Date picker strategies in Selenium Java - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of Selenium code selecting a date

What will be the output of this Selenium Java code snippet when selecting a date from a date picker widget?

Selenium Java

WebElement dateInput = driver.findElement(By.id("datePicker"));
dateInput.click();
WebElement dateToSelect = driver.findElement(By.xpath("//td[@data-date='2024-06-15']"));
dateToSelect.click();
String selectedDate = dateInput.getAttribute("value");
System.out.println(selectedDate);

A 2024-06-15

B null

C 2024/06/15

D Throws NoSuchElementException

💡 Hint

Check how the date is stored in the input field after selection.

The code clicks the date input, then clicks the date cell with data-date attribute '2024-06-15'. The input's value attribute updates to '2024-06-15', so printing it outputs that string.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Correct assertion to verify date selection

Which assertion correctly verifies that the date '2024-12-25' is selected in the date picker input field?

Selenium Java

WebElement dateInput = driver.findElement(By.id("datePicker"));
String selectedDate = dateInput.getAttribute("value");

A assertEquals(selectedDate, "2024-12-25");

B assertTrue(selectedDate.contains("12-25-2024"));

C assertNotNull(selectedDate);

D assertFalse(selectedDate.isEmpty());

💡 Hint

Check the exact expected date format in the input value.

The input's value attribute stores the date as 'YYYY-MM-DD'. The assertion must check exact equality to confirm the correct date is selected.

❓ locator

advanced

Best locator for dynamic date picker day cell

Given a date picker where day cells have dynamic classes but a stable data-date attribute in 'YYYY-MM-DD' format, which locator is best to select the day '2024-11-05'?

A By.cssSelector("td.day[data-date='2024-11-05']")

B By.className("day-2024-11-05")

C By.id("day-2024-11-05")

D By.xpath("//td[@data-date='2024-11-05']")

💡 Hint

Focus on stable attributes that do not change dynamically.

The data-date attribute is stable and unique for each day cell. Using XPath to select by this attribute is reliable. Class names and IDs are dynamic or not guaranteed.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Debugging date picker selection failure

A test script fails to select a date in a date picker. The code is: WebElement dateInput = driver.findElement(By.id("datePicker")); dateInput.sendKeys("2024-07-20"); Why might this fail to select the date properly?

A The element with id 'datePicker' is not interactable.

B The date format '2024-07-20' is invalid for sendKeys.

C The date picker requires clicking the calendar UI, sendKeys does not trigger selection events.

D sendKeys is deprecated for date inputs.

💡 Hint

Think about how date pickers update their internal state.

Many date pickers require user interaction with the calendar UI to update internal state and trigger events. sendKeys may set the input value but not trigger these events, causing selection failure.

❓ framework

expert

Designing a reusable date picker selection method

You want to create a reusable Selenium Java method to select any date in a date picker widget that uses a calendar UI with data-date attributes. Which method signature and approach is best?

A

public void selectDate(String date) {
  driver.findElement(By.id("datePicker")).sendKeys(date);
}

B

public void selectDate(LocalDate date) {
  driver.findElement(By.id("datePicker")).click();
  String dateStr = date.toString();
  driver.findElement(By.xpath("//td[@data-date='" + dateStr + "']")).click();
}

C

public void selectDate(int year, int month, int day) {
  driver.findElement(By.id("datePicker")).click();
  driver.findElement(By.xpath("//td[@data-year='" + year + "' and @data-month='" + month + "' and text()='" + day + "']")).click();
}

D

public void selectDate(String date) {
  driver.findElement(By.cssSelector("input.date-picker")).clear();
  driver.findElement(By.cssSelector("input.date-picker")).sendKeys(date);
}

💡 Hint

Consider maintainability and triggering UI events properly.

Option B uses a LocalDate parameter for type safety, clicks the input to open the calendar, then clicks the day cell by data-date attribute, ensuring UI events trigger properly. Other options rely on sendKeys or less stable locators.