Click and hold in Selenium Python

Introduction

Click and hold lets you press and keep holding a mouse button on a webpage element. This helps test actions like dragging or revealing hidden menus.

Testing drag-and-drop features on a webpage.

Checking if holding a button shows a tooltip or menu.

Simulating long press actions on buttons or images.

Verifying interactive elements that respond to click and hold.

Syntax

Selenium Python

from selenium.webdriver.common.action_chains import ActionChains

actions = ActionChains(driver)
actions.click_and_hold(element).perform()

You need to import ActionChains from Selenium to use click and hold.

Always call perform() to execute the action.

Examples

Click and hold on the given element immediately.

Selenium Python

actions.click_and_hold(element).perform()

Click and hold the element for 2 seconds, then release the mouse button.

Selenium Python

actions.click_and_hold(element).pause(2).release().perform()

Move mouse to element first, then click and hold.

Selenium Python

actions.move_to_element(element).click_and_hold().perform()

Sample Program

This script opens a demo page with a draggable box. It clicks and holds the box for 3 seconds, then releases it. Finally, it prints a success message and closes the browser.

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.common.action_chains import ActionChains
import time

# Setup driver (make sure driver executable is in PATH)
driver = webdriver.Chrome()
driver.get('https://crossbrowsertesting.github.io/drag-and-drop.html')

# Locate draggable element
drag_element = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'draggable')

# Create ActionChains object
actions = ActionChains(driver)

# Click and hold the draggable element for 3 seconds
actions.click_and_hold(drag_element).pause(3).release().perform()

print('Click and hold action performed successfully.')

driver.quit()

Important Notes

Make sure the element is visible and interactable before clicking and holding.

Use pause(seconds) to hold the click for a specific time.

Always release the mouse button after holding to avoid stuck states.

Summary

Click and hold simulates pressing and holding the mouse button on an element.

Use it to test drag-and-drop or long press behaviors.

Remember to call perform() to run the action.