Prompt alert with text input in Selenium Python - Build an Automation Script

Handle prompt alert by entering text and verifying result

Preconditions (1)

Step 1: Click the button that triggers the prompt alert

Step 2: Switch to the prompt alert

Step 3: Enter the text 'HelloTest' into the prompt input field

Step 4: Accept the prompt alert

Step 5: Verify that the page displays the text 'You entered: HelloTest'

✅ Expected Result: The page shows the message 'You entered: HelloTest' confirming the prompt input was accepted

Automation Requirements - selenium

Assertions Needed:

Verify the prompt alert is present before sending keys

Verify the displayed message matches the entered text

Best Practices:

Use explicit waits to wait for alert presence

Use By locators with meaningful identifiers

Handle alert switching properly

Use assertions from unittest or pytest

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
import unittest

class TestPromptAlert(unittest.TestCase):
    def setUp(self):
        self.driver = webdriver.Chrome()
        self.driver.get('https://the-internet.herokuapp.com/javascript_alerts')
        self.wait = WebDriverWait(self.driver, 10)

    def test_prompt_alert_input(self):
        driver = self.driver
        wait = self.wait

        # Click the button that triggers the prompt alert
        prompt_button = wait.until(EC.element_to_be_clickable((By.XPATH, '//button[text()="Click for JS Prompt"]')))
        prompt_button.click()

        # Wait for alert to be present
        alert = wait.until(EC.alert_is_present())

        # Enter text into prompt
        alert.send_keys('HelloTest')

        # Accept the alert
        alert.accept()

        # Verify the result text
        result = wait.until(EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.ID, 'result')))
        self.assertEqual(result.text, 'You entered: HelloTest')

    def tearDown(self):
        self.driver.quit()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main()

This test uses Selenium WebDriver with Python's unittest framework.

In setUp, we open the browser and navigate to the test page.

We locate the button by its visible text using XPath and click it to trigger the prompt alert.

We use an explicit wait to wait until the alert is present before interacting with it.

We send the text 'HelloTest' to the prompt input and accept the alert.

Finally, we wait for the result message to appear and assert it matches the expected text.

In tearDown, we close the browser to clean up.

This approach ensures the test waits properly for elements and alerts, uses clear locators, and verifies the expected outcome.

Common Mistakes - 4 Pitfalls

Not waiting for the alert before sending keys

Using hardcoded XPath without meaningful context

Not switching to alert before sending keys or accepting

Not verifying the result message after alert interaction

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing with 3 different inputs: 'Test1', '12345', and 'Hello!@#'

Show Hint

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of handling a prompt alert with text input in Selenium?

easy

A. To scroll the webpage automatically

B. To enter text into a popup alert and accept it

C. To click a button on the webpage

D. To take a screenshot of the alert

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand prompt alerts

   Prompt alerts allow users to enter text in a popup box on the webpage.

2. Step 2: Handling prompt alerts in Selenium

   Selenium can switch to the alert, send text input, and accept it to proceed.

3. Final Answer:

   To enter text into a popup alert and accept it -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Prompt alert = text input + accept [OK]

Hint: Prompt alert means input text then accept [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing prompt alert with simple alerts
• Trying to send keys without switching to alert
• Ignoring the accept() step after input

2. Which Selenium Python code snippet correctly sends text 'hello' to a prompt alert and accepts it?

easy

A. driver.send_keys('hello')
alert.accept()

B. alert = driver.find_element_by_id('alert')
alert.send_keys('hello')
alert.accept()

C. alert = driver.switch_to.alert
alert.send_keys('hello')
alert.accept()

D. alert = driver.switch_to.alert
alert.dismiss()
alert.send_keys('hello')

Solution

1. Step 1: Switch to alert correctly

   Use driver.switch_to.alert to access the alert object.

2. Step 2: Send keys and accept alert

   Call send_keys('hello') then accept() to input text and confirm.

3. Final Answer:

   alert = driver.switch_to.alert alert.send_keys('hello') alert.accept() -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   switch_to.alert + send_keys + accept = correct [OK]

Hint: Always switch_to.alert before sending keys [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using find_element instead of switch_to.alert
• Calling dismiss() before send_keys
• Sending keys without switching to alert

3. What will be the output of this Selenium Python code if the prompt alert expects a name and you input 'Alice'?

alert = driver.switch_to.alert
alert.send_keys('Alice')
alert.accept()
result = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'result').text
print(result)

medium

A. Alert dismissed without input

B. No alert found error

C. Empty string printed

D. Hello Alice! Your input was received.

Solution

1. Step 1: Input text and accept alert

   The code sends 'Alice' to the prompt alert and accepts it, so input is registered.

2. Step 2: Retrieve result text from page

   The page updates an element with ID 'result' to show a greeting including the input.

3. Final Answer:

   Hello Alice! Your input was received. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Input 'Alice' + accept = greeting message [OK]

Hint: Accepted prompt input updates page text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting error without alert present
• Not retrieving updated element text
• Assuming alert dismiss clears input

4. Identify the error in this Selenium Python code snippet handling a prompt alert:

alert = driver.switch_to.alert
alert.accept()
alert.send_keys('Test')

medium

A. send_keys called after accept, alert no longer available

B. Missing import for Alert class

C. Incorrect locator used for alert

D. No error, code works fine

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand alert lifecycle

   Calling accept() closes the alert, so it cannot receive input afterward.

2. Step 2: Correct order for input and accept

   send_keys() must be called before accept() to input text successfully.

3. Final Answer:

   send_keys called after accept, alert no longer available -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   accept() closes alert, no send_keys after [OK]

Hint: Send keys before accept to avoid alert closed error [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling accept before send_keys
• Ignoring alert closure after accept
• Assuming alert object persists after accept

5. You want to test a prompt alert that asks for user age and rejects empty input. Which Selenium Python code correctly handles this scenario and verifies the rejection message?

hard

A. alert = driver.switch_to.alert
alert.send_keys('')
alert.accept()
msg = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'error').text
assert msg == 'Input required'

B. alert = driver.switch_to.alert
alert.dismiss()
msg = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'error').text
assert msg == 'Input required'

C. alert = driver.switch_to.alert
alert.send_keys('25')
alert.dismiss()
msg = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'error').text
assert msg == 'Input required'

D. alert = driver.switch_to.alert
alert.send_keys('')
alert.dismiss()
msg = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'error').text
assert msg == 'Input required'

Solution

1. Step 1: Send empty input and accept alert

   Send empty string to prompt and accept to simulate empty input submission.

2. Step 2: Verify error message on page

   Check the element with ID 'error' for the rejection message 'Input required'.

3. Final Answer:

   Send empty input + accept + assert error message -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Empty input + accept triggers error message [OK]

Hint: Send empty string then accept to test input validation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Dismissing alert instead of accepting
• Not sending any input before accept
• Checking wrong element for error message