Action methods in page class in Selenium Python - Build an Automation Script

Login to the web application using action methods in page class

Preconditions (2)

Step 1: Open the browser and navigate to 'https://example.com/login'

Step 2: Enter 'testuser' in the username input field

Step 3: Enter 'Test@1234' in the password input field

Step 4: Click the login button

Step 5: Wait for the dashboard page to load

✅ Expected Result: User is successfully logged in and the dashboard page URL contains '/dashboard'

Automation Requirements - Selenium with Python

Assertions Needed:

Verify the current URL contains '/dashboard' after login

Verify the login button is clickable before clicking

Verify username and password fields are present before entering text

Best Practices:

Use a Page Object Model with action methods encapsulating interactions

Use explicit waits to wait for elements to be interactable

Use Selenium's By locators with descriptive names

Keep test logic separate from page interaction logic

Automated Solution

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC

class LoginPage:
    def __init__(self, driver):
        self.driver = driver
        self.username_input = (By.ID, 'username')
        self.password_input = (By.ID, 'password')
        self.login_button = (By.ID, 'loginBtn')

    def enter_username(self, username: str):
        WebDriverWait(self.driver, 10).until(
            EC.visibility_of_element_located(self.username_input)
        ).clear()
        self.driver.find_element(*self.username_input).send_keys(username)

    def enter_password(self, password: str):
        WebDriverWait(self.driver, 10).until(
            EC.visibility_of_element_located(self.password_input)
        ).clear()
        self.driver.find_element(*self.password_input).send_keys(password)

    def click_login(self):
        WebDriverWait(self.driver, 10).until(
            EC.element_to_be_clickable(self.login_button)
        ).click()


def test_login():
    driver = webdriver.Chrome()
    driver.get('https://example.com/login')

    login_page = LoginPage(driver)
    login_page.enter_username('testuser')
    login_page.enter_password('Test@1234')
    login_page.click_login()

    WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(
        EC.url_contains('/dashboard')
    )

    assert '/dashboard' in driver.current_url, 'Dashboard URL not found after login'

    driver.quit()

This script uses Selenium with Python to automate the login process.

The LoginPage class is a page object that holds locators and action methods for the login page. Each method waits explicitly for the element to be ready before interacting with it. This avoids timing issues.

The test_login function opens the browser, navigates to the login page, and uses the page object's methods to enter username and password, then click login.

After clicking login, it waits until the URL contains '/dashboard' to confirm successful login, then asserts this condition.

Finally, the browser is closed with driver.quit().

This structure keeps test steps clear and separates page details from test logic, following best practices.

Common Mistakes - 3 Pitfalls

Using hardcoded sleeps like time.sleep() instead of explicit waits

Locating elements inside test functions instead of page class

Not verifying elements are present or clickable before interacting

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing with 3 different username and password combinations

Show Hint

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of action methods in a page class in Selenium Python?

easy

A. To perform tasks like clicking or typing on web page elements

B. To store test data separately from test scripts

C. To generate reports after test execution

D. To configure browser settings before tests

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what action methods do

   Action methods are designed to perform user-like actions such as clicking buttons or typing text on web elements.

2. Step 2: Identify the role of action methods in page classes

   They help keep test code clean by encapsulating these actions inside the page class, making tests easier to read and reuse.

3. Final Answer:

   To perform tasks like clicking or typing on web page elements -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Action methods = perform tasks on elements [OK]

Hint: Action methods do things on page elements, like clicks or typing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing action methods with data storage
• Thinking action methods generate reports
• Believing action methods configure browsers

2. Which of the following is the correct way to define an action method that clicks a button using Selenium Python inside a page class?

easy

A. def click_button(): driver.find_element(By.ID, 'btn').click()

B. def click_button(self): self.driver.find_element('btn').click()

C. def click_button(self): find_element(By.ID, 'btn').click()

D. def click_button(self): self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'btn').click()

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method signature and usage of self

   Inside a class, methods must have self as the first parameter to access instance variables like driver.

2. Step 2: Verify correct locator usage

   Using By.ID with the driver.find_element method is the correct way to locate elements in Selenium Python.

3. Final Answer:

   def click_button(self): self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'btn').click() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Method with self and correct locator = def click_button(self): self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'btn').click() [OK]

Hint: Always include self and use By.ID for locators [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting self parameter in method
• Using find_element without driver or self
• Passing locator as string without By.ID

3. Given the following page class method, what will be the output if the button with ID 'submit' is not present on the page?

def click_submit(self):
    self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'submit').click()
    return 'Clicked'

medium

A. 'Clicked' will be returned

B. selenium.common.exceptions.NoSuchElementException will be raised

C. No output, test will silently pass

D. 'submit' string will be printed

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what happens when element is missing

   If the element with ID 'submit' is not found, Selenium raises NoSuchElementException immediately.

2. Step 2: Check method return behavior

   The return 'Clicked' only happens after the click succeeds, so it won't be reached if exception occurs.

3. Final Answer:

   selenium.common.exceptions.NoSuchElementException will be raised -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Missing element causes NoSuchElementException [OK]

Hint: Missing element causes exception, no return happens [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming method returns 'Clicked' even if element missing
• Thinking test passes silently without error
• Confusing exception with printed output

4. Identify the error in this action method and choose the correct fix:

def enter_text(self, text):
    input_box = self.driver.find_element(By.NAME, 'username')
    input_box.sendkeys(text)

medium

A. Change 'sendkeys' to 'send_keys' to fix the method call

B. Replace 'By.NAME' with 'By.ID' to locate the element correctly

C. Add 'self' parameter to the method definition

D. Use 'find_elements' instead of 'find_element' to get multiple elements

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method call spelling

   The correct Selenium method to send text is 'send_keys', not 'sendkeys'. This typo causes an AttributeError.

2. Step 2: Verify other parts of the method

   The method has self parameter and uses By.NAME correctly, so no changes needed there.

3. Final Answer:

   Change 'sendkeys' to 'send_keys' to fix the method call -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct method name is send_keys [OK]

Hint: Selenium method is send_keys, not sendkeys [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Misspelling send_keys method
• Changing locator type unnecessarily
• Removing self parameter incorrectly

5. You want to create an action method in your page class that selects an option from a dropdown by visible text. Which of the following is the best implementation?

hard

A. def select_option(self, text):
self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'menu').click()
self.driver.find_element(By.XPATH, f'//option[text()="{text}"]').click()

B. def select_option(self, text):
dropdown = self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'menu')
dropdown.select_by_visible_text(text)

C. def select_option(self, text):
dropdown = Select(self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'menu'))
dropdown.select_by_visible_text(text)

D. def select_option(self, text):
self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'menu').send_keys(text)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand how to handle dropdowns in Selenium Python

   Selenium provides a Select class to handle dropdowns, which must be initialized with the dropdown element.

2. Step 2: Check each option for correct usage

   def select_option(self, text): dropdown = Select(self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'menu')) dropdown.select_by_visible_text(text) correctly creates a Select object and calls select_by_visible_text. def select_option(self, text): dropdown = self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'menu') dropdown.select_by_visible_text(text) tries to call select_by_visible_text directly on a WebElement, which is invalid. def select_option(self, text): self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'menu').click() self.driver.find_element(By.XPATH, f'//option[text()="{text}"]').click() manually clicks options but is less clean. def select_option(self, text): self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'menu').send_keys(text) uses send_keys which may not work reliably.

3. Final Answer:

   def select_option(self, text): dropdown = Select(self.driver.find_element(By.ID, 'menu')) dropdown.select_by_visible_text(text) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use Select class for dropdowns [OK]

Hint: Use Select class to pick dropdown options by visible text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling select_by_visible_text on WebElement directly
• Not importing or using Select class
• Using send_keys instead of Select for dropdowns