Maximize and Minimize Browser Window

Preconditions (3)

Step 1: Open the browser using Selenium WebDriver

Step 2: Maximize the browser window

Step 3: Verify the browser window is maximized

Step 4: Minimize the browser window

Step 5: Verify the browser window is minimized

Step 6: Close the browser

✅ Expected Result: The browser window should maximize and minimize successfully, and the verifications should confirm these states.

Automation Requirements - Selenium with Python

Assertions Needed:

Verify window is maximized after maximize command

Verify window is minimized after minimize command

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits if needed

Use WebDriver's window management methods

Close the browser at the end of the test

Use try-finally to ensure browser closes even if test fails

Automated Solution

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.service import Service
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options
import time

# Setup Chrome options
options = Options()
options.add_argument('--disable-infobars')

# Setup WebDriver service
service = Service()
driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=service, options=options)

try:
    # Open browser
    driver.get('https://www.example.com')

    # Maximize window
    driver.maximize_window()
    time.sleep(1)  # Wait a moment for the window to maximize

    # Verify maximize by checking window size is close to screen size
    window_size = driver.get_window_size()
    screen_width = driver.execute_script('return screen.width')
    screen_height = driver.execute_script('return screen.height')

    assert window_size['width'] >= screen_width * 0.9, f"Window width {window_size['width']} is less than 90% of screen width {screen_width}"
    assert window_size['height'] >= screen_height * 0.9, f"Window height {window_size['height']} is less than 90% of screen height {screen_height}"

    # Minimize window
    driver.minimize_window()
    time.sleep(1)  # Wait a moment for the window to minimize

    # Verify minimize by checking window is not visible or size is very small
    # Selenium does not provide direct API to check minimized state,
    # so we check window size is very small or zero
    minimized_size = driver.get_window_size()
    assert minimized_size['width'] < 100, f"Window width {minimized_size['width']} is not small after minimize"
    assert minimized_size['height'] < 100, f"Window height {minimized_size['height']} is not small after minimize"

finally:
    # Close browser
    driver.quit()

This script uses Selenium WebDriver with Python to automate maximizing and minimizing the browser window.

First, it opens the browser and navigates to a website.

Then it maximizes the window using driver.maximize_window() and verifies the window size is close to the screen size by comparing widths and heights.

Next, it minimizes the window using driver.minimize_window(). Since Selenium does not provide a direct way to check if the window is minimized, it verifies by checking the window size is very small.

Finally, it closes the browser in a finally block to ensure cleanup even if assertions fail.

Short time.sleep() calls are used to allow the window state to update before verification.

Common Mistakes - 4 Pitfalls

Not closing the browser after the test

Using hardcoded window sizes to verify maximize/minimize

Not waiting briefly after maximize or minimize before checking size

Trying to verify minimize state by checking window visibility

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing with 3 different URLs to open before maximizing and minimizing

Show Hint