Action methods in page class in Selenium Python - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is an action method in a page class?

An action method is a function inside a page class that performs a user action on the web page, like clicking a button or entering text.

beginner

Why do we use action methods in page classes?

We use action methods to keep test code clean and reusable by separating page interactions from test logic.

beginner

Example of an action method to click a login button in Python Selenium:

def click_login(self): self.driver.find_element(*self.login_button).click()

intermediate

How should locators be used inside action methods?

Locators should be defined as class variables and used inside action methods to find elements. This keeps locators organized and easy to update.

beginner

What is a good practice when naming action methods?

Name action methods clearly to describe the user action, like 'enter_username' or 'submit_form', so tests are easy to read.

What does an action method in a page class usually do?

A Configure browser settings

B Store test data

C Perform a user interaction on the web page

D Generate test reports

Action methods perform user interactions like clicks or typing on the web page.

Where should locators be defined in a page class?

A As class variables

B Inside action methods

C In the test script

D In the test report

Locators should be class variables to keep them organized and reusable.

Which is a good name for an action method that types a password?

A password_input

B enter_password

C click_password

D password_field

Action methods should be named with verbs describing the action, like 'enter_password'.

Why separate action methods from test logic?

A To keep code clean and reusable

B To make tests harder to read

C To make tests slower

D To avoid using locators

Separating action methods keeps code clean and makes it easier to reuse.

Which is NOT an example of an action method?

A select_country

B enter_username

C click_submit_button

D calculate_sum

'calculate_sum' is not a user action on the page, so it is not an action method.

Explain what an action method is and why it is useful in a page class.

Think about how you interact with a website and how that can be coded.

Describe best practices for naming and organizing action methods and locators in a page class.

Consider how to make your code easy to read and maintain.

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