Getting element text in Selenium Python - Build an Automation Script

Verify the text content of a specific element on the webpage

Preconditions (3)

Step 1: Open the web browser

Step 2: Navigate to the test webpage URL 'https://example.com/welcome'

Step 3: Locate the element with id 'welcome-message'

Step 4: Read the text content of this element

Step 5: Compare the text content with the expected text 'Welcome to Example.com!'

✅ Expected Result: The text content of the element with id 'welcome-message' is exactly 'Welcome to Example.com!'

Automation Requirements - Selenium with Python

Assertions Needed:

Assert that the text retrieved from the element with id 'welcome-message' matches 'Welcome to Example.com!'

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits to wait for the element to be present before accessing text

Use By.ID locator strategy for locating the element

Use assert statements for verification

Close the browser after test execution

Automated Solution

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC

def test_get_element_text():
    driver = webdriver.Chrome()
    try:
        driver.get('https://example.com/welcome')
        wait = WebDriverWait(driver, 10)
        element = wait.until(EC.presence_of_element_located((By.ID, 'welcome-message')))
        text = element.text
        assert text == 'Welcome to Example.com!', f"Expected text 'Welcome to Example.com!' but got '{text}'"
    finally:
        driver.quit()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    test_get_element_text()

This script opens the Chrome browser and navigates to the specified URL.

It waits explicitly up to 10 seconds for the element with id 'welcome-message' to appear.

Once found, it retrieves the text content of that element.

Then it asserts that the text matches the expected string exactly.

Finally, it closes the browser to clean up.

This approach ensures the test waits properly and uses clear assertions for validation.

Common Mistakes - 4 Pitfalls

Using time.sleep() instead of explicit waits

{'mistake': 'Using incorrect locator like By.CLASS_NAME with a wrong class', 'why_bad': "The element won't be found, causing NoSuchElementException.", 'correct_approach': 'Use By.ID with the exact id value for reliable element location.'}

Not closing the browser after test

Comparing element.text with partial or incorrect expected text

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing with 3 different element IDs and their expected texts

Show Hint

Practice

1. What does the .text property do in Selenium when used on a web element?

easy

A. It retrieves the visible text inside the element on the webpage.

B. It clicks the element on the webpage.

C. It returns the HTML code of the element.

D. It clears the text inside an input field.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of .text

   The .text property in Selenium is used to get the visible text content from a web element.

2. Step 2: Compare with other actions

   Clicking, returning HTML, or clearing text are different actions and not related to .text.

3. Final Answer:

   It retrieves the visible text inside the element on the webpage. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   .text gets visible text [OK]

Hint: Remember: .text always gets visible text from element [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing .text with .click() method
• Expecting .text to return HTML code
• Using .text to clear input fields

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

easy

A. element.getText()

B. element.text()

C. element.get_text()

D. element.text

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Selenium Python syntax for text retrieval

   In Selenium Python, the visible text of an element is accessed using the property .text without parentheses.

2. Step 2: Check other options for correctness

   getText() and get_text() are not valid in Selenium Python. text() with parentheses is incorrect because text is a property, not a method.

3. Final Answer:

   element.text -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use property .text without parentheses [OK]

Hint: Use element.text without () to get text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding parentheses after .text
• Using Java-style getText() in Python
• Using incorrect method names like get_text()

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

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

# Assume driver is already initialized and page loaded
button = driver.find_element(By.ID, "submit-btn")
print(button.text)

Assuming the button on the page shows the label "Submit Form", what will be printed?

medium

A. "submit-btn"

B. An empty string ""

C. "Submit Form"

D. Raises NoSuchElementException

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate element and get text

   The code finds the element with ID "submit-btn" and prints its visible text using .text.

2. Step 2: Understand what .text returns

   The visible label on the button is "Submit Form", so button.text returns this string.

3. Final Answer:

   "Submit Form" -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Element text matches visible label [OK]

Hint: Text property prints visible label, not element ID [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting element ID instead of visible text
• Assuming empty string if element found
• Confusing element attribute with text

4. You wrote this code to get text from a web element:

element_text = driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, "title").text()

But it raises an error. What is the problem?

medium

A. Using parentheses after .text which is a property, not a method.

B. Incorrect locator strategy; CLASS_NAME is invalid.

C. Missing import for By class.

D. The element with class "title" does not exist.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check usage of .text property

   In Selenium Python, .text is a property and should not have parentheses. Using .text() causes a TypeError.

2. Step 2: Verify other options

   CLASS_NAME is a valid locator, imports are assumed correct, and element existence is not guaranteed but error is about syntax here.

3. Final Answer:

   Using parentheses after .text which is a property, not a method. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use .text without () to avoid errors [OK]

Hint: Remember: .text is a property, no parentheses [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling .text as a method with ()
• Confusing locator validity
• Assuming missing imports cause this error

5. You want to verify that a paragraph with id "info" contains the exact text "Welcome to the site!". Which Selenium Python assertion is correct to check this?

hard

A. assert driver.find_element(By.ID, "info").getText() == "Welcome to the site!"

B. assert driver.find_element(By.ID, "info").text == "Welcome to the site!"

C. assert driver.find_element(By.ID, "info").text() == "Welcome to the site!"

D. assert driver.find_element(By.ID, "info").get_text == "Welcome to the site!"

Solution

1. Step 1: Use correct property to get text

   In Selenium Python, use .text property without parentheses to get visible text.

2. Step 2: Write assertion correctly

   The assertion compares the text property to the expected string exactly.

3. Step 3: Identify incorrect options

   getText() and get_text are invalid in Selenium Python; text() with parentheses is wrong.

4. Final Answer:

   assert driver.find_element(By.ID, "info").text == "Welcome to the site!" -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Use .text property in assertion without () [OK]

Hint: Assert with .text property, no parentheses [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using .text() with parentheses in assertion
• Using Java-style getText() method
• Using get_text property which doesn't exist