Switching between windows in Selenium Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this Selenium window switch code?

Consider the following Selenium Python code snippet that opens a new window and switches to it. What will be the printed output?

Selenium Python

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

# Setup driver
options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
options.add_argument('--headless=new')
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)

# Open initial page
driver.get('https://example.com')
original_window = driver.current_window_handle

# Open new window
driver.execute_script('window.open("https://example.org", "_blank");')
time.sleep(1)

# Switch to new window
for handle in driver.window_handles:
    if handle != original_window:
        driver.switch_to.window(handle)
        break

print(driver.title)
driver.quit()

A NoSuchWindowException

B Example Domain - New Window

C Example Domain - Example Org

D Example Domain

💡 Hint

Remember that driver.title returns the title of the current page after switching windows.

The code opens https://example.com first, then opens a new window with https://example.org. After switching to the new window, the title of https://example.org is "Example Domain" because both example.com and example.org share the same page title.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Which assertion correctly verifies the switch to a new window?

You have switched to a new browser window using Selenium. Which assertion correctly checks that the current window handle is not the original one?

Selenium Python

original_window = driver.current_window_handle
# code to open and switch to new window

# Which assertion below is correct?

A assert driver.current_window_handle != original_window

B assert driver.current_window_handle == original_window

C assert driver.window_handles == original_window

D assert driver.current_window_handle in original_window

💡 Hint

The current window handle should be different from the original after switching.

After switching, the current window handle must not be the same as the original window handle. Option A correctly asserts this.

❓ locator

advanced

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

On a webpage, a button opens a new window when clicked. The button has the text "Open New Window" and a unique id "open-window-btn". Which locator is best to find this button in Selenium?

A driver.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, 'button#open-window-btn')

B driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//button[text()='Open New Window']")

C driver.find_element(By.ID, 'open-window-btn')

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

💡 Hint

Using unique IDs is the fastest and most reliable locator.

Locating by ID is the best practice when the element has a unique ID. Option C uses this method.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this Selenium code raise NoSuchWindowException?

Review the code below. It tries to switch to a new window but raises NoSuchWindowException. What is the likely cause?

Selenium Python

original_window = driver.current_window_handle
# Open new window
driver.execute_script('window.open("https://example.org", "_blank");')

# Incorrect switch
handle = driver.window_handles[1]
driver.switch_to.window(handle)

# Then close original window
driver.switch_to.window(original_window)
driver.close()

A The original window was closed before switching back to it

B The driver.execute_script syntax is invalid

C The new window handle index is wrong

D The driver.switch_to.window method is deprecated

💡 Hint

Check the order of window closing and switching.

The code closes the original window but then tries to switch back to it, causing NoSuchWindowException.

❓ framework

expert

How to implement a robust window switch helper in Selenium Python?

You want to create a helper function that waits for a new window to open and switches to it safely. Which implementation below correctly waits up to 10 seconds for a new window and switches to it?

Selenium Python

from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC

def switch_to_new_window(driver, timeout=10):
    original_windows = driver.window_handles
    WebDriverWait(driver, timeout).until(
        lambda d: len(d.window_handles) > len(original_windows)
    )
    new_windows = set(driver.window_handles) - set(original_windows)
    driver.switch_to.window(new_windows.pop())

A The code uses deprecated Selenium methods

B The code waits for a new window and switches to it correctly

C The code switches before waiting for the new window

D The code waits but does not switch to the new window

💡 Hint

Check the order of waiting and switching in the function.

The function waits until a new window appears, then switches to it. This is the correct and robust approach.