Creating new windows/tabs in Selenium Java

Introduction

Sometimes, you need to open a new browser window or tab to test how your web app behaves with multiple pages open.

Testing login flows that open a new tab for authentication.

Checking if links open correctly in new windows or tabs.

Verifying pop-up windows or help pages open as expected.

Testing multi-step processes that require switching between tabs.

Validating that session data persists across multiple windows.

Syntax

Selenium Java

driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);

Use WindowType.TAB to open a new tab.

Use WindowType.WINDOW to open a new browser window.

Examples

This example opens a new tab and navigates to Google.

Selenium Java

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get("https://example.com");
// Open new tab
WebDriver newTab = driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
newTab.get("https://google.com");

This example opens a new browser window and navigates to Bing.

Selenium Java

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
driver.get("https://example.com");
// Open new window
WebDriver newWindow = driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);
newWindow.get("https://bing.com");

Sample Program

This test opens a new tab, navigates to Google, verifies the page title, then switches back to the original window.

Selenium Java

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.WindowType;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;

public class NewWindowTabTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
        try {
            driver.get("https://example.com");
            String originalHandle = driver.getWindowHandle();

            // Open new tab
            WebDriver newTab = driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
            newTab.get("https://google.com");

            // Check title contains 'Google'
            if (newTab.getTitle().contains("Google")) {
                System.out.println("New tab opened successfully with Google.");
            } else {
                System.out.println("Failed to open Google in new tab.");
            }

            // Switch back to original window
            driver.switchTo().window(originalHandle);
            System.out.println("Back to original window with title: " + driver.getTitle());

        } finally {
            driver.quit();
        }
    }
}

Important Notes

Always store the original window handle before opening new windows or tabs to switch back later.

Use driver.quit() to close all browser windows after the test.

Opening new windows or tabs requires Selenium 4 or higher.

Summary

Use driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB) to open a new tab.

Use driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW) to open a new window.

Remember to switch between windows or tabs using window handles.

Practice

1. Which Selenium Java command is used to open a new browser tab?

easy

A. driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB)

B. driver.openNewTab()

C. driver.createTab()

D. driver.newWindow(Tab)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Selenium's new window/tab creation

   Selenium provides a method driver.switchTo().newWindow() to open new tabs or windows.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct WindowType for a tab

   Using WindowType.TAB opens a new tab, which matches driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB).

3. Final Answer:

   driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Open new tab = driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB) [OK]

Hint: Use driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB) for new tabs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using non-existent methods like driver.openNewTab()
• Confusing WindowType.WINDOW with TAB
• Trying to create tabs without switchTo()

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to open a new browser window in Selenium Java?

easy

A. driver.newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);

B. driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);

C. driver.switchTo().openWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);

D. driver.openNewWindow(WindowType.WINDOW);

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct method to open new windows

   The correct method is driver.switchTo().newWindow() with a WindowType argument.

2. Step 2: Match the exact syntax

   driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW); matches the correct syntax exactly with WindowType.WINDOW.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW); -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Open new window = driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW) [OK]

Hint: Use switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.WINDOW) to open new windows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting switchTo() before newWindow()
• Using incorrect method names like openWindow()
• Missing semicolon in Java syntax

3. What will be the output of the following Selenium Java code snippet?

driver.get("https://example.com");
String originalHandle = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
System.out.println(driver.getCurrentUrl());
driver.switchTo().window(originalHandle);
System.out.println(driver.getCurrentUrl());

medium

A. https://selenium.dev
https://selenium.dev

B. https://example.com
https://selenium.dev

C. https://selenium.dev
https://example.com

D. https://example.com
https://example.com

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand window handles and tab switching

   The code opens example.com, saves the original window handle, then opens a new tab and navigates to selenium.dev.

2. Step 2: Analyze the printed URLs

   First print shows the URL of the new tab (selenium.dev). Then it switches back to the original window and prints its URL (example.com).

3. Final Answer:

   https://selenium.dev https://example.com -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Switch tabs = different URLs printed [OK]

Hint: Switching tabs changes current URL output [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming URLs remain the same after switching tabs
• Not saving original window handle before opening new tab
• Confusing getWindowHandle() with getWindowHandles()

4. Identify the error in the following Selenium Java code snippet that tries to open a new tab:

driver.get("https://example.com");
driver.newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");

medium

A. No error, code is correct

B. WindowType.TAB is invalid

C. driver.get() cannot be used after newWindow()

D. Missing driver.switchTo() before newWindow()

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method usage for opening new tabs

   The method newWindow() must be called after driver.switchTo().

2. Step 2: Identify the missing part in the code

   The code calls driver.newWindow() directly, which is incorrect syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing driver.switchTo() before newWindow() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Always use switchTo().newWindow() [OK]

Hint: Always use driver.switchTo() before newWindow() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling newWindow() directly on driver
• Confusing WindowType.TAB as invalid
• Thinking driver.get() is restricted after newWindow()

5. You want to open a new tab, navigate to a URL, then switch back to the original tab and verify its title. Which code snippet correctly does this in Selenium Java?

hard

A. String original = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
driver.switchTo().window(original);
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

B. driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
String original = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().window(original);
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

C. String original = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
driver.switchTo().window(original);
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

D. driver.get("https://selenium.dev");
driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB);
driver.switchTo().window(original);
assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example");

Solution

1. Step 1: Save original window handle before opening new tab

   We must save the original window handle before opening a new tab to switch back later.

2. Step 2: Open new tab, navigate, then switch back and assert title

   String original = driver.getWindowHandle(); driver.switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB); driver.get("https://selenium.dev"); driver.switchTo().window(original); assert driver.getTitle().contains("Example"); correctly calls switchTo().newWindow(WindowType.TAB), navigates, switches back using saved handle, and asserts title.

3. Final Answer:

   Option A code snippet correctly performs all steps -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Save handle, open tab, switch back, assert [OK]

Hint: Save handle before new tab, switch back to assert [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Saving window handle after opening new tab
• Calling newWindow() without switchTo()
• Not switching back before assertion