Checking state (isDisplayed, isEnabled, isSelected) in Selenium Java

Introduction

We check if elements are visible, clickable, or selected to make sure our tests interact with the right parts of a webpage.

Before clicking a button, check if it is enabled to avoid errors.

Verify if a checkbox is selected before submitting a form.

Confirm that a popup or message is visible before reading its content.

Ensure a link is visible before trying to click it.

Check if a radio button is selected to validate user choices.

Syntax

Selenium Java

boolean isDisplayed = element.isDisplayed();
boolean isEnabled = element.isEnabled();
boolean isSelected = element.isSelected();

isDisplayed() returns true if the element is visible on the page.

isEnabled() returns true if the element can be interacted with (not disabled).

isSelected() returns true if the element is selected (applicable for checkboxes, radio buttons, and options).

Examples

Check if the submit button is visible on the page.

Selenium Java

WebElement button = driver.findElement(By.id("submitBtn"));
boolean visible = button.isDisplayed();

Check if the checkbox for agreeing to terms is selected.

Selenium Java

WebElement checkbox = driver.findElement(By.name("agreeTerms"));
boolean selected = checkbox.isSelected();

Check if the text input field is enabled for typing.

Selenium Java

WebElement inputField = driver.findElement(By.cssSelector("input[type='text']"));
boolean enabled = inputField.isEnabled();

Sample Program

This program opens a webpage, finds the submit button and terms checkbox, then prints if the button is visible and enabled, and if the checkbox is selected.

Selenium Java

import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebElement;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;

public class CheckElementState {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "path/to/chromedriver");
        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
        try {
            driver.get("https://example.com/form");

            WebElement submitButton = driver.findElement(By.id("submitBtn"));
            WebElement termsCheckbox = driver.findElement(By.id("terms"));

            boolean isSubmitVisible = submitButton.isDisplayed();
            boolean isSubmitEnabled = submitButton.isEnabled();
            boolean isTermsSelected = termsCheckbox.isSelected();

            System.out.println("Submit button visible: " + isSubmitVisible);
            System.out.println("Submit button enabled: " + isSubmitEnabled);
            System.out.println("Terms checkbox selected: " + isTermsSelected);
        } finally {
            driver.quit();
        }
    }
}

Important Notes

Always check if an element is displayed before interacting to avoid errors.

isSelected() works mainly for checkboxes, radio buttons, and options in dropdowns.

Elements not enabled cannot be clicked or typed into.

Summary

Use isDisplayed() to check visibility.

Use isEnabled() to check if element can be used.

Use isSelected() to check selection state of checkboxes or radios.

Practice

1. Which Selenium WebDriver method would you use to check if a button is visible on the web page?

easy

A. getText()

B. isEnabled()

C. isSelected()

D. isDisplayed()

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of isDisplayed()

   This method checks if an element is visible on the page, meaning it is rendered and not hidden.

2. Step 2: Compare with other methods

   isEnabled() checks if the element can be interacted with, isSelected() checks selection state, and getText() returns text content, so they don't check visibility.

3. Final Answer:

   isDisplayed() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Visibility check = isDisplayed() [OK]

Hint: Visibility means use isDisplayed() method [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing isDisplayed() with isEnabled()
• Using isSelected() for visibility
• Thinking getText() checks visibility

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to check if a checkbox element is selected in Selenium Java?

easy

A. checkbox.isSelected();

B. checkbox.isDisplayed();

C. checkbox.isEnabled();

D. checkbox.getSelected();

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the method to check selection state

   The correct method to check if a checkbox or radio button is selected is isSelected().

2. Step 2: Verify syntax correctness

   checkbox.isSelected(); is valid Java syntax. getSelected() does not exist, and the others check different states.

3. Final Answer:

   checkbox.isSelected(); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Check selection = isSelected() [OK]

Hint: Use isSelected() to check checkbox state [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using getSelected() which is invalid
• Confusing isDisplayed() with isSelected()
• Using isEnabled() to check selection

3. Given the following code snippet, what will be the output if the button is visible but disabled?

WebElement button = driver.findElement(By.id("submitBtn"));
System.out.println(button.isDisplayed());
System.out.println(button.isEnabled());

medium

A. true true

B. true false

C. false true

D. false false

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand isDisplayed() output

   The button is visible, so isDisplayed() returns true.

2. Step 2: Understand isEnabled() output

   The button is disabled, so isEnabled() returns false.

3. Final Answer:

   true false -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Visible = true, Enabled = false [OK]

Hint: Visible true, enabled false if disabled button [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming disabled means not displayed
• Mixing up isDisplayed() and isEnabled() results
• Expecting both to be true always

4. Identify the error in the following code snippet that checks if a radio button is selected:

WebElement radio = driver.findElement(By.name("gender"));
if(radio.isEnabled()) {
    System.out.println("Selected");
} else {
    System.out.println("Not Selected");
}

medium

A. Should use isSelected() instead of isEnabled()

B. Missing semicolon after findElement()

C. Incorrect locator By.name should be By.id

D. No error, code is correct

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of isEnabled() vs isSelected()

   isEnabled() checks if the element can be interacted with, not if it is selected.

2. Step 2: Identify correct method to check selection

   To check if a radio button is selected, isSelected() must be used.

3. Final Answer:

   Should use isSelected() instead of isEnabled() -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Selection check = isSelected() [OK]

Hint: Use isSelected() to check radio button selection [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using isEnabled() to check selection
• Assuming enabled means selected
• Ignoring method purpose differences

5. You want to write a test that clicks a checkbox only if it is visible, enabled, and not already selected. Which of the following code snippets correctly implements this logic?

hard

A. if(!checkbox.isDisplayed() && checkbox.isEnabled() && checkbox.isSelected()) {
checkbox.click();
}

B. if(checkbox.isDisplayed() || checkbox.isEnabled() || checkbox.isSelected()) {
checkbox.click();
}

C. if(checkbox.isDisplayed() && checkbox.isEnabled() && !checkbox.isSelected()) {
checkbox.click();
}

D. if(checkbox.isDisplayed() && !checkbox.isEnabled() && !checkbox.isSelected()) {
checkbox.click();
}

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the required conditions

   The checkbox must be visible (isDisplayed()), enabled (isEnabled()), and not selected (!isSelected()).

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   if(checkbox.isDisplayed() && checkbox.isEnabled() && !checkbox.isSelected()) { checkbox.click(); } uses AND (&&) to combine all correct conditions and negates isSelected() to ensure it is not selected before clicking.

3. Final Answer:

   if(checkbox.isDisplayed() && checkbox.isEnabled() && !checkbox.isSelected()) { checkbox.click(); } -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use AND for all true and NOT for selection [OK]

Hint: Use && for all true and ! for not selected [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using OR (||) instead of AND (&&)
• Not negating isSelected() when needed
• Clicking when checkbox is disabled or hidden