than fixed sleep or implicit wait for new tabs.

WebDriverWait with a custom ExpectedCondition checking window handles size ensures the new tab is opened before switching, making tests reliable.

Practice

1. Which Selenium Java command is used to open a new browser tab?

easy

A. driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB)

B. driver.openNewTab()

C. driver.createTab()

D. driver.newWindow(Tab)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Selenium's new window/tab creation

   Selenium provides a method driver.switchTo().newWindow() to open new tabs or windows.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct WindowType for a tab

   Using WindowType.TAB opens a new tab, which matches driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB).

3. Final Answer:

   driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Open new tab = driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB) [OK]

Hint: Use driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB) for new tabs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using non-existent methods like driver.openNewTab()
• Confusing WindowType.WINDOW with TAB
• Trying to create tabs without switchTo()

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to open a new browser window in Selenium Java?

easy

A. driver.newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);

B. driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);

C. driver.switchTo().openWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);

D. driver.openNewWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct method to open new windows

   The correct method is driver.switchTo().newWindow() with a WindowType argument.

2. Step 2: Match the exact syntax

   driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW); matches the correct syntax exactly with WindowType.WINDOW.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW); -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Open new window = driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW) [OK]

Hint: Use switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW) to open new windows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting switchTo() before newWindow()
• Using incorrect method names like openWindow()
• Missing semicolon in Java syntax

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

driver.get("https://example.com");
String originalHandle = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
System.out.println(driver.getCurrentUrl());
driver.switchTo().window(originalHandle);
System.out.println(driver.getCurrentUrl());

medium

A. https://selenium.dev
https://selenium.dev

B. https://example.com
https://selenium.dev

C. https://selenium.dev
https://example.com

D. https://example.com
https://example.com

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand window handles and tab switching

   The code opens example.com, saves the original window handle, then opens a new tab and navigates to selenium.dev.

2. Step 2: Analyze the printed URLs

   First print shows the URL of the new tab (selenium.dev). Then it switches back to the original window and prints its URL (example.com).

3. Final Answer:

   https://selenium.dev https://example.com -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Switch tabs = different URLs printed [OK]

Hint: Switching tabs changes current URL output [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming URLs remain the same after switching tabs
• Not saving original window handle before opening new tab
• Confusing getWindowHandle() with getWindowHandles()

4. Identify the error in the following Selenium Java code snippet that tries to open a new tab:

driver.get("https://example.com");
driver.newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");

medium

A. No error, code is correct

B. WindowType.TAB is invalid

C. driver.get() cannot be used after newWindow()

D. Missing driver.switchTo() before newWindow()

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method usage for opening new tabs

   The method newWindow() must be called after driver.switchTo().

2. Step 2: Identify the missing part in the code

   The code calls driver.newWindow() directly, which is incorrect syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing driver.switchTo() before newWindow() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Always use switchTo().newWindow() [OK]

Hint: Always use driver.switchTo() before newWindow() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling newWindow() directly on driver
• Confusing WindowType.TAB as invalid
• Thinking driver.get() is restricted after newWindow()

5. You want to open a new tab, navigate to a URL, then switch back to the original tab and verify its title. Which code snippet correctly does this in Selenium Java?

hard

A. String original = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
driver.switchTo().window(original);
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

B. driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
String original = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().window(original);
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

C. String original = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
driver.switchTo().window(original);
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

D. driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.switchTo().window(original);
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

Solution

1. Step 1: Save original window handle before opening new tab

   We must save the original window handle before opening a new tab to switch back later.

2. Step 2: Open new tab, navigate, then switch back and assert title

   String original = driver.getWindowHandle(); driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB); driver.get("https://selenium.dev"); driver.switchTo().window(original); assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example"); correctly calls switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB), navigates, switches back using saved handle, and asserts title.

3. Final Answer:

   Option A code snippet correctly performs all steps -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Save handle, open tab, switch back, assert [OK]

Hint: Save handle before new tab, switch back to assert [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Saving window handle after opening new tab
• Calling newWindow() without switchTo()
• Not switching back before assertion