Element-level screenshot in Selenium Python - Build an Automation Script

Take a screenshot of a specific element on a webpage

Preconditions (2)

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

Step 2: Locate the element with id 'logo' on the page

Step 3: Take a screenshot of only the 'logo' element

Step 4: Save the screenshot as 'logo_screenshot.png' in the current directory

✅ Expected Result: A file named 'logo_screenshot.png' is created containing the screenshot of the 'logo' element only

Automation Requirements - Selenium with Python

Assertions Needed:

Verify the element with id 'logo' is present before taking the screenshot

Verify the screenshot file 'logo_screenshot.png' is created after the test

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits to ensure the element is visible before interacting

Use By.ID locator for element identification

Handle exceptions if element is not found

Close the browser after test execution

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
import os

# Initialize the Chrome WebDriver
with webdriver.Chrome() as driver:
    driver.get('https://example.com')

    try:
        # Wait up to 10 seconds for the element with id 'logo' to be visible
        logo_element = WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(
            EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.ID, 'logo'))
        )

        # Take screenshot of the element
        screenshot_path = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), 'logo_screenshot.png')
        logo_element.screenshot(screenshot_path)

        # Assert the screenshot file exists
        assert os.path.isfile(screenshot_path), f"Screenshot file not found at {screenshot_path}"

    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Test failed: {e}")
        raise

The script starts by importing necessary Selenium modules and os for file path handling.

It opens Chrome browser and navigates to https://example.com.

Using WebDriverWait with visibility_of_element_located, it waits up to 10 seconds for the element with id logo to appear and be visible. This avoids errors if the element loads slowly.

Once found, it calls screenshot() on the element to capture only that element's image, saving it as logo_screenshot.png in the current directory.

Then it asserts the screenshot file exists to confirm success.

The with block ensures the browser closes automatically after the test.

Exceptions are caught and printed to help debug if the element is missing or other errors occur.

Common Mistakes - 4 Pitfalls

Using time.sleep() instead of explicit waits

Using a broad XPath locator instead of By.ID

Not verifying the element is present before taking screenshot

Not closing the browser after test

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing to take element screenshots from three different element IDs: 'logo', 'header', and 'footer'.

Show Hint

Practice

1. What does the element.screenshot('file.png') method do in Selenium Python?

easy

A. Takes a screenshot of the entire webpage and saves it as 'file.png'.

B. Takes a screenshot of the specific web element and saves it as 'file.png'.

C. Locates the element and highlights it on the page.

D. Deletes the element from the webpage.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the method purpose

   The element.screenshot() method captures only the visible part of the specific element, not the whole page.

2. Step 2: Confirm the file saving behavior

   The method saves the screenshot as the given filename, like 'file.png'.

3. Final Answer:

   Takes a screenshot of the specific web element and saves it as 'file.png'. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   element.screenshot() = element screenshot [OK]

Hint: Remember: element.screenshot saves only that element's image [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing element screenshot with full page screenshot
• Thinking it highlights or deletes the element
• Using it without locating the element first

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to take a screenshot of a web element stored in variable button and save it as 'button.png'?

easy

A. button.save_screenshot('button.png')

B. driver.screenshot('button.png')

C. driver.save_element_screenshot(button, 'button.png')

D. button.screenshot('button.png')

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct method for element screenshot

   The screenshot() method is called on the element object, here button.

2. Step 2: Confirm the syntax matches the method signature

   The correct syntax is button.screenshot('button.png'). Other options use incorrect methods or call on driver.

3. Final Answer:

   button.screenshot('button.png') -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   element.screenshot(filename) = correct syntax [OK]

Hint: Call screenshot() on element, not driver [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling screenshot on driver instead of element
• Using non-existent methods like save_screenshot on element
• Passing element as argument to driver methods

3. Given the code snippet:

element = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'logo')
element.screenshot('logo.png')

What will happen if the element with ID 'logo' is not visible on the page?

medium

A. The screenshot will be taken but the image will be blank or empty.

B. An exception will be raised because the element is not visible.

C. The entire page screenshot will be saved instead.

D. The file 'logo.png' will not be created.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand element visibility effect on screenshot

   If the element is found but not visible, Selenium still takes a screenshot of the element's area, which may be blank.

2. Step 2: Confirm behavior on invisible elements

   No exception is raised for invisibility; the file is created but image content is empty or transparent.

3. Final Answer:

   The screenshot will be taken but the image will be blank or empty. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Invisible element screenshot = blank image [OK]

Hint: Invisible element screenshot saves blank image, no error [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting an exception for invisible elements
• Thinking full page screenshot is saved
• Assuming file won't be created

4. Identify the error in this code snippet:

element = driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, 'submit-btn')
element.screenshot = 'submit.png'

medium

A. The element variable should be a list, not a single element.

B. The locator By.CLASS_NAME is invalid.

C. Incorrect assignment; screenshot is a method, not a property.

D. The filename must be a full path, not just 'submit.png'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method usage for screenshot

   The code assigns a string to element.screenshot, but screenshot is a method and must be called with parentheses.

2. Step 2: Confirm correct method call syntax

   The correct usage is element.screenshot('submit.png'), not assignment.

3. Final Answer:

   Incorrect assignment; screenshot is a method, not a property. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use parentheses to call screenshot() method [OK]

Hint: Remember: screenshot is a method, call with () [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assigning filename to screenshot instead of calling method
• Using wrong locator strategy
• Expecting list when find_element returns single element

5. You want to take screenshots of multiple buttons on a page and save them as 'button1.png', 'button2.png', etc. Which code snippet correctly does this?

hard

A. buttons = driver.find_elements(By.TAG_NAME, 'button')
for i, btn in enumerate(buttons, 1):
btn.screenshot(f'button{i}.png')

B. buttons = driver.find_elements(By.TAG_NAME, 'button')
for i in range(len(buttons)):
buttons.screenshot(f'button{i}.png')

C. buttons = driver.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, 'button')
for i, btn in enumerate(buttons):
btn.screenshot('button.png')

D. buttons = driver.find_elements(By.CLASS_NAME, 'button')
for btn in buttons:
btn.screenshot('button.png')

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate multiple elements correctly

   Use find_elements to get a list of all buttons by tag name 'button'.

2. Step 2: Loop with index and save unique filenames

   Use enumerate starting at 1 to create filenames like 'button1.png', 'button2.png'. Call btn.screenshot() on each element.

3. Final Answer:

   buttons = driver.find_elements(By.TAG_NAME, 'button') for i, btn in enumerate(buttons, 1): btn.screenshot(f'button{i}.png') -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Loop elements with enumerate and call screenshot() [OK]

Hint: Use enumerate to name files uniquely in loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling screenshot on list instead of element
• Using find_element instead of find_elements for multiple
• Saving all screenshots with same filename