Opening URLs (get) in Selenium Python - Build an Automation Script

Open a web page using Selenium WebDriver

Preconditions (3)

Step 1: Launch the browser using Selenium WebDriver

Step 2: Navigate to the URL 'https://example.com' using the get() method

Step 3: Verify that the browser has loaded the page by checking the current URL

✅ Expected Result: The browser opens and loads the page at 'https://example.com'. The current URL matches 'https://example.com'.

Automation Requirements - selenium

Assertions Needed:

Verify the current URL is exactly 'https://example.com'

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits if needed (not required here since get() waits for page load)

Use By locators only when interacting with elements (not needed here)

Close the browser after test to free resources

Automated Solution

Selenium Python

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

class TestOpenURL(unittest.TestCase):
    def setUp(self):
        options = Options()
        options.add_argument('--headless')  # Run browser in headless mode
        service = Service()  # Assumes chromedriver is in PATH
        self.driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=service, options=options)

    def test_open_example_com(self):
        url = 'https://example.com'
        self.driver.get(url)
        current_url = self.driver.current_url
        self.assertEqual(current_url, url, f"Expected URL to be {url} but got {current_url}")

    def tearDown(self):
        self.driver.quit()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main()

This test uses Python's unittest framework and Selenium WebDriver.

setUp(): Initializes Chrome browser in headless mode to run without opening a window. It uses Service() assuming chromedriver is in PATH.

test_open_example_com(): Calls get() with the URL 'https://example.com'. Then it checks the current URL matches exactly using assertEqual. This confirms the page loaded correctly.

tearDown(): Closes the browser after the test to free resources.

This structure is clear and follows best practices: setup, test, teardown. The assertion is simple and direct.

Common Mistakes - 3 Pitfalls

Not closing the browser after the test

{'mistake': 'Using time.sleep() instead of relying on get() to wait for page load', 'why_bad': 'Unnecessary waits slow tests and are unreliable for page load timing.', 'correct_approach': "Selenium's get() waits for the page to load, so explicit waits or sleeps are not needed here."}

Checking page content before verifying URL

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing to open three different URLs and verify each loads correctly.

Show Hint

Practice

1. What does the Selenium command driver.get(url) do in a test script?

easy

A. It refreshes the current page.

B. It opens the specified URL in the browser controlled by Selenium.

C. It closes the browser window.

D. It finds an element on the page.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of driver.get(url)

   This command tells Selenium to open a web page at the given URL in the browser it controls.

2. Step 2: Compare with other commands

   Closing the browser is done by driver.quit(), refreshing by driver.refresh(), and finding elements by driver.find_element().

3. Final Answer:

   It opens the specified URL in the browser controlled by Selenium. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   driver.get(url) opens URL [OK]

Hint: Remember: get() means open URL in browser [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing get() with close() or quit()
• Thinking get() refreshes the page
• Assuming get() finds elements

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to open the URL "https://example.com" using Selenium WebDriver in Python?

easy

A. driver.open("https://example.com")

B. driver.navigate("https://example.com")

C. driver.get("https://example.com")

D. driver.load_url("https://example.com")

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct method to open a URL

   The Selenium WebDriver method to open a URL is get(), used as driver.get(url).

2. Step 2: Check the syntax of each option

   Only driver.get("https://example.com") uses the correct method name and syntax. The others use invalid method names.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.get("https://example.com") -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Correct method is get() [OK]

Hint: Use driver.get() to open URLs, not open() or navigate() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using driver.open() instead of driver.get()
• Forgetting to put URL in quotes
• Using incorrect method names

3. What will happen when the following Selenium Python code runs?

from selenium import webdriver

driver = webdriver.Chrome()
driver.get("https://www.google.com")
print(driver.title)
driver.quit()

medium

A. It opens Google homepage, prints the page title, then closes the browser.

B. It throws a syntax error because of missing parentheses.

C. It opens the browser but does not navigate to any page.

D. It opens Google homepage but does not close the browser.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the code step-by-step

   The code creates a Chrome browser instance, opens Google's homepage with get(), prints the page title, then closes the browser with quit().

2. Step 2: Check for errors or missing parts

   All syntax is correct, and the browser is properly closed at the end.

3. Final Answer:

   It opens Google homepage, prints the page title, then closes the browser. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   driver.get() opens URL, driver.quit() closes browser [OK]

Hint: driver.get() opens URL; driver.quit() closes browser [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to call driver.quit() to close browser
• Assuming print(driver.title) prints URL
• Confusing syntax errors with correct code

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

from selenium import webdriver

driver = webdriver.Firefox()
driver.get("www.example.com")
driver.quit()

medium

A. The get() method requires two arguments.

B. webdriver.Firefox() is not a valid WebDriver.

C. driver.quit() should be called before driver.get().

D. The URL is missing the protocol (http:// or https://).

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the URL format in driver.get()

   The URL "www.example.com" lacks the protocol prefix like "http://" or "https://", which is required for Selenium to open it correctly.

2. Step 2: Verify other parts of the code

   webdriver.Firefox() is valid, driver.quit() is correctly placed after get(), and get() takes only one argument.

3. Final Answer:

   The URL is missing the protocol (http:// or https://). -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   URL must include protocol [OK]

Hint: Always include http:// or https:// in URLs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting protocol in URL
• Calling quit() before get()
• Thinking get() needs multiple arguments

5. You want to write a Selenium test that opens two URLs one after another in the same browser session. Which code snippet correctly does this?

hard

A. driver.get("https://first.com")
driver.get("https://second.com")
driver.quit()

B. driver.get("https://first.com")
driver.quit()
driver.get("https://second.com")

C. driver.open("https://first.com")
driver.get("https://second.com")
driver.quit()

D. driver.navigate("https://first.com")
driver.navigate("https://second.com")
driver.quit()

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand how to open multiple URLs in one session

   Calling driver.get() multiple times in a row opens each URL sequentially in the same browser window.

2. Step 2: Check each option for correctness

   driver.get("https://first.com") driver.get("https://second.com") driver.quit() correctly calls get() twice before quitting. driver.get("https://first.com") driver.quit() driver.get("https://second.com") quits before second get(), which closes browser early. Options A and C use invalid methods.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.get("https://first.com") driver.get("https://second.com") driver.quit() -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Multiple get() calls open URLs sequentially [OK]

Hint: Use multiple driver.get() calls before driver.quit() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling driver.quit() before opening all URLs
• Using invalid methods like open() or navigate()
• Assuming get() opens new tabs automatically