Getting element attributes in Selenium Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this Selenium Python code snippet?

Consider the following Selenium code that fetches an attribute from a web element. What will be printed?

Selenium Python

from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.webdriver import WebDriver

class DummyDriver:
    def find_element(self, by, value):
        class DummyElement:
            def get_attribute(self, attr):
                if attr == 'href':
                    return 'https://example.com'
                return None
        return DummyElement()

driver = DummyDriver()
element = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'link')
print(element.get_attribute('href'))

A https://example.com

B None

C AttributeError

D '' (empty string)

💡 Hint

The get_attribute method returns the value of the attribute if it exists, otherwise None.

The DummyElement's get_attribute method returns 'https://example.com' when asked for 'href'. So the print statement outputs that string.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Which assertion correctly verifies the 'title' attribute of a web element?

You want to check that a web element's 'title' attribute equals 'Submit Button'. Which assertion is correct?

Selenium Python

title_value = element.get_attribute('title')

A assert title_value == 'Submit Button'

B assert element.get_attribute('title') is 'Submit Button'

C assert title_value.equals('Submit Button')

D assert title_value = 'Submit Button'

💡 Hint

Use '==' to compare strings in Python, not 'is' or '='.

Option A uses the correct equality operator '==' to compare strings. Option A uses 'is' which checks identity, not equality. Option A uses a method that doesn't exist for strings. Option A uses assignment '=' inside assert which is invalid syntax.

❓ locator

advanced

Which locator strategy is best to get an element by its 'data-test-id' attribute?

You want to find an element with attribute data-test-id='login-btn'. Which locator is correct and follows best practices?

A driver.find_element(By.XPATH, '//*[@data-test-id="login-btn"]')

B driver.find_element(By.ID, 'login-btn')

C driver.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, '[data-test-id="login-btn"]')

D driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, 'login-btn')

💡 Hint

Use CSS selectors for custom attributes with quotes.

Option C correctly uses CSS selector with attribute selector and quotes. Option C looks for an ID which is different. Option C now correctly includes quotes around the attribute value to avoid XPath error. Option C looks for a class name which is unrelated.

🔧 Debug

advanced

What error does this Selenium code raise?

What error will this code raise when trying to get an attribute?

Selenium Python

element = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'submit')
value = element.get_attribute()

A None

B AttributeError: 'WebElement' object has no attribute 'get_attribute'

C NoSuchElementException

D TypeError: get_attribute() missing 1 required positional argument: 'name'

💡 Hint

Check the method signature for get_attribute.

get_attribute requires one argument: the attribute name. Calling it without arguments causes a TypeError.

❓ framework

expert

In a pytest Selenium test, which fixture usage correctly retrieves an element's attribute for assertion?

Given a pytest fixture 'driver' that provides a Selenium WebDriver instance, which test function correctly asserts the 'alt' attribute of an image element?

Selenium Python

import pytest
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By

@pytest.fixture
def driver():
    # returns a WebDriver instance
    pass

def test_image_alt_attribute(driver):
    element = driver.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, 'img')
    alt_text = element.get_attribute('alt')
    # assertion here

A assert alt_text = 'Company Logo'

B assert alt_text == 'Company Logo'

C assert alt_text.equals('Company Logo')

D assert element.get_attribute('alt') is 'Company Logo'

💡 Hint

Use '==' for string comparison in assertions.

Option B correctly asserts string equality. Option B uses 'is' which checks identity, not equality. Option B uses a non-existent method. Option B uses assignment inside assert which is invalid.

Practice

1. What does the Selenium method get_attribute('href') do when called on a web element?

easy

A. It sets the 'href' attribute to a new value.

B. It clicks the element if it has an 'href' attribute.

C. It returns the value of the 'href' attribute of the element.

D. It deletes the 'href' attribute from the element.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of get_attribute

   The method get_attribute is used to read the value of a specified attribute from a web element.

2. Step 2: Apply to 'href' attribute

   When called with 'href', it returns the URL or value assigned to the 'href' attribute of that element.

3. Final Answer:

   It returns the value of the 'href' attribute of the element. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   get_attribute('href') = attribute value [OK]

Hint: Remember: get_attribute reads, does not change attributes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking get_attribute changes or clicks elements
• Confusing get_attribute with set_attribute
• Expecting get_attribute to remove attributes

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to get the 'class' attribute of a web element stored in variable element using Selenium in Python?

easy

A. element.getAttribute('class')

B. element.get_attribute('class')

C. element.getattribute('class')

D. element.getattr('class')

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct method name in Selenium Python

   The correct method to get an attribute is get_attribute with an underscore, all lowercase.

2. Step 2: Check method spelling and case

   element.get_attribute('class') uses get_attribute('class'), which matches the correct syntax exactly.

3. Final Answer:

   element.get_attribute('class') -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Correct method name = get_attribute [OK]

Hint: Use underscore: get_attribute, not camelCase [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using camelCase like getAttribute
• Misspelling method names
• Using non-existent methods like getattr

3. Given the following code snippet:

element = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'submit-btn')
value = element.get_attribute('type')
print(value)

If the HTML is <button id='submit-btn' type='submit'>Send</button>, what will be printed?

medium

A. submit

B. None

C. Send

D. button

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the element and attribute

   The element is a button with id 'submit-btn' and attribute type='submit'.

2. Step 2: Understand get_attribute('type') output

   Calling get_attribute('type') returns the string 'submit' as that is the attribute's value.

3. Final Answer:

   submit -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   get_attribute('type') = 'submit' [OK]

Hint: get_attribute returns attribute value exactly as in HTML [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing inner text with attribute value
• Expecting tag name instead of attribute
• Assuming None if attribute exists

4. You wrote this code:

element = driver.find_element(By.NAME, 'email')
email_value = element.get_attribute('value')
print(email_value)

But the print shows None even though the input field has a value. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The input field's value is set by JavaScript and not as an attribute.

B. The element was not found and element is None.

C. The attribute name 'value' is misspelled in get_attribute.

D. get_attribute cannot read 'value' attributes.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand difference between attribute and property

   Sometimes input values are set dynamically by JavaScript and not reflected as HTML attributes.

2. Step 2: Recognize get_attribute reads HTML attributes only

   get_attribute('value') reads the attribute, but if value is set dynamically, it may return None.

3. Final Answer:

   The input field's value is set by JavaScript and not as an attribute. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Dynamic values may not appear as attributes [OK]

Hint: Dynamic input values may not be in attributes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming get_attribute reads live input value always
• Not checking if element was found
• Misspelling attribute names

5. You want to verify that a checkbox is checked by reading its 'checked' attribute using Selenium in Python. The checkbox HTML is:

<input type='checkbox' id='agree' checked>

Which code snippet correctly checks if the checkbox is checked?

hard

A. is_checked = element.get_attribute('checked') == True

B. is_checked = element.get_attribute('checked') == 'false'

C. is_checked = element.get_attribute('checked') == 'checked'

D. is_checked = element.get_attribute('checked') is not None

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand how 'checked' attribute works in HTML

   The 'checked' attribute is present without a value when the checkbox is checked.

2. Step 2: Check attribute presence with get_attribute

   In Selenium, get_attribute('checked') returns 'true' if the checkbox is checked, None if unchecked.

3. Step 3: Use presence check for 'checked'

   Since the attribute is present without value, checking if get_attribute('checked') is not None confirms it is checked.

4. Final Answer:

   is_checked = element.get_attribute('checked') is not None -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Presence of 'checked' attribute means checked [OK]

Hint: Check if get_attribute('checked') is not None for checked boxes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Comparing to 'false' or 'checked' strings incorrectly
• Using boolean True instead of string or None
• Ignoring attribute presence vs value