Back, forward, and refresh in Selenium Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output after navigating back in Selenium?

Consider the following Selenium Python code snippet. What will be the current URL printed after executing driver.back()?

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.service import Service
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
import time

service = Service()
driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=service)
driver.get('https://example.com/page1')
driver.get('https://example.com/page2')
driver.back()
print(driver.current_url)
driver.quit()

A https://example.com/page2

B https://example.com/page3

C https://example.com

D https://example.com/page1

💡 Hint

The back() method navigates to the previous page in the browser history.

After navigating to page1 and then page2, calling driver.back() returns the browser to page1, so current_url is https://example.com/page1.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Which assertion correctly verifies page refresh in Selenium?

You want to verify that refreshing the page reloads the same URL. Which assertion correctly checks this after calling driver.refresh()?

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.service import Service

service = Service()
driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=service)
driver.get('https://example.com')
url_before = driver.current_url
driver.refresh()
url_after = driver.current_url

# Which assertion below is correct?

A assert url_before == url_after

B assert url_before != url_after

C assert driver.title == 'Refreshed Page'

D assert driver.current_url == 'https://example.com/refresh'

💡 Hint

Refreshing reloads the same page, so URL should not change.

After refresh, the URL remains the same, so url_before and url_after should be equal.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this Selenium code not navigate when calling driver.forward()?

Examine the code below. Why does calling driver.forward() not navigate forward?

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.service import Service

service = Service()
driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=service)
driver.get('https://example.com/page1')
driver.forward()

A Because driver.forward() is deprecated and removed in Selenium 4

B Because driver.forward() requires a URL argument

C Because there is no forward history to navigate to

D Because driver.forward() must be called before driver.get()

💡 Hint

Think about browser history and when forward navigation is possible.

driver.forward() moves forward in browser history. Since no forward page exists after first navigation, calling it does nothing.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

What is the effect of calling driver.back() twice in Selenium?

If you navigate through three pages in order: page1, page2, page3, then call driver.back() twice, which page will be displayed?

A page2

B page1

C page3

D An error occurs because back() can only be called once

💡 Hint

Each back() moves one step back in browser history.

Starting at page3, first back() goes to page2, second back() goes to page1.

❓ framework

expert

Which Selenium Python code snippet correctly waits for page refresh to complete before asserting URL?

You want to refresh the page and then assert the URL is unchanged. Which code snippet correctly waits for the page to reload before asserting?

A

from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC

url_before = driver.current_url
driver.refresh()
WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(EC.url_to_be(url_before))
assert driver.current_url == url_before

B

url_before = driver.current_url
driver.refresh()
time.sleep(1)
assert driver.current_url == url_before

C

url_before = driver.current_url
driver.refresh()
assert driver.current_url == url_before

D

url_before = driver.current_url
driver.refresh()
WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(EC.title_contains('Refreshed'))
assert driver.current_url == url_before

💡 Hint

Use explicit waits to ensure page reload completes before assertions.

Option A uses WebDriverWait with expected condition url_to_be to wait until the URL matches the expected one after refresh, ensuring the page reload is complete before asserting.

Practice

1. What does the driver.back() command do in Selenium?

easy

A. It refreshes the current page.

B. It navigates the browser to the previous page in history.

C. It navigates the browser to the next page in history.

D. It closes the browser window.

Solution

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

   This command simulates clicking the browser's back button, which moves to the previous page in the browser history.

2. Step 2: Compare with other navigation commands

   driver.forward() moves forward, driver.refresh() reloads the page, and closing the browser is done by driver.close().

3. Final Answer:

   It navigates the browser to the previous page in history. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Back button = driver.back() [OK]

Hint: Back means previous page in history [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing back() with refresh()
• Thinking back() closes the browser
• Mixing back() with forward()

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to refresh the current page using Selenium WebDriver in Python?

easy

A. driver.reload()

B. driver.page_refresh()

C. driver.navigate().refresh()

D. driver.refresh()

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Selenium WebDriver refresh syntax in Python

   The correct method to refresh the page is driver.refresh().

2. Step 2: Identify incorrect options

   driver.reload() and driver.page_refresh() do not exist in Selenium Python API. driver.navigate().refresh() is Java syntax, not Python.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.refresh() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Refresh page = driver.refresh() [OK]

Hint: Use driver.refresh() to reload current page [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using Java syntax in Python code
• Trying non-existent methods like reload()
• Confusing refresh with back or forward

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

driver.get('https://example.com/page1')
driver.get('https://example.com/page2')
driver.back()
current_url = driver.current_url
print(current_url)

medium

A. https://example.com/page2

B. Error: No such element

C. https://example.com/page1

D. https://example.com/home

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand navigation commands

   The code first opens page1, then page2, then goes back to the previous page using driver.back().

2. Step 2: Determine current URL after back()

   After going back, the browser is on page1, so driver.current_url returns 'https://example.com/page1'.

3. Final Answer:

   https://example.com/page1 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Back goes to previous page URL [OK]

Hint: Back returns to last visited URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming current URL stays on page2
• Confusing back() with refresh()
• Expecting an error instead of URL

4. Identify the error in this Selenium Python code snippet:

driver.get('https://example.com')
driver.back
print(driver.current_url)

medium

A. Missing parentheses after back method call

B. driver.get() is incorrect syntax

C. print statement should be print(driver.url)

D. driver.back() should be called before driver.get()

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method call syntax

   driver.back is missing parentheses, so it does not execute the method.

2. Step 2: Verify other parts

   driver.get() is correct, driver.current_url is the right property, and order of calls is valid.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing parentheses after back method call -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Method calls need () in Python [OK]

Hint: Always add () to call methods like back() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting parentheses on method calls
• Using wrong property for URL
• Misordering navigation commands

5. You want to test that your web app correctly reloads data when the user refreshes the page. Which Selenium Python sequence best simulates this behavior?

hard

A. driver.get(url); driver.refresh(); verify data reload

B. driver.get(url); driver.back(); verify data reload

C. driver.get(url); driver.forward(); verify data reload

D. driver.get(url); driver.close(); verify data reload

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the test goal

   The goal is to check if data reloads on page refresh, so the test must refresh the current page.

2. Step 2: Match commands to behavior

   driver.refresh() reloads the page. driver.back() and driver.forward() navigate history, not refresh. driver.close() closes the browser, not reload.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.get(url); driver.refresh(); verify data reload -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Refresh page = driver.refresh() [OK]

Hint: Use driver.refresh() to simulate page reload [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using back() or forward() instead of refresh()
• Closing browser instead of refreshing
• Not verifying after refresh