Handling multiple pages in Selenium Python

Introduction

Sometimes websites open new pages or tabs. We need to switch between them to test properly.

When clicking a link opens a new tab or window.

When a popup or new page appears after a button click.

When testing login flows that redirect to another page.

When verifying content on multiple pages opened from one action.

Syntax

Selenium Python

driver.window_handles
# List of all open window/tab IDs

driver.switch_to.window(window_handle)
# Switch control to the window/tab with given ID

window_handles gives a list of all open pages.

Use switch_to.window() to change focus to another page.

Examples

Get all open window IDs and print them.

Selenium Python

all_windows = driver.window_handles
print(all_windows)

Switch to the second tab or window opened.

Selenium Python

driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])

Store the current window ID to switch back later.

Selenium Python

main_window = driver.current_window_handle
# Save current window ID for later use

Sample Program

This script opens a page with a button that opens a new window. It switches to the new window, prints its title, closes it, then switches back and prints the main window's title.

Selenium Python

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

# Setup driver (make sure chromedriver is in PATH)
driver = webdriver.Chrome()

# Open first page
driver.get('https://www.w3schools.com/jsref/tryit.asp?filename=tryjsref_win_open')

# Save main window handle
main_window = driver.current_window_handle

# Click button that opens new window
# Switch to iframe first because button is inside iframe
iframe = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'iframeResult')
driver.switch_to.frame(iframe)

button = driver.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, 'button')
button.click()

# Wait for new window to open
time.sleep(2)

# Get all window handles
all_windows = driver.window_handles

# Switch to new window (last one)
driver.switch_to.window(all_windows[-1])

# Print title of new window
print('New window title:', driver.title)

# Close new window
driver.close()

# Switch back to main window
driver.switch_to.window(main_window)

# Print title of main window
print('Main window title:', driver.title)

driver.quit()

Important Notes

Always save the main window handle before opening new windows.

Switch to iframes if elements are inside them before clicking.

Use time.sleep() carefully; better to use explicit waits in real tests.

Summary

Use driver.window_handles to get all open pages.

Switch between pages with driver.switch_to.window().

Save main window handle to return after closing new pages.

Practice

1. What does driver.window_handles return in Selenium?

easy

A. The URL of the current page

B. The current active window handle only

C. The title of the current page

D. A list of all open browser window handles

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what window handles represent

   Window handles are unique IDs for each open browser window or tab.

2. Step 2: Identify what driver.window_handles returns

   This property returns a list of all window handles currently opened by the driver.

3. Final Answer:

   A list of all open browser window handles -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   window_handles = list of all windows [OK]

Hint: Remember: window_handles lists all open pages [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing window_handles with current window handle
• Expecting window_handles to return page titles or URLs
• Using window_handles as a single string instead of a list

2. Which is the correct syntax to switch to a new browser tab in Selenium Python?

easy

A. driver.switch_to_tab(driver.window_handles[1])

B. driver.switch_window(driver.window_handles[1])

C. driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])

D. driver.change_window(driver.window_handles[1])

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct method to switch windows

   The Selenium method to switch windows is driver.switch_to.window().

2. Step 2: Check the syntax for switching to the second tab

   Use the second handle in the list: driver.window_handles[1].

3. Final Answer:

   driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1]) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use switch_to.window with window_handles index [OK]

Hint: Use switch_to.window() with window_handles index [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using non-existent methods like switch_window or switch_to_tab
• Forgetting to use driver.switch_to
• Using wrong index for window_handles

3. What will the following code print if two tabs are open and the first tab's title is 'Home' and second tab's title is 'About'?

main_window = driver.current_window_handle
all_windows = driver.window_handles
for window in all_windows:
    driver.switch_to.window(window)
    print(driver.title)

medium

A. ["Home", "About"]

B. ["About", "Home"]

C. Only "Home"

D. Only "About"

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the loop over all window handles

   The code loops over all open windows and switches to each one in order.

2. Step 2: Print the title of each window after switching

   It prints the title of each tab in the order of window_handles list, which is usually the order tabs opened.

3. Final Answer:

   ["Home", "About"] -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Loop prints titles of all tabs in order [OK]

Hint: Loop over window_handles prints all tab titles [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming only current tab title prints
• Mixing order of window handles
• Not switching before printing title

4. Identify the error in this code snippet that tries to switch back to the main window after opening a new tab:

main_window = driver.current_window_handle
# code to open new tab
driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])
# do something
# switch back
driver.switch_to.window(main_window())

medium

A. Missing import for switch_to

B. main_window is called like a function with parentheses

C. driver.window_handles[1] is invalid index

D. No error, code is correct

Solution

1. Step 1: Check how main_window is used

   main_window is a string handle, but code calls main_window() as a function, which is incorrect.

2. Step 2: Identify correct usage to switch back

   Should use driver.switch_to.window(main_window) without parentheses.

3. Final Answer:

   main_window is called like a function with parentheses -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Window handle is a string, not a function [OK]

Hint: Window handles are strings, don't add () [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling window handle variables as functions
• Using wrong index for window_handles
• Assuming switch_to needs import

5. You open multiple tabs during a test. How do you ensure you always return to the original tab after closing the new ones?

hard

A. Save the original window handle before opening new tabs and switch back using it

B. Use driver.close() on all tabs except the last one

C. Call driver.quit() to close all tabs and restart the browser

D. Switch to the last window handle in driver.window_handles list

Solution

1. Step 1: Save the original window handle before opening new tabs

   This allows you to remember which tab was the main one.

2. Step 2: After closing new tabs, switch back to the saved original handle

   Use driver.switch_to.window(original_handle) to return safely.

3. Final Answer:

   Save the original window handle before opening new tabs and switch back using it -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Save and reuse original handle to return [OK]

Hint: Always save main window handle before opening tabs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming last window handle is original
• Closing tabs without switching back
• Using driver.quit() which ends session