Handling pop-up windows in Selenium Python - Build an Automation Script

Verify handling of pop-up window after clicking 'Open Popup' button

Preconditions (2)

Step 1: Locate and click the 'Open Popup' button on the main page

Step 2: Switch control to the newly opened pop-up window

Step 3: Verify the pop-up window title is 'Popup Window'

Step 4: Verify the pop-up window contains a paragraph with text 'Welcome to the popup!'

Step 5: Close the pop-up window

Step 6: Switch control back to the main window

Step 7: Verify the main window title is 'Main Page'

✅ Expected Result: The pop-up window opens and displays the correct title and text. After closing the pop-up, control returns to the main window with the correct title.

Automation Requirements - selenium

Assertions Needed:

Assert pop-up window title equals 'Popup Window'

Assert pop-up window contains paragraph text 'Welcome to the popup!'

Assert main window title equals 'Main Page' after closing pop-up

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits to wait for pop-up window to appear

Use driver.window_handles to switch between windows

Close pop-up window properly before switching back

Avoid hardcoded sleep statements

Use descriptive variable names for window handles

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/mainpage')  # Replace with actual URL

    main_window = driver.current_window_handle

    # Click the button to open the popup
    open_popup_button = WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(
        EC.element_to_be_clickable((By.ID, 'open-popup'))
    )
    open_popup_button.click()

    # Wait for new window to appear
    WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(
        lambda d: len(d.window_handles) > 1
    )

    # Switch to the popup window
    popup_window = [w for w in driver.window_handles if w != main_window][0]
    driver.switch_to.window(popup_window)

    # Assert popup window title
    WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(EC.title_is('Popup Window'))
    assert driver.title == 'Popup Window', f"Expected popup title 'Popup Window' but got '{driver.title}'"

    # Assert popup contains expected paragraph text
    popup_paragraph = WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(
        EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.CSS_SELECTOR, 'p.popup-text'))
    )
    assert popup_paragraph.text == 'Welcome to the popup!', f"Expected popup text 'Welcome to the popup!' but got '{popup_paragraph.text}'"

    # Close the popup window
    driver.close()

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

    # Assert main window title
    WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(EC.title_is('Main Page'))
    assert driver.title == 'Main Page', f"Expected main page title 'Main Page' but got '{driver.title}'"

This script starts by opening the main page URL and saving the main window handle.

It waits until the 'Open Popup' button is clickable, then clicks it to open the pop-up window.

It waits until a new window handle appears, then switches control to the new pop-up window.

It asserts the pop-up window's title and verifies the paragraph text inside it.

After verification, it closes the pop-up window and switches back to the main window.

Finally, it asserts the main window's title to confirm control returned correctly.

Explicit waits ensure the script waits for elements and windows properly without using fixed delays.

Using descriptive variable names and proper window handle management makes the code clear and maintainable.

Common Mistakes - 4 Pitfalls

Using time.sleep() instead of explicit waits

Not switching back to the main window after closing the pop-up

Hardcoding window handles or assuming order

{'mistake': 'Using incorrect selectors for elements inside the pop-up', 'why_bad': "Selectors that don't match cause NoSuchElementException and test failures.", 'correct_approach': 'Use unique and stable locators like IDs or descriptive CSS selectors.'}

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing with 3 different pop-up button IDs and expected titles/texts

Show Hint

Practice

1. What is the correct way to switch to a browser alert pop-up in Selenium with Python?

easy

A. driver.switch_to.window('alert')

B. driver.switch_to.alert

C. driver.switch_to.frame('alert')

D. driver.switch_to.default_content()

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand alert handling in Selenium

   Alerts are special pop-ups that require switching to alert context using driver.switch_to.alert.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct method to switch

   Using driver.switch_to.alert accesses the alert object directly, allowing interaction.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.switch_to.alert -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Alert pop-up switch = driver.switch_to.alert [OK]

Hint: Use driver.switch_to.alert for alerts, not window or frame [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using switch_to.window for alerts
• Trying to switch to alert as a frame
• Not switching before interacting with alert

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to switch to a new browser window by its handle in Selenium Python?

easy

A. driver.switch_to.alert(window_handle)

B. driver.switch_to.default_content(window_handle)

C. driver.switch_to.frame(window_handle)

D. driver.switch_to.window(window_handle)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall method to switch windows

   To switch to a new browser window, use driver.switch_to.window() with the window handle.

2. Step 2: Confirm correct syntax

   The method requires the window handle string as an argument, so driver.switch_to.window(window_handle) is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.switch_to.window(window_handle) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Switch window syntax = driver.switch_to.window(handle) [OK]

Hint: Use switch_to.window(handle) to change browser tabs/windows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using switch_to.alert for windows
• Passing window handle to switch_to.frame
• Omitting the window handle argument

3. Given the following code snippet, what will be printed?

driver.get('https://example.com')
main_window = driver.current_window_handle
# Assume clicking button opens a new window
button = driver.find_element('id', 'openWindow')
button.click()
all_windows = driver.window_handles
for handle in all_windows:
    if handle != main_window:
        driver.switch_to.window(handle)
        print(driver.title)
        driver.close()
        break

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

medium

A. Title of new window followed by title of main window

B. Only title of main window printed twice

C. Only title of new window printed

D. No output due to error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand window switching and closing

   The code clicks a button that opens a new window, then switches to it, prints its title, closes it, and breaks the loop.

2. Step 2: Switch back and print main window title

   After closing the new window, the code switches back to the main window and prints its title.

3. Final Answer:

   Title of new window followed by title of main window -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Print new window title, then main window title [OK]

Hint: Switch to new window, print title, close, then switch back [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not switching back to main window before printing
• Trying to print after closing main window
• Assuming both titles print simultaneously

4. Identify the error in the following Selenium Python code for handling an alert pop-up:

alert = driver.switch_to.alert()
alert.accept()

medium

A. Incorrect use of parentheses after switch_to.alert

B. Missing import for Alert class

C. alert.accept() should be alert.dismiss()

D. No error, code is correct

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method usage for alert switching

   driver.switch_to.alert is a property, not a method, so it should not have parentheses.

2. Step 2: Correct the syntax

   Remove parentheses: use alert = driver.switch_to.alert to get the alert object.

3. Final Answer:

   Incorrect use of parentheses after switch_to.alert -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   switch_to.alert is property, no () [OK]

Hint: Don't add () after switch_to.alert, it's a property [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding parentheses after switch_to.alert
• Confusing accept() with dismiss()
• Not switching to alert before accepting

5. You have a test that opens multiple pop-up windows in sequence. Which approach correctly handles switching to each new window, closing it, and returning to the main window without errors?

hard

A. Store main window handle, loop through all handles, switch to each new window, close it, then switch back to main window after loop

B. Switch to each window and close it inside the loop, then switch back to main window after closing all windows

C. Switch to each new window, close it immediately, and switch back to main window inside the loop after each close

D. Close main window first, then switch to new windows one by one

Solution

1. Step 1: Save main window handle before opening pop-ups

   Store the main window handle to return to it later safely.

2. Step 2: Loop through all window handles, switch, close, and return

   For each new window, switch to it, close it, then switch back to main window inside the loop to avoid stale window errors.

3. Step 3: Avoid closing main window before others

   Closing the main window first causes errors; it should be closed last or not at all during pop-up handling.

4. Final Answer:

   Switch to each new window, close it immediately, and switch back to main window inside the loop after each close -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Switch-close-switch back per window to avoid errors [OK]

Hint: Switch-close-switch back inside loop for each pop-up [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Closing main window before others
• Switching back only after closing all pop-ups
• Not storing main window handle before loop