Switching between windows in Selenium Java - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

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 window and switches to it. What will be the value of currentTitle after execution?

Selenium Java

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get("https://example.com");
String originalWindow = driver.getWindowHandle();
// Assume a new window is opened here
for (String windowHandle : driver.getWindowHandles()) {
    if (!windowHandle.equals(originalWindow)) {
        driver.switchTo().window(windowHandle);
        break;
    }
}
String currentTitle = driver.getTitle();

A Throws NoSuchWindowException

B "" (empty string)

C null

D "Example Domain"

💡 Hint

Remember that switching to the new window changes the driver's context to that window, and getTitle() returns the page title of the current window.

The code switches to the new window handle and then gets the title of that window. Since the new window loads "https://example.com", the title is "Example Domain".

❓ assertion

intermediate

Which assertion correctly verifies the switch to a new window?

You have switched to a new window in Selenium Java. Which assertion correctly checks that the driver is no longer on the original window?

Selenium Java

String originalWindow = driver.getWindowHandle();
// code to open and switch to new window
String currentWindow = driver.getWindowHandle();

A assertNotEquals(originalWindow, currentWindow);

B assertEquals(originalWindow, currentWindow);

C assertTrue(originalWindow.contains(currentWindow));

D assertNull(currentWindow);

💡 Hint

After switching, the current window handle should be different from the original.

The assertion assertNotEquals(originalWindow, currentWindow); confirms that the driver has switched to a different window.

❓ locator

advanced

Which locator strategy is best to find the button that opens a new window?

You want to locate a button that opens a new browser window. The button has the text "Open Window" and a unique id "openWindowBtn". Which locator is best practice in Selenium Java?

A By.className("openWindowBtn")

B By.xpath("//button[text()='Open Window']")

C By.id("openWindowBtn")

D By.cssSelector("button#openWindowBtn")

💡 Hint

Using unique ids is the most reliable and fastest locator.

Locating by id is preferred when the id is unique and stable. It is faster and less brittle than XPath or class selectors.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this Selenium Java code throw NoSuchWindowException?

Examine the code below. It throws NoSuchWindowException. What is the most likely cause?

Selenium Java

String originalWindow = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().window("nonexistentWindowHandle");
// further code

A The driver has not been initialized properly.

B The window handle "nonexistentWindowHandle" does not exist in the current session.

C The browser does not support multiple windows.

D The switchTo() method requires a WebElement, not a window handle.

💡 Hint

Check if the window handle you are switching to is valid and present.

The exception occurs because the code tries to switch to a window handle that the driver does not recognize or that does not exist.

❓ framework

expert

In a Selenium Java test framework, how to reliably switch back to the original window after multiple window switches?

You have a test that opens multiple windows and switches between them. What is the best practice to switch back to the original window at the end of the test?

A Store the original window handle at the start and call driver.switchTo().window(originalWindowHandle) when needed.

B Call driver.close() on all windows except the current one to return to the original.

C Use driver.switchTo().defaultContent() to switch back to the original window.

D Restart the WebDriver session to reset to the original window.

💡 Hint

Remember that defaultContent() switches frames, not windows.

The best practice is to save the original window handle at the start and switch back to it explicitly when needed. Closing windows or restarting the driver is inefficient or incorrect.