Typing text (send_keys) in Selenium Python

Introduction

Typing text into input fields is a common action in web testing to simulate user input.

Filling out a login form with username and password.

Entering search terms in a search box on a website.

Typing data into a form field during automated form submission tests.

Simulating user input to test validation messages.

Automating repetitive data entry tasks in web applications.

Syntax

Selenium Python

element.send_keys('text to type')

element is the web element you want to type into, found using locators.

send_keys simulates keyboard typing into that element.

Examples

Types 'Selenium testing' into the search box found by its ID.

Selenium Python

search_box = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'search')
search_box.send_keys('Selenium testing')

Types 'user123' into the username input field found by its name attribute.

Selenium Python

username_field = driver.find_element(By.NAME, 'username')
username_field.send_keys('user123')

Types 'mypassword' into the password field found by CSS selector.

Selenium Python

password_field = driver.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, 'input[type="password"]')
password_field.send_keys('mypassword')

Sample Program

This script opens a login page, types a username and password into input fields, then checks if the text was entered correctly. It prints a success message if all is well.

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.service import Service
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options
import time

# Setup Chrome driver (adjust path as needed)
options = Options()
options.add_argument('--headless')  # Run in headless mode
service = Service()
driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=service, options=options)

try:
    driver.get('https://www.example.com/login')

    # Locate username and password fields
    username = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'username')
    password = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'password')

    # Type text into fields
    username.send_keys('testuser')
    password.send_keys('securepass')

    # Verify typed text (get attribute 'value')
    assert username.get_attribute('value') == 'testuser', 'Username input failed'
    assert password.get_attribute('value') == 'securepass', 'Password input failed'

    print('Test passed: Text typed correctly')
finally:
    driver.quit()

Important Notes

Always locate elements using reliable locators like ID or name for stability.

Use get_attribute('value') to verify the text typed into input fields.

Remember to close the browser with driver.quit() to free resources.

Summary

send_keys types text into web elements like input boxes.

Use it to simulate user typing in automated tests.

Verify typed text by checking the element's value attribute.