New window and tab creation in Selenium Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this Selenium Python code snippet?

Consider the following Selenium Python code that opens a new tab and switches to it. What will be the value of len(driver.window_handles) after execution?

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.common.keys import Keys

options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
options.add_argument('--headless=new')
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
driver.get('https://example.com')

# Open a new tab
original_windows = driver.window_handles
body = driver.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, 'body')
body.send_keys(Keys.CONTROL + 't')

# Switch to new tab
new_windows = driver.window_handles
print(len(new_windows))
driver.quit()

A 2

B 1

C 3

D 0

💡 Hint

Remember that opening a new tab adds one window handle to the list.

Initially, there is one window handle. After sending Ctrl+T, a new tab opens, increasing the count to 2.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Which assertion correctly verifies the new window title after opening a new window?

You have opened a new window using Selenium and switched to it. The new window loads 'https://www.python.org'. Which assertion correctly checks that the new window's title contains 'Python'?

Selenium Python

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

options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
options.add_argument('--headless=new')
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
driver.get('https://example.com')

# Open new window
driver.execute_script("window.open('https://www.python.org', '_blank');")

# Switch to new window
new_window = driver.window_handles[-1]
driver.switch_to.window(new_window)

# Assertion here

A assert 'Python' in driver.title

B assert driver.title == 'Python'

C assert driver.title.contains('Python')

D assert driver.title.index('Python')

💡 Hint

Check Python string methods for containment.

The correct way to check if a substring is in a string is using the 'in' keyword. Option A uses this correctly.

❓ locator

advanced

Which locator is best to find the button that opens a new window?

You want to locate a button that opens a new window. The button has the attribute aria-label="Open new window". Which locator is best practice to find this button in Selenium?

A driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, 'btn-open-window')

B driver.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, 'button[aria-label="Open new window"]')

C driver.find_element(By.XPATH, '//button[@aria-label="Open new window"]')

D driver.find_element(By.ID, 'openWindowBtn')

💡 Hint

Use attribute selectors for accessibility attributes.

Using CSS selector with the aria-label attribute is both semantic and efficient. Option B uses this best practice.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this Selenium code fail to switch to the new tab?

The code below opens a new tab but fails to switch to it. What is the cause?

Selenium Python

driver.get('https://example.com')
original_windows = driver.window_handles
# Open new tab
driver.execute_script("window.open('https://www.google.com', '_blank');")
# Attempt to switch
driver.switch_to.window(original_windows[1])

A switch_to.window requires window title, not handle

B window.open does not open a new tab in Selenium

C original_windows list was captured before opening new tab, so index 1 does not exist

D driver.execute_script syntax is incorrect

💡 Hint

Check when the window handles list is captured.

The list original_windows was captured before opening the new tab, so it only has one handle at index 0. Index 1 is out of range.

❓ framework

expert

Which pytest fixture setup correctly handles opening and closing a new browser window for tests?

You want a pytest fixture that opens a Chrome browser, yields the driver for tests, and ensures the browser closes after tests. Which fixture code is correct?

A

import pytest
from selenium import webdriver

def driver():
    driver = webdriver.Chrome()
    yield driver
    driver.quit()

B

import pytest
from selenium import webdriver

@pytest.fixture
def driver():
    driver = webdriver.Chrome()
    driver.quit()
    yield driver

C

import pytest
from selenium import webdriver

@pytest.fixture
def driver():
    driver = webdriver.Chrome()
    yield driver
    driver.close()

D

import pytest
from selenium import webdriver

@pytest.fixture
def driver():
    driver = webdriver.Chrome()
    yield driver
    driver.quit()

💡 Hint

Remember that code after yield runs as teardown.

Option D correctly creates the driver, yields it for tests, and quits after tests. Option D quits before yield, so driver is closed during tests. Option D calls close() which closes only current window, not entire browser. Option D is missing @pytest.fixture decorator.

Practice

1. Which Selenium Python command opens a new browser tab?

easy

A. driver.switch_to.new_window('tab')

B. driver.open_new_tab()

C. driver.create_tab()

D. driver.new_tab()

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Selenium's new window method

   Selenium provides driver.switch_to.new_window() to open new tabs or windows by specifying the type as 'tab' or 'window'.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct argument for a new tab

   To open a new tab, the argument must be the string 'tab'. So the correct command is driver.switch_to.new_window('tab').

3. Final Answer:

   driver.switch_to.new_window('tab') -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Open new tab = driver.switch_to.new_window('tab') [OK]

Hint: Use 'tab' string inside new_window() to open a new tab [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using non-existent methods like driver.open_new_tab()
• Passing 'window' instead of 'tab' to open a tab
• Trying driver.new_tab() which is invalid

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to open a new browser window in Selenium Python?

easy

A. driver.switch_to.new_window('tab')

B. driver.switch_to.new_window('window')

C. driver.new_window('window')

D. driver.open_window('window')

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the method to open new windows

   Selenium's correct method is driver.switch_to.new_window() with argument 'window' to open a new window.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   Only driver.switch_to.new_window('window') uses the correct method and argument. driver.new_window('window') and driver.open_window('window') use invalid method names, and driver.switch_to.new_window('tab') opens a tab, not a window.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.switch_to.new_window('window') -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Open new window = driver.switch_to.new_window('window') [OK]

Hint: Use 'window' string inside new_window() to open a new window [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing 'tab' and 'window' arguments
• Using wrong method names like driver.new_window()
• Missing the switch_to part in the command

3. What will be the output of the following Selenium Python code snippet?

driver.get('https://example.com')
original_handle = driver.current_window_handle
driver.switch_to.new_window('tab')
driver.get('https://selenium.dev')
print(len(driver.window_handles))

medium

A. 2

B. 1

C. 0

D. Error

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze window handles before and after new tab

   Initially, the driver opens one window (example.com). After driver.switch_to.new_window('tab'), a new tab opens, so total windows/tabs become 2.

2. Step 2: Count window handles

   The driver.window_handles list contains all open windows/tabs. After opening the new tab, its length is 2.

3. Final Answer:

   2 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   New tab adds one handle, total handles = 2 [OK]

Hint: Count window_handles after new_window() to get total tabs/windows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming window_handles length stays 1 after new tab
• Confusing current_window_handle with window_handles list
• Expecting an error due to missing switch focus

4. Identify the error in this Selenium Python code that tries to open a new tab:

driver.get('https://example.com')
driver.new_window('tab')
driver.get('https://selenium.dev')

medium

A. driver.new_window() is not a valid method

B. Cannot open new tab after driver.get()

C. Missing driver.switch_to before new_window()

D. driver.get() cannot be called twice

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method usage for opening new tab

   The correct method to open a new tab is driver.switch_to.new_window('tab'). The code misses switch_to.

2. Step 2: Understand why missing switch_to causes error

   Calling driver.new_window('tab') directly is invalid and will raise an AttributeError.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing driver.switch_to before new_window() -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use driver.switch_to.new_window() to open tabs/windows [OK]

Hint: Always use driver.switch_to.new_window() to open tabs/windows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling new_window() directly on driver
• Thinking driver.get() limits opening new tabs
• Believing driver.get() can only be called once

5. You want to open a new tab, switch to it, load a URL, then switch back to the original tab. Which code snippet correctly does this in Selenium Python?

hard

A. original = driver.current_window_handle
driver.switch_to.new_window('tab')
driver.switch_to.window(original)
driver.get('https://selenium.dev')

B. driver.new_window('tab')
driver.get('https://selenium.dev')
driver.switch_to.window(original)

C. original = driver.current_window_handle
driver.switch_to.new_window('window')
driver.get('https://selenium.dev')
driver.switch_to.window(original)

D. original = driver.current_window_handle
driver.switch_to.new_window('tab')
driver.get('https://selenium.dev')
driver.switch_to.window(original)

Solution

1. Step 1: Save original window handle before opening new tab

   Store driver.current_window_handle in a variable to switch back later.

2. Step 2: Open new tab and load URL

   Use driver.switch_to.new_window('tab') to open a new tab, then load the URL with driver.get().

3. Step 3: Switch back to original tab

   Use driver.switch_to.window(original) to return focus to the original tab.

4. Final Answer:

   Code snippet D correctly opens a new tab, loads URL, and switches back -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Save handle, open tab, load URL, switch back [OK]

Hint: Save handle, open tab, load URL, then switch back [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not saving original window handle before opening new tab
• Using 'window' instead of 'tab' when a tab is needed
• Switching back to original tab before loading the URL in the new tab