Find element by name in Selenium Python

Introduction

Finding elements by their name attribute helps you interact with web page parts easily, like filling forms.

When you want to enter text into a form field identified by its name.

When you need to click a button or checkbox that has a name attribute.

When automating login forms where username or password fields have name attributes.

When verifying if a specific input field exists on a page by its name.

When multiple elements share the same name and you want to select the first one.

Syntax

Selenium Python

element = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "element_name")

Use By.NAME to specify you are searching by the name attribute.

Replace "element_name" with the actual name value of the element.

Examples

Finds the input field where the name attribute is 'username'.

Selenium Python

username_input = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "username")

Finds the button with the name 'submit' to click it later.

Selenium Python

submit_button = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "submit")

Finds a checkbox input named 'agree_terms' to check or uncheck.

Selenium Python

checkbox = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "agree_terms")

Sample Program

This script opens a simple HTML form in the browser, finds elements by their name attributes, and prints their tag names.

Selenium Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
import urllib.parse

# Setup WebDriver (make sure the driver executable is in PATH)
driver = webdriver.Chrome()

# Open a simple test page with a form
html = '''
<html>
  <body>
    <form>
      <input type="text" name="username" />
      <input type="password" name="password" />
      <input type="submit" name="login" value="Login" />
    </form>
  </body>
</html>
'''

# Encode the HTML content to be used in data URL
encoded_html = urllib.parse.quote(html)

# Load the HTML content using data URL
driver.get("data:text/html;charset=utf-8," + encoded_html)

# Find the username input by name
username_field = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "username")
print(f"Found element with name 'username': tag name is {username_field.tag_name}")

# Find the login button by name
login_button = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "login")
print(f"Found element with name 'login': tag name is {login_button.tag_name}")

# Close the browser
driver.quit()

Important Notes

Always ensure the element with the given name exists, or Selenium will raise an error.

Use find_elements(By.NAME, "name") to get a list if multiple elements share the same name.

Make sure your WebDriver is set up correctly and matches your browser version.

Summary

Use find_element(By.NAME, "name") to locate elements by their name attribute.

This method is useful for interacting with form fields and buttons.

Always handle cases where the element might not be found to avoid errors.

Practice

1. What does the Selenium method find_element(By.NAME, "username") do?

easy

A. Finds the element with the class name "username".

B. Finds the first element with the name attribute equal to "username".

C. Finds the element with the id attribute "username".

D. Finds all elements with the name attribute equal to "username".

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the method purpose

   The method find_element locates a single element matching the given locator.

2. Step 2: Analyze the locator type

   Using By.NAME targets elements by their name attribute, not id or class.

3. Final Answer:

   Finds the first element with the name attribute equal to "username". -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   find_element(By.NAME, "username") = first element by name [OK]

Hint: Remember: find_element finds one element by attribute [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing find_element with find_elements (plural)
• Using id or class instead of name attribute
• Assuming it finds multiple elements

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to find an element by its name attribute "email" in Selenium Python?

easy

A. driver.find_element_by_name("email")

B. driver.find_element(By.ID, "email")

C. driver.find_element(By.NAME, "email")

D. driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, "email")

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall modern Selenium syntax

   Since Selenium 4, the correct way is to use find_element(By.NAME, "email").

2. Step 2: Check each option

   driver.find_element_by_name("email") is deprecated syntax, C and D use wrong locator types.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.find_element(By.NAME, "email") -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use By.NAME with find_element [OK]

Hint: Use By.NAME, not old find_element_by_name [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using deprecated find_element_by_name method
• Mixing locator types like ID or CLASS_NAME
• Forgetting to import By from selenium.webdriver.common.by

3. Given the code snippet:

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

driver = webdriver.Chrome()
driver.get('http://example.com')
element = driver.find_element(By.NAME, 'search')
print(element.tag_name)

What will be printed if the page has an input field with name="search"?

medium

A. An error because find_element is incorrect

B. "div"

C. "search"

D. "input"

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what find_element returns

   It returns the first matching WebElement with name="search".

2. Step 2: Check the tag_name property

   The tag_name of an input field is "input".

3. Final Answer:

   "input" -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Element with name 'search' is input tag [OK]

Hint: tag_name shows HTML tag of found element [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing attribute value with tag name
• Assuming find_element returns text content
• Thinking find_element syntax is wrong here

4. What is wrong with this code snippet?

element = driver.find_element(By.name, "password")

medium

A. By.name should be By.NAME (case sensitive).

B. The method find_element does not exist.

C. The locator should be By.ID instead of By.name.

D. The quotes around "password" are incorrect.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the locator usage

   Locator constants in Selenium are uppercase, so it should be By.NAME, not By.name.

2. Step 2: Verify other parts

   Method name and quotes are correct; locator type is appropriate for name attribute.

3. Final Answer:

   By.name should be By.NAME (case sensitive). -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Locator constants are uppercase in Selenium [OK]

Hint: Locator constants like By.NAME are uppercase [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using lowercase locator constants
• Confusing locator types (name vs id)
• Assuming method name is wrong

5. You want to fill a form field with name "user_email" using Selenium Python. Which code snippet correctly finds the element and enters the email "[e-mail]"?

hard

A. element = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "user_email")
element.send_keys("[e-mail]")

B. element = driver.find_element(By.ID, "user_email")
element.send_keys("[e-mail]")

C. element = driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, "user_email")
element.send_keys("[e-mail]")

D. element = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "user_email")
element.click()

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate element by name attribute

   Use find_element(By.NAME, "user_email") to find the input field by its name.

2. Step 2: Enter text into the field

   Use send_keys("[e-mail]") to type the email into the field.

3. Final Answer:

   element = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "user_email") element.send_keys("[e-mail]") -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Find by name + send_keys to input text [OK]

Hint: Use send_keys after find_element to type text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong locator type (ID or CLASS_NAME)
• Using click() instead of send_keys() to enter text
• Not locating element before sending keys