Page title and URL retrieval in Selenium Python - Build an Automation Script

Verify page title and URL after navigation

Preconditions (2)

Step 1: Open the browser using Selenium WebDriver

Step 2: Navigate to 'https://example.com'

Step 3: Retrieve the page title

Step 4: Retrieve the current URL

Step 5: Verify the page title is exactly 'Example Domain'

Step 6: Verify the current URL is exactly 'https://example.com/'

Step 7: Close the browser

✅ Expected Result: The page title matches 'Example Domain' and the URL matches 'https://example.com/' exactly.

Automation Requirements - Selenium with Python

Assertions Needed:

Assert that the page title equals 'Example Domain'

Assert that the current URL equals 'https://example.com/'

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits if needed (though not required here as page loads quickly)

Use Selenium's By selectors properly

Close the browser in a finally block or use context management

Keep code readable and simple

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 TestPageTitleAndURL(unittest.TestCase):
    def setUp(self):
        options = Options()
        options.add_argument('--headless')  # Run in headless mode for testing
        self.driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=Service(), options=options)

    def test_title_and_url(self):
        self.driver.get('https://example.com')
        title = self.driver.title
        current_url = self.driver.current_url
        self.assertEqual(title, 'Example Domain', f"Expected title 'Example Domain' but got '{title}'")
        self.assertEqual(current_url, 'https://example.com/', f"Expected URL 'https://example.com/' but got '{current_url}'")

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

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

The setUp method initializes the Chrome WebDriver in headless mode to run tests without opening a visible browser window.

The test_title_and_url method navigates to 'https://example.com', retrieves the page title and current URL, then asserts both match the expected values exactly.

The tearDown method ensures the browser closes after the test, freeing resources.

This structure uses Python's unittest framework for clear setup, test, and cleanup phases, making the test reliable and easy to maintain.

Common Mistakes - 3 Pitfalls

Not closing the browser after the test

{'mistake': 'Using hardcoded sleeps instead of waiting for page load', 'why_bad': 'Hardcoded waits slow down tests and can cause flaky results if the page loads faster or slower than expected.', 'correct_approach': "Use Selenium's built-in waits or rely on page load completion before assertions."}

Checking title or URL with partial matches or contains

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing with 3 different URLs and their expected titles

Show Hint

Practice

1. Which Selenium WebDriver property is used to get the title of the current web page?

easy

A. driver.current_url

B. driver.page_source

C. driver.title

D. driver.get_title()

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of driver.title

   The driver.title property returns the title of the current page as a string.

2. Step 2: Compare with other properties

   driver.page_source returns the HTML source, driver.current_url returns the URL, and driver.get_title() is not a valid method in Selenium Python.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.title -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Page title = driver.title [OK]

Hint: Use driver.title to get page title quickly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing driver.title with driver.current_url
• Using driver.get_title() which does not exist
• Trying to get title from page_source

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to get the current page URL in Selenium Python?

easy

A. url = driver.current_url

B. url = driver.get_current_url()

C. url = driver.url()

D. url = driver.getUrl

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the property for current URL

   In Selenium Python, driver.current_url is a property that returns the current page URL as a string.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   driver.get_current_url(), driver.url(), and driver.getUrl use invalid method names or syntax. Only url = driver.current_url is correct without parentheses.

3. Final Answer:

   url = driver.current_url -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Current URL = driver.current_url [OK]

Hint: Remember current_url is a property, not a method [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding parentheses to current_url like a method
• Using incorrect method names like get_current_url()
• Trying to access URL via driver.url()

3. What will be the output of the following code snippet if the browser is currently on the page with title "Welcome Page" and URL "https://example.com/home"?

print(driver.title)
print(driver.current_url)

medium

A. Welcome Page
https://example.com/home

B. https://example.com/home
Welcome Page

C. driver.title
driver.current_url

D. Error: driver.title and driver.current_url are methods

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what driver.title returns

   driver.title returns the page title string, here "Welcome Page".

2. Step 2: Understand what driver.current_url returns

   driver.current_url returns the current URL string, here "https://example.com/home".

3. Final Answer:

   Welcome Page https://example.com/home -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Title then URL printed correctly [OK]

Hint: driver.title prints title; driver.current_url prints URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping title and URL order in output
• Thinking driver.title/current_url are methods needing ()
• Expecting variable names printed instead of values

4. You wrote the code below to print the page title and URL, but it raises an AttributeError. What is the mistake?

print(driver.get_title())
print(driver.get_current_url())

medium

A. You must import get_title and get_current_url from selenium

B. driver.get_title() and driver.get_current_url() are not valid methods in Selenium Python

C. driver.title and driver.current_url are not accessible properties

D. driver.title and driver.current_url need parentheses

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method existence in Selenium Python

   There are no methods named get_title() or get_current_url() in Selenium Python WebDriver.

2. Step 2: Use correct properties

   The correct way is to use driver.title and driver.current_url without parentheses as they are properties, not methods.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.get_title() and driver.get_current_url() are not valid methods in Selenium Python -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use properties, not get_ methods [OK]

Hint: Use driver.title and driver.current_url properties, no () [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling driver.title() or driver.current_url() as methods
• Trying to import non-existent get_title functions
• Confusing Selenium Python with other language APIs

5. You want to verify that after navigating to "https://example.com/login", the page title is exactly "Login Page" and the URL contains "/login". Which code snippet correctly performs these checks using Selenium Python?

hard

A. assert driver.title == "Login Page" or driver.current_url == "/login"

B. assert driver.title() == "Login Page" and driver.current_url() == "/login"

C. assert driver.get_title() == "Login Page" and driver.get_current_url() == "/login"

D. assert driver.title == "Login Page" and "/login" in driver.current_url

Solution

1. Step 1: Use correct properties and operators

   Use driver.title to get the page title and driver.current_url to get the URL. Use == to check exact title and 'in' to check substring in URL.

2. Step 2: Understand assertion logic

   Use 'and' to ensure both conditions are true. assert driver.title == "Login Page" or driver.current_url == "/login" uses 'or' which passes if only one condition is true, not both.

3. Final Answer:

   assert driver.title == "Login Page" and "/login" in driver.current_url -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use properties and 'and' for combined checks [OK]

Hint: Use assert with driver.title and 'in' for URL substring [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling title or current_url as methods
• Using 'or' instead of 'and' in assertions
• Checking URL equality instead of substring