New window and tab creation in Selenium Python - Build an Automation Script

Verify new browser window and tab creation and switching

Preconditions (2)

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

Step 2: Click the button or link that opens a new browser window

Step 3: Switch to the new window

Step 4: Verify the new window's title is 'New Window Title'

Step 5: Close the new window and switch back to the original window

Step 6: Open a new browser tab

Step 7: Navigate the new tab to 'https://example.com/newtab'

Step 8: Verify the new tab's URL is 'https://example.com/newtab'

Step 9: Close the new tab and switch back to the original window

✅ Expected Result: The test should successfully open and switch between new window and tab, verify their titles and URLs, then close them and return to the original window without errors.

Automation Requirements - Selenium with Python

Assertions Needed:

Assert the new window's title matches 'New Window Title'

Assert the new tab's URL matches 'https://example.com/newtab'

Assert the driver switches back to the original window correctly

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits to handle page loads

Use driver.window_handles to manage windows and tabs

Use try-finally or context management to ensure windows/tabs are closed

Avoid hardcoded sleep; use WebDriverWait instead

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 WebDriver
with webdriver.Chrome() as driver:
    wait = WebDriverWait(driver, 10)
    # Step 1: Open main page
    driver.get('https://example.com')
    original_window = driver.current_window_handle

    # Step 2: Click element that opens new window
    # Assuming button with id 'open-window'
    open_window_button = wait.until(EC.element_to_be_clickable((By.ID, 'open-window')))
    open_window_button.click()

    # Step 3: Wait for new window and switch
    wait.until(EC.number_of_windows_to_be(2))
    new_window = [w for w in driver.window_handles if w != original_window][0]
    driver.switch_to.window(new_window)

    # Step 4: Verify new window title
    wait.until(EC.title_is('New Window Title'))
    assert driver.title == 'New Window Title', f"Expected title 'New Window Title' but got '{driver.title}'"

    # Step 5: Close new window and switch back
    driver.close()
    driver.switch_to.window(original_window)

    # Step 6: Open new tab
    driver.execute_script("window.open('about:blank', '_blank');")
    wait.until(EC.number_of_windows_to_be(2))
    new_tab = [w for w in driver.window_handles if w != original_window][0]
    driver.switch_to.window(new_tab)

    # Step 7: Navigate new tab to URL
    driver.get('https://example.com/newtab')

    # Step 8: Verify new tab URL
    wait.until(EC.url_to_be('https://example.com/newtab'))
    assert driver.current_url == 'https://example.com/newtab', f"Expected URL 'https://example.com/newtab' but got '{driver.current_url}'"

    # Step 9: Close new tab and switch back
    driver.close()
    driver.switch_to.window(original_window)

    # Final assertion to confirm back to original window
    assert driver.current_window_handle == original_window, "Did not switch back to original window"

This script uses Selenium WebDriver with Python to automate the test case.

First, it opens the main page and stores the original window handle.

Then it clicks a button that opens a new window, waits until the new window appears, and switches to it.

It verifies the new window's title matches the expected value.

After verification, it closes the new window and switches back to the original window.

Next, it opens a new tab using JavaScript, switches to it, navigates to the specified URL, and verifies the URL.

Finally, it closes the new tab and switches back to the original window, asserting the switch was successful.

Explicit waits ensure the script waits for elements and conditions properly, avoiding flaky tests.

Using window handles allows precise control over browser windows and tabs.

Common Mistakes - 4 Pitfalls

Using time.sleep() instead of explicit waits

Not switching to the new window or tab before interacting

Hardcoding window handles or indexes

Not closing new windows or tabs after test

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing to open new windows and tabs with 3 different URLs and verify their titles or URLs accordingly.

Show Hint