XPath with contains and starts-with in Selenium Python - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the XPath function contains() do?

The contains() function checks if an element's attribute or text contains a specific substring. It helps find elements partially matching a value.

beginner

How does starts-with() differ from contains() in XPath?

starts-with() checks if an attribute or text begins with a specific substring, while contains() checks if the substring appears anywhere.

beginner

Write an XPath using <code>contains()</code> to find a button with class containing 'submit'.

<code>//button[contains(@class, 'submit')]</code> finds any <code>&lt;button&gt;</code> element whose class attribute includes 'submit' anywhere.

beginner

Write an XPath using starts-with() to find an input with id starting with 'user'.

//input[starts-with(@id, 'user')] finds any <input> element whose id attribute starts exactly with 'user'.

intermediate

Why use contains() or starts-with() instead of exact matches in XPath?

They help locate elements when attribute values change slightly or have dynamic parts, making tests more flexible and less brittle.

Which XPath function finds elements whose attribute contains a substring anywhere?

A contains()

B starts-with()

C ends-with()

D equals()

contains() checks if the attribute or text includes the substring anywhere.

What does starts-with(@id, 'btn') select?

A Elements with id exactly 'btn'

B Elements with id starting with 'btn'

C Elements with id containing 'btn' anywhere

D Elements with id ending with 'btn'

starts-with() matches attributes that begin with the given substring.

Which XPath is correct to find a div with class containing 'active'?

A //div[contains(text(), 'active')]

B //div[starts-with(@class, 'active')]

C //div[@class='active']

D //div[contains(@class, 'active')]

contains(@class, 'active') finds any div whose class includes 'active' anywhere.

Why prefer contains() over exact match in dynamic web pages?

A Because attribute values may change slightly

B Because exact matches find more elements

C Because contains() is deprecated

D Because exact matches are faster

Dynamic pages may change attribute values, so partial matching with contains() is more reliable.

Which is NOT a valid XPath function?

A contains()

B starts-with()

C ends-with()

D text()

ends-with() is not a standard XPath function; use other methods to simulate it.

Explain how to use contains() and starts-with() in XPath to locate web elements.

Think about partial matching of attribute values.

Describe why using contains() or starts-with() can make Selenium tests more robust.

Consider how web pages change over time.

Practice

1. Which XPath function would you use to find an element whose id attribute contains the text "submit" anywhere inside it?

easy

A. starts-with(@id, 'submit')

B. contains(@id, 'submit')

C. ends-with(@id, 'submit')

D. equals(@id, 'submit')

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the contains() function

   The contains() function checks if an attribute or text includes a specific substring anywhere inside it.

2. Step 2: Apply contains() to the id attribute

   Using contains(@id, 'submit') finds elements where the id attribute has 'submit' anywhere in its value.

3. Final Answer:

   contains(@id, 'submit') -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   contains() = substring anywhere [OK]

Hint: Use contains() to match substring anywhere in attribute [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using starts-with() when substring is not at start
• Using ends-with() which is not supported in XPath 1.0
• Using equals() which requires exact match

2. Which of the following is the correct XPath syntax to select elements whose class attribute starts with "btn-"?

easy

A. //element[@class^='btn-']

B. //element[contains(@class, 'btn-')]

C. //element[starts-with(@class, 'btn-')]

D. //element[@class*='btn-']

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct function for 'starts with'

   The starts-with() function is used to check if an attribute value begins with a specific substring.

2. Step 2: Check XPath syntax

   The correct syntax is //element[starts-with(@class, 'btn-')]. Options C and D use invalid XPath syntax for this purpose.

3. Final Answer:

   //element[starts-with(@class, 'btn-')] -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   starts-with() = prefix match [OK]

Hint: Use starts-with() for prefix matching in XPath [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using contains() instead of starts-with() for prefix
• Using CSS selector syntax like ^= or *= in XPath
• Missing parentheses in function call

3. What will be the result of this XPath query?

//div[contains(text(), 'Error') and starts-with(@class, 'alert-')]

Assuming the HTML contains:

<div class="alert-danger">Error: Invalid input</div>
<div class="alert-success">Success</div>
<div class="message-error">Error occurred</div>

medium

A. Selects only the div with class 'alert-danger'

B. Selects no elements

C. Selects all div elements containing 'Error'

D. Selects the first and second div elements

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze contains(text(), 'Error')

   This matches div elements whose visible text includes 'Error'. The first and third divs contain 'Error'.

2. Step 2: Analyze starts-with(@class, 'alert-')

   This matches div elements whose class attribute starts with 'alert-'. The first and second divs match this.

3. Step 3: Combine both conditions with AND

   Only the first div satisfies both: text contains 'Error' and class starts with 'alert-'.

4. Final Answer:

   Selects only the div with class 'alert-danger' -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   AND filters to first div only [OK]

Hint: AND requires both conditions true for selection [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming contains() matches attribute instead of text
• Ignoring the starts-with() condition
• Selecting all divs with 'Error' ignoring class prefix

4. You wrote this XPath to find buttons starting with "save":

//button[contains(@id, 'save-')]

But it also matches buttons with id "disable-save". How to fix it?

medium

A. //button[starts-with(@id, 'save-')]

B. //button[contains(text(), 'save-')]

C. //button[@id='save-']

D. //button[ends-with(@id, 'save-')]

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand why contains() matches unwanted ids

   contains(@id, 'save-') matches any id containing 'save-' anywhere, including 'disable-save'.

2. Step 2: Use starts-with() to match only ids beginning with 'save-'

   starts-with(@id, 'save-') ensures only ids starting exactly with 'save-' are matched.

3. Final Answer:

   //button[starts-with(@id, 'save-')] -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   starts-with() fixes unwanted matches [OK]

Hint: Use starts-with() to avoid partial matches inside strings [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using contains() when prefix match is needed
• Using ends-with() which XPath 1.0 does not support
• Matching text() instead of attribute

5. You want to select all <a> elements where the href attribute starts with "https://" and the link text contains "Learn". Which XPath expression correctly does this?

hard

A. //a[contains(@href, 'https://') and contains(text(), 'Learn')]

B. //a[contains(text(), 'https://') and starts-with(@href, 'Learn')]

C. //a[starts-with(text(), 'Learn') and contains(@href, 'https://')]

D. //a[starts-with(@href, 'https://') and contains(text(), 'Learn')]

Solution

1. Step 1: Match href attribute starting with 'https://'

   Use starts-with(@href, 'https://') to ensure href begins exactly with 'https://'.

2. Step 2: Match link text containing 'Learn'

   Use contains(text(), 'Learn') to find links whose visible text includes 'Learn' anywhere.

3. Step 3: Combine both conditions with AND

   Both conditions must be true, so use and between them.

4. Final Answer:

   //a[starts-with(@href, 'https://') and contains(text(), 'Learn')] -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   starts-with() + contains() combined correctly [OK]

Hint: Combine starts-with() for attribute and contains() for text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using contains() for href prefix instead of starts-with()
• Swapping text() and attribute in functions
• Using starts-with() on text when contains() is needed