Getting text and attributes in Selenium Java

Introduction

We get text and attributes from web elements to check if the page shows the right information or has the correct settings.

To verify a button label says 'Submit' before clicking it.

To check if a link has the correct URL in its href attribute.

To confirm a message on the page matches expected text after an action.

To read the value inside a text box or input field.

To ensure an image has the right alt text for accessibility.

Syntax

Selenium Java

String text = driver.findElement(By.locator).getText();
String attributeValue = driver.findElement(By.locator).getAttribute("attributeName");

getText() returns the visible text inside an element.

getAttribute() returns the value of the given attribute, like href, src, or value.

Examples

Gets the visible text from a button with id 'submitBtn'.

Selenium Java

String buttonText = driver.findElement(By.id("submitBtn")).getText();

Gets the URL from the href attribute of a link with class 'home-link'.

Selenium Java

String linkHref = driver.findElement(By.cssSelector("a.home-link")).getAttribute("href");

Gets the current value typed inside an input box named 'username'.

Selenium Java

String inputValue = driver.findElement(By.name("username")).getAttribute("value");

Sample Program

This test opens example.com, gets the main heading text and a link's href attribute, prints them, and checks if they match expected values.

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

            WebElement heading = driver.findElement(By.tagName("h1"));
            String headingText = heading.getText();

            WebElement link = driver.findElement(By.cssSelector("p a"));
            String linkHref = link.getAttribute("href");

            System.out.println("Heading text: " + headingText);
            System.out.println("Link href: " + linkHref);

            assert headingText.equals("Example Domain") : "Heading text does not match!";
            assert linkHref.startsWith("https://") : "Link href is not a valid URL!";

            System.out.println("All assertions passed.");
        } finally {
            driver.quit();
        }
    }
}

Important Notes

Always wait for elements to be visible before getting text or attributes to avoid errors.

getText() returns visible text only, not hidden or attribute text.

getAttribute() returns null if the attribute does not exist on the element.

Summary

Use getText() to read visible text from elements.

Use getAttribute() to read any attribute value from elements.

Check the values you get to confirm the page shows what you expect.

Practice

1. Which Selenium WebDriver method is used to retrieve the visible text from a web element in Java?

easy

A. getValue()

B. getText()

C. getAttribute()

D. getContent()

Solution

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

   The getText() method returns the visible text inside a web element on the page.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from getAttribute()

   getAttribute() retrieves attribute values like 'href' or 'class', not visible text.

3. Final Answer:

   getText() -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Visible text = getText() [OK]

Hint: Use getText() for visible text, getAttribute() for attributes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing getText() with getAttribute()
• Using getValue() which is not a Selenium method
• Trying to get text with getContent() which doesn't exist

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to get the value of the 'href' attribute from a WebElement named link in Selenium Java?

easy

A. String url = link.getAttribute("href");

B. String url = link.getText("href");

C. String url = link.getValue("href");

D. String url = link.getHref();

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall getAttribute() usage

   To get an attribute value, use getAttribute("attributeName") on the WebElement.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   String url = link.getAttribute("href"); correctly calls getAttribute("href") and assigns it to a String variable.

3. Final Answer:

   String url = link.getAttribute("href"); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Attribute value = getAttribute("name") [OK]

Hint: Use getAttribute("attr") syntax to get attribute values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using getText() to get attribute values
• Calling non-existent methods like getHref()
• Passing attribute name as parameter to getText()

3. Consider the following Selenium Java code snippet:

WebElement button = driver.findElement(By.id("submitBtn"));
String text = button.getText();
String type = button.getAttribute("type");
System.out.println(text + "," + type);

If the button's visible text is "Submit" and its type attribute is "button", what will be printed?

medium

A. button

B. button,Submit

C. Submit

D. Submit,button

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand getText() output

   getText() returns the visible text "Submit" from the button element.

2. Step 2: Understand getAttribute() output

   getAttribute("type") returns the attribute value "button".

3. Step 3: Analyze print statement

   Prints text + "," + type, which is "Submit,button".

4. Final Answer:

   Submit,button -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Text + "," + Attribute = Submit,button [OK]

Hint: getText() shows visible text; getAttribute() shows attribute value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing order of printed values
• Expecting getText() to return attribute value
• Ignoring the comma in print output

4. You wrote this code to get the placeholder attribute of an input field:

WebElement input = driver.findElement(By.name("email"));
String placeholder = input.getText();

But placeholder is empty. What is the error and how to fix it?

medium

A. Use getAttribute("placeholder") instead of getText()

B. Use getText() but call it after clicking the input

C. Use getValue() instead of getText()

D. Use getText() with parameter "placeholder"

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify why getText() returns empty

   getText() returns visible text inside element, but placeholder is an attribute, not visible text.

2. Step 2: Correct method to get attribute value

   Use getAttribute("placeholder") to get the placeholder attribute's value.

3. Final Answer:

   Use getAttribute("placeholder") instead of getText() -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Attributes need getAttribute() [OK]

Hint: Use getAttribute() for attributes like placeholder [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using getText() to get attribute values
• Trying to pass attribute name to getText()
• Using non-existent getValue() method

5. You want to verify that a link's visible text is "Home" and its href attribute contains "index.html". Which Selenium Java code snippet correctly asserts both conditions?

hard

A. assertEquals(link.getText(), "index.html");
assertTrue(link.getAttribute("href").contains("Home"));

B. assertEquals(link.getAttribute("text"), "Home");
assertTrue(link.getText().contains("index.html"));

C. assertEquals(link.getText(), "Home");
assertTrue(link.getAttribute("href").contains("index.html"));

D. assertTrue(link.getText().equals("Home"));
assertEquals(link.getAttribute("href"), "index.html");

Solution

1. Step 1: Verify visible text with getText()

   Use assertEquals(link.getText(), "Home") to check visible text exactly.

2. Step 2: Verify href attribute contains substring

   Use assertTrue(link.getAttribute("href").contains("index.html")) to check href contains the expected part.

3. Final Answer:

   assertEquals(link.getText(), "Home"); assertTrue(link.getAttribute("href").contains("index.html")); -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Text = getText(), Attribute = getAttribute() [OK]

Hint: Assert visible text with getText(), attribute with getAttribute() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using getAttribute("text") which is invalid
• Comparing href exactly instead of contains
• Mixing up text and href in assertions