Date picker interaction in Selenium Python - Build an Automation Script

Select a specific date using the date picker

Preconditions (1)

Step 1: Locate the date picker input field by its id 'datePickerInput'

Step 2: Click on the date picker input field to open the calendar widget

Step 3: Navigate to the desired month and year if not currently displayed

Step 4: Click on the day '15' in the calendar to select the date

Step 5: Verify that the input field value updates to '2024-07-15'

✅ Expected Result: The date picker input field shows the selected date '2024-07-15' after selection

Automation Requirements - Selenium with Python

Assertions Needed:

Verify the date picker input field value equals '2024-07-15' after selection

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits to wait for elements to be clickable or visible

Use By.ID or other stable locators instead of brittle XPath

Avoid hardcoded sleeps; use WebDriverWait

Structure code clearly with comments for each step

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

# Initialize the Chrome driver
with webdriver.Chrome() as driver:
    driver.get('https://example.com/date-picker')  # Replace with actual URL

    wait = WebDriverWait(driver, 10)

    # Step 1: Locate the date picker input field
    date_input = wait.until(EC.element_to_be_clickable((By.ID, 'datePickerInput')))

    # Step 2: Click to open the calendar widget
    date_input.click()

    # Step 3: Navigate to the desired month and year if needed
    # For simplicity, assume the calendar shows July 2024 by default

    # Step 4: Click on the day '15'
    day_15 = wait.until(EC.element_to_be_clickable((By.XPATH, "//td[@role='gridcell' and text()='15']")))
    day_15.click()

    # Step 5: Verify the input field value updates
    selected_date = date_input.get_attribute('value')
    assert selected_date == '2024-07-15', f"Expected date '2024-07-15' but got '{selected_date}'"

    print('Test passed: Date picker selected date correctly.')

This script uses Selenium WebDriver with Python to automate the date picker interaction.

We start by opening the browser and navigating to the page with the date picker.

We wait explicitly for the date picker input field to be clickable, then click it to open the calendar.

Assuming the calendar shows the correct month and year, we locate the day '15' cell and click it.

Finally, we get the value of the input field and assert it matches the expected date '2024-07-15'.

Explicit waits ensure the elements are ready before interacting, avoiding flaky tests.

Common Mistakes - 3 Pitfalls

Using time.sleep() instead of explicit waits

Using brittle XPath locators like absolute paths

{'mistake': 'Not verifying the input field value after selecting the date', 'why_bad': 'The test may pass without confirming the date was actually selected.', 'correct_approach': "Always assert the input field's value matches the expected date."}

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing to select three different dates: '2024-07-15', '2024-08-01', and '2024-12-25'.

Show Hint

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of interacting with a date picker in Selenium tests?

easy

A. To test if the date picker changes color when clicked

B. To check if the date picker is visible on the page only

C. To select a date and verify it appears correctly in the input field

D. To verify the page title changes after selecting a date

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand date picker role

   Date pickers let users pick a date easily and show it in an input field.

2. Step 2: Verify date selection in tests

   Tests should select a date and check if the input field shows the chosen date correctly.

3. Final Answer:

   To select a date and verify it appears correctly in the input field -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Date picker test = select and verify date [OK]

Hint: Pick date, then check input value matches [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Only checking visibility without selecting date
• Ignoring input field verification
• Testing unrelated UI changes like color
• Assuming page title changes after date pick

2. Which Selenium Python code snippet correctly clicks a date picker input and selects a date with locator by ID 'dateInput'?

easy

A. driver.find_element(By.ID, 'dateInput').send_keys('15')

B. driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, 'dateInput').click()
driver.find_element(By.ID, '15').click()

C. driver.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, '#dateInput').select('15')

D. driver.find_element(By.ID, 'dateInput').click()
driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='15']").click()

Solution

1. Step 1: Click date picker input by ID

   Use By.ID with 'dateInput' to click the input field correctly.

2. Step 2: Select date by visible text

   Use XPath to find the table cell with text '15' and click it to select the date.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.find_element(By.ID, 'dateInput').click()\ndriver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='15']").click() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Correct locators and click actions = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'dateInput').click() driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='15']").click() [OK]

Hint: Use By.ID for input, XPath for date cell text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using CLASS_NAME instead of ID for input
• Trying to send_keys directly to date cell
• Using non-existent select() method
• Wrong locator for date cell

3. What will be the output of this Selenium Python code snippet if the date picker input initially is empty and user selects date '10'?

driver.find_element(By.ID, 'dateInput').click()
driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='10']").click()
selected_date = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'dateInput').get_attribute('value')
print(selected_date)

medium

A. 2024-10-10

B. 10

C. Empty string

D. None

Solution

1. Step 1: Click input and select date '10'

   The code clicks the input and selects the date cell with text '10'.

2. Step 2: Get input value attribute

   After selection, the input's value attribute usually holds the full date string, e.g., '2024-10-10'.

3. Final Answer:

   2024-10-10 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Input value after date pick = full date string [OK]

Hint: Date pickers set full date string in input value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting only day number as input value
• Assuming input remains empty
• Confusing None with empty string
• Not retrieving 'value' attribute

4. Given this Selenium Python code snippet, what is the main error preventing date selection?

date_input = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'dateInput')
date_input.click()
driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='25']").send_keys(Keys.ENTER)

medium

A. Using send_keys(Keys.ENTER) on a non-input element

B. Missing import for Keys

C. Wrong locator for date input

D. Not waiting for date picker to open

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify element receiving send_keys

   The code sends ENTER key to a table cell (td), which is not an input field.

2. Step 2: Understand send_keys usage

   send_keys works on input or editable elements, not on static table cells; clicking is needed instead.

3. Final Answer:

   Using send_keys(Keys.ENTER) on a non-input element -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   send_keys on non-input element causes failure [OK]

Hint: Click date cell, don't send_keys to it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to send_keys to non-input elements
• Forgetting to import Keys
• Assuming locator is wrong without checking
• Ignoring wait for picker visibility

5. You want to write a Selenium Python test that selects the date '1' of next month in a date picker. The date picker shows current month by default and has a 'Next' button with ID 'nextMonthBtn'. Which sequence correctly selects the date?

hard

A. driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='1']").click()
driver.find_element(By.ID, 'nextMonthBtn').click()

B. driver.find_element(By.ID, 'nextMonthBtn').click()
driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='1']").click()

C. driver.find_element(By.ID, 'dateInput').send_keys('1')

D. driver.find_element(By.ID, 'nextMonthBtn').send_keys(Keys.ENTER)
driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='1']").click()

Solution

1. Step 1: Click 'Next' button to go to next month

   Click the button with ID 'nextMonthBtn' to change the calendar to next month.

2. Step 2: Click date '1' in the updated calendar

   After calendar updates, click the table cell with text '1' to select the date.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.find_element(By.ID, 'nextMonthBtn').click()\ndriver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='1']").click() -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Navigate then select date = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'nextMonthBtn').click() driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//td[text()='1']").click() [OK]

Hint: Click next month first, then pick date [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting date before navigating to next month
• Using send_keys instead of click on buttons
• Ignoring calendar update after clicking next
• Wrong order of actions