Find element by partial link text in Selenium Python - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does 'Find element by partial link text' mean in Selenium?

It means locating a web page link element by matching part of its visible text, not the full text. This helps when the full link text is long or dynamic.

beginner

How do you find an element by partial link text in Selenium Python?

Use driver.find_element(By.PARTIAL_LINK_TEXT, 'text') where 'text' is part of the link's visible text.

intermediate

Why might you prefer partial link text over full link text for locating elements?

Partial link text is useful when the full link text changes often or is too long. It makes tests more flexible and less fragile.

beginner

Write a simple Selenium Python code snippet to click a link containing 'Learn More'.

from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By

link = driver.find_element(By.PARTIAL_LINK_TEXT, 'Learn More')
link.click()

intermediate

What happens if multiple links contain the same partial text when using find_element(By.PARTIAL_LINK_TEXT)?

Selenium returns the first matching element it finds in the page source order. To handle multiple matches, use find_elements to get all.

Which Selenium method finds a link by part of its visible text?

A find_element(By.ID, 'text')

B find_element(By.LINK_TEXT, 'text')

C find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, 'text')

D find_element(By.PARTIAL_LINK_TEXT, 'text')

Partial link text locator matches part of the link's visible text.

What does Selenium return if multiple links match the partial link text?

A The first matching element

B All matching elements

C An error

D No elements

find_element returns the first matching element found.

Why use partial link text instead of full link text?

A To locate elements faster

B Because full link text is deprecated

C To handle dynamic or long link texts

D To find elements by ID

Partial link text helps when full text changes or is too long.

Which import is needed to use By.PARTIAL_LINK_TEXT in Selenium Python?

A from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By

B import selenium.webdriver as webdriver

C from selenium import By

D import By from selenium.webdriver

By is imported from selenium.webdriver.common.by.

What is the correct syntax to click a link with partial text 'Help'?

A driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, 'Help').click()

B driver.find_element(By.PARTIAL_LINK_TEXT, 'Help').click()

C driver.find_element(By.ID, 'Help').click()

D driver.find_element(By.LINK_TEXT, 'Help').click()

Partial link text locator with click() clicks the link.

Explain how to find and click a link using partial link text in Selenium Python.

Think about the steps from import to action.

Describe the advantages and limitations of using partial link text as a locator.

Consider both benefits and what to watch out for.

Practice

1. What does the Selenium method find_element_by_partial_link_text do?

easy

A. Finds a link element containing the specified partial text.

B. Finds any element with the exact text match.

C. Finds elements by their HTML tag name.

D. Finds elements by their CSS class name.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the method purpose

   The method find_element_by_partial_link_text searches for <a> elements that contain the given text partially.

2. Step 2: Compare with other locator methods

   Unlike exact text match or tag name search, this method matches any link containing the partial text.

3. Final Answer:

   Finds a link element containing the specified partial text. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Partial link text = Finds links with partial text [OK]

Hint: Partial link text finds links by part of their visible text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing partial link text with exact text match
• Using it on non-link elements
• Expecting it to find by attribute instead of visible text

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to find a link containing the text "Login" using Selenium in Python?

easy

A. driver.find_element_by_partial_link_text['Login']

B. driver.find_element_by_partial_link_text(Login)

C. driver.find_element_by_partial_link_text("Login")

D. driver.find_element_by_partial_link_text{Login}

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method usage and argument format

   The method requires a string argument inside parentheses and quotes, like "Login".

2. Step 2: Validate Python syntax

   driver.find_element_by_partial_link_text("Login") uses correct parentheses and quotes. Options A, B, and D have syntax errors or wrong brackets.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.find_element_by_partial_link_text("Login") -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Correct method call uses parentheses and quotes [OK]

Hint: Use parentheses and quotes for string argument in method call [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting quotes around the string
• Using square or curly brackets instead of parentheses
• Passing variable without quotes

3. What will the following code print if the page has a link with text "Click here to Login"?

element = driver.find_element_by_partial_link_text("Login")
print(element.text)

medium

A. NoSuchElementException

B. Login

C. Click here

D. Click here to Login

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand partial link text matching

   The method finds the first link containing "Login" anywhere in its visible text.

2. Step 2: Check what element.text returns

   It returns the full visible text of the found link, which is "Click here to Login".

3. Final Answer:

   Click here to Login -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Partial match finds full link text [OK]

Hint: Partial link text finds full link text, not just the partial part [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting only the partial text to print
• Assuming it throws exception if partial matches
• Confusing element.text with attribute values

4. Given this code snippet, what is the error and how to fix it?

element = driver.find_element_by_partial_link_text(Login)
print(element.text)

medium

A. SyntaxError due to missing parentheses; fix by adding parentheses

B. NameError because Login is not quoted; fix by adding quotes: "Login"

C. NoSuchElementException because partial link text is incorrect

D. TypeError because find_element_by_partial_link_text expects int

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the error in argument usage

   The argument Login is not in quotes, so Python treats it as a variable, causing NameError.

2. Step 2: Correct the argument to a string

   Wrap Login in quotes like "Login" to pass a string literal.

3. Final Answer:

   NameError because Login is not quoted; fix by adding quotes: "Login" -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   String arguments need quotes [OK]

Hint: Always quote string arguments in Selenium locators [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting quotes around string literals
• Assuming partial link text accepts variables without quotes
• Misreading error type as syntax error

5. You want to click a link that contains either "Sign" or "Register" in its text. Which approach correctly finds and clicks the link using Selenium in Python?

hard

A. Try finding by partial link text "Sign" first, if not found, then try "Register".

B. Use find_element_by_partial_link_text("Sign or Register") to find either.

C. Use CSS selector to find links containing "Sign" or "Register" text.

D. Use find_element_by_link_text("Sign Register") to find combined text.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand partial link text limitation

   The method matches only one partial string at a time; it cannot match multiple alternatives in one call.

2. Step 2: Implement fallback logic

   Try finding link with "Sign" first; if not found, catch exception and try "Register" next.

3. Final Answer:

   Try finding by partial link text "Sign" first, if not found, then try "Register". -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Partial link text matches one string; use fallback for multiple options [OK]

Hint: Try partial link texts one by one for multiple options [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'or' inside partial link text string
• Expecting one call to match multiple partial texts
• Using link_text instead of partial_link_text for partial matches