New window and tab creation in Selenium Python - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What Selenium method is used to open a new browser tab or window?

The driver.switch_to.new_window() method is used to open a new tab or window in Selenium with Python.

beginner

How do you switch control to a newly opened tab or window in Selenium?

Use driver.switch_to.window(window_handle) where window_handle is the unique ID of the new tab or window.

intermediate

What is the difference between opening a new tab and a new window in Selenium?

Using driver.switch_to.new_window('tab') opens a new tab, while driver.switch_to.new_window('window') opens a new browser window.

beginner

Why is it important to keep track of window handles when working with multiple tabs/windows?

Window handles let you identify and switch between different tabs or windows. Without them, Selenium cannot control the right browser context.

intermediate

How can you close a specific tab or window in Selenium?

Switch to the tab/window using its handle, then call driver.close() to close it. Use driver.switch_to.window() before closing.

Which Selenium method opens a new browser tab?

A driver.switch_to.new_window('tab')

B driver.open_new_tab()

C driver.create_tab()

D driver.new_tab()

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

How do you switch control to a new window in Selenium?

A driver.switch_to.window(window_handle)

B driver.switch_to.new_window('window')

C driver.switch_to.tab(window_handle)

D driver.switch_window(window_handle)

Use driver.switch_to.window(window_handle) to switch control to an existing window.

What does driver.close() do in Selenium?

A Closes the browser driver

B Closes all browser windows

C Closes the current tab or window

D Closes the Selenium session

driver.close() closes only the current tab or window Selenium is controlling.

Why do you need window handles in Selenium?

A To open new tabs

B To refresh the page

C To close the browser

D To identify and switch between multiple tabs or windows

Window handles uniquely identify each tab or window so Selenium can switch control.

Which argument opens a new browser window instead of a tab?

A 'new'

B 'window'

C 'tab'

D 'browser'

Use driver.switch_to.new_window('window') to open a new browser window.

Explain how to open a new tab, switch to it, and then close it using Selenium with Python.

Think about the sequence: open, switch, close.

Describe why managing window handles is important when working with multiple browser tabs or windows in Selenium.

Consider how Selenium knows which tab or window to work with.

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