Date picker strategies in Selenium Java - Build an Automation Script

Select a specific date using a date picker widget

Preconditions (2)

Step 1: Click on the date picker input field to open the calendar widget

Step 2: Navigate to the desired month and year if not visible

Step 3: Select the specific date (e.g., 15th of the current month)

Step 4: Verify that the date picker input field shows the selected date in the correct format

✅ Expected Result: The date picker input field displays the selected date correctly after selection

Automation Requirements - Selenium WebDriver with Java

Assertions Needed:

Verify the date picker input field value matches the selected date

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits to wait for the date picker widget to be visible

Use meaningful locators (id, name, or CSS selectors) instead of brittle XPath

Encapsulate date picker interactions in a Page Object method

Avoid hardcoded waits like Thread.sleep()

Automated Solution

Selenium Java

import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebElement;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.support.ui.ExpectedConditions;
import org.openqa.selenium.support.ui.WebDriverWait;
import java.time.Duration;

public class DatePickerTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "path/to/chromedriver");
        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
        WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, Duration.ofSeconds(10));

        try {
            driver.get("https://example.com/date-picker");

            // Locate the date picker input field by id
            WebElement dateInput = wait.until(ExpectedConditions.elementToBeClickable(By.id("datePickerInput")));

            // Click to open the date picker widget
            dateInput.click();

            // Wait for the calendar widget to be visible
            WebElement calendarWidget = wait.until(ExpectedConditions.visibilityOfElementLocated(By.id("calendarWidget")));

            // Navigate to the desired month and year if needed
            // For simplicity, assume current month is correct

            // Select the 15th day
            WebElement day15 = calendarWidget.findElement(By.xpath(".//td[@data-day='15']"));
            day15.click();

            // Verify the input field value is updated to 15th (format: yyyy-MM-dd)
            String selectedDate = dateInput.getAttribute("value");
            if (!selectedDate.equals("2024-06-15")) {
                throw new AssertionError("Date picker input value mismatch. Expected: 2024-06-15, Found: " + selectedDate);
            }

            System.out.println("Test Passed: Date selected correctly.");

        } finally {
            driver.quit();
        }
    }
}

This test script uses Selenium WebDriver with Java to automate selecting a date from a date picker widget.

First, it opens the web page and waits until the date picker input field is clickable. Then it clicks the input to open the calendar widget and waits for the calendar to appear.

It selects the 15th day by locating the calendar cell with a data attribute for day 15. After clicking the date, it verifies that the input field's value matches the expected date string.

Explicit waits ensure elements are ready before interacting, avoiding flaky tests. Using meaningful locators like id and data attributes makes the test more stable. The test ends by closing the browser.

Common Mistakes - 3 Pitfalls

Using Thread.sleep() instead of explicit waits

Using brittle absolute XPath locators for date cells

{'mistake': 'Not verifying the input field value after selecting the date', 'why_bad': 'Without verification, the test does not confirm the date was actually selected.', 'correct_approach': "Add assertions to check the input field's value matches the expected date format."}

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing to select three different dates: 5th, 15th, and 25th of the current month.

Show Hint

Practice

1. What is the main reason to use a date picker in a web form during testing?

easy

A. To speed up page loading time

B. To allow users to select a date easily and avoid manual input errors

C. To change the website's theme colors

D. To validate user passwords

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of a date picker

   A date picker helps users select dates without typing, reducing errors.

2. Step 2: Identify the testing goal

   Testing ensures the date picker works correctly and inputs valid dates.

3. Final Answer:

   To allow users to select a date easily and avoid manual input errors -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Date picker purpose = Easy date selection [OK]

Hint: Date pickers help avoid typing mistakes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing date picker with unrelated UI elements
• Thinking date picker changes page speed
• Assuming date picker validates passwords

2. Which Selenium Java code snippet correctly clicks a date picker input field using its id 'dateInput'?

easy

A. driver.findElement(By.tagName("dateInput")).click();

B. driver.findElement(By.name("dateInput")).click();

C. driver.findElement(By.className("dateInput")).click();

D. driver.findElement(By.id("dateInput")).click();

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the locator strategy for id

   Use By.id("dateInput") to find element by its id attribute.

2. Step 2: Use click() method on the found element

   Calling click() simulates user clicking the date picker input.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.findElement(By.id("dateInput")).click(); -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use By.id for id attribute [OK]

Hint: Use By.id for id locators in Selenium [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using By.name when id is given
• Using By.className incorrectly
• Using By.tagName with id value

3. Given this Selenium Java code snippet, what will be the output if the date picker input's value is set correctly?

WebElement dateInput = driver.findElement(By.id("dateInput"));
dateInput.click();
dateInput.sendKeys("2024-07-15");
String selectedDate = dateInput.getAttribute("value");
System.out.println(selectedDate);

medium

A. 2024/07/15

B. null

C. 2024-07-15

D. Date picker not found

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand sendKeys sets input value

   sendKeys("2024-07-15") inputs the date string into the field.

2. Step 2: getAttribute("value") retrieves the current input value

   This returns the exact string typed, which is "2024-07-15".

3. Final Answer:

   2024-07-15 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   sendKeys sets value, getAttribute reads it [OK]

Hint: sendKeys sets input, getAttribute("value") reads it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting formatted date different from input
• Assuming getText() returns input value
• Confusing null with empty string

4. You wrote this Selenium Java code to select a date but the test fails with NoSuchElementException:

driver.findElement(By.xpath("//input[@id='dateInput']")).sendKeys("2024-12-01");

What is the most likely cause and fix?

medium

A. The date picker input is inside an iframe; switch to iframe before accessing it

B. The xpath syntax is incorrect; use By.id instead

C. sendKeys cannot be used on input fields

D. The date format "2024-12-01" is invalid

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand NoSuchElementException means element not found

   This often happens if element is inside an iframe or not visible yet.

2. Step 2: Check if date picker is inside iframe and switch context

   Switching to iframe with driver.switchTo().frame(...) allows access to elements inside it.

3. Final Answer:

   The date picker input is inside an iframe; switch to iframe before accessing it -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Switch to iframe to find elements inside [OK]

Hint: Check if element is inside iframe before locating [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming xpath is always wrong
• Thinking sendKeys can't be used on inputs
• Blaming date format for element not found

5. You want to select a date 10 days from today using Selenium Java on a date picker that only allows clicking days (no typing). Which strategy is best?

hard

A. Calculate the target date, open the date picker, then click the day button matching that date

B. Use sendKeys to type the date string directly into the input field

C. Reload the page and hope the default date is correct

D. Use JavaScript to set the input value without clicking

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate the date 10 days from today in Java

   Use LocalDate.now().plusDays(10) to get the target date.

2. Step 2: Open the date picker and click the day matching the target date

   Locate the day button by text or attribute and click it to select.

3. Final Answer:

   Calculate the target date, open the date picker, then click the day button matching that date -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Click matching day for pickers without typing [OK]

Hint: Click the correct day button after calculating date [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to type date when input disallows it
• Ignoring date calculation and clicking wrong day
• Using JavaScript to set value without UI interaction