Fixing Selenium’s New URL Tab Issue in Python and Chrome

As one of the most popular automation testing tools in the market, Selenium has been widely used for web application testing. However, recently many Selenium users have encountered a new issue when working with Python and Chrome. The problem involves the opening of new URL tabs during the test, which can lead to unexpected failures and difficulties in test automation.

If you are facing this issue in your test automation, don’t worry! There are several ways to fix it. In this article, we will walk you through some effective methods to solve this problem in Python and Chrome.

We will cover the root causes of the new URL tab issue and provide you with detailed steps for each solution. By reading this article, you will gain a deeper understanding of how Selenium works and be able to apply the best practices to your own test automation project. So, let’s dive into it!

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced Selenium user, this article is going to be helpful for you. We have simplified the explanations and provided clear examples for each solution. So, whether you prefer a code-based approach or a configuration-based approach, you will find the solution that suits you the best.

So, let’s get started and learn how to fix Selenium’s new URL tab issue in Python and Chrome once and for all. By the end of this article, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle this issue and make your test automation more efficient and reliable than ever before!

“Selenium Won’T Open A New Url In A New Tab (Python & Chrome)” ~ bbaz

Introduction

Selenium is a tool that automates web browsers. It is widely used by software testers and developers to test their web applications on various browsers. However, it has been observed recently that Selenium faces a new URL tab issue in Python and Chrome. This problem is a major cause of concern as it affects the performance of Selenium-based automated tests. In this article, we will discuss this issue and ways to fix it.

The Problem

The issue was first reported by several users on the Selenium Github forum. Selenium starts opening a new tab when it encounters a link with the target=_blank attribute. For instance, if the automated test script is supposed to click a link that opens in a new tab, Selenium opens the new tab but fails to switch to it. Instead, it stays on the original tab and continues executing the remaining steps, leading to test failures.

This issue has affected many users who use Selenium with Python and Chrome. The reason why this issue arose is that Google Chrome implemented a new window handling mechanism that conflicts with Selenium’s existing mechanism. Hence, Selenium’s WindowHandler is unable to handle the new tab opening request.

Workaround Solutions

There are multiple ways to resolve this issue. One way is to modify your test code to avoid clicking on links with target=_blank attributes. However, in some cases, it might not be possible to modify the code. Therefore, other workarounds need to be explored.

Changing Browser Settings

Another way to resolve the issue is to change Chrome’s default behavior to open links in the current tab instead of a new tab. This can be done by modifying Chrome’s settings. However, this approach is not recommended as it affects the user’s browsing experience and may also break other websites that rely on opening links in new tabs.

Using Javascript to Switch Tabs

A more viable workaround is to use JavaScript to switch to the new tab. Once the new tab is opened, you can execute some JavaScript code to switch the focus to the new tab. Here’s an example:

“`javascriptdriver.execute_script(window.open(”);)driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])“`

The Solution

Fortunately, the latest version of Selenium (4.0) has fixed this issue. In version 4.0.0.a5, Selenium has introduced a new solution called the New Window management API. This API provides a set of methods to handle new windows across different browsers. These methods are more robust and reliable than the existing mechanism.

Using the New Window Management API

Let’s see an example of how to use the new API to handle new windows:

“`python# import the necessary librariesfrom selenium import webdriverfrom selenium.webdriver.common.by import Byfrom selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWaitfrom selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as ECfrom selenium.webdriver.common.window import WindowTypes# create a new Chrome driver instancedriver = webdriver.Chrome()# navigate to the desired web pagedriver.get(https://www.example.com)# click on the link that opens the new tablink = WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(EC.presence_of_element_located((By.LINK_TEXT, New Tab)))link.click()# wait for the new tab to opennew_window = WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(EC.new_window_is_opened)# switch to the new tabdriver.switch_to.window(new_window)# perform actions on the new tabassert driver.current_url == https://www.example.com/new-tab# close the new tabdriver.close()# switch back to the original tabdriver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[0])# close the original tabdriver.close()# quit the driverdriver.quit()“`

As you can see, the code uses the WebDriverWait class to wait for the link to become clickable and the new window to open. Then, it switches to the new window using the new_window_is_opened method and asserts its URL. Finally, it closes the two tabs and quits the driver.

Comparison Table

Solution Method	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages
Modify test code	Avoid clicking on links with target=_blank attributes	Simple solution	Not always possible to modify the code
Change browser settings	Disable opening links in new tabs	Works with most browsers	Affects user experience
JavaScript window switching	Execute JavaScript code to switch to new window	Works with most browsers	Requires knowledge of JavaScript
New Window management API	Handle new windows across different browsers	Robust and reliable	Not supported by older versions of Selenium

Conclusion

Selenium’s new URL tab issue in Python and Chrome has been a cause for concern among the testing community. However, there are several ways to resolve this issue, including changing browser settings, using JavaScript, and modifying test code. The most effective solution is to use the new Window management API introduced in Selenium 4.0.0.a5. This API provides a robust and reliable mechanism to handle new windows across different browsers. By implementing these solutions, testers and developers can ensure the smooth execution of their automated tests and improve the quality of their web applications.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog about Fixing Selenium’s New URL Tab Issue in Python and Chrome. We hope that this article was informative and provided you with some useful tips and tricks for resolving this problem.

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People also ask about Fixing Selenium’s New URL Tab Issue in Python and Chrome:

1. What is the new URL tab issue in Selenium?

2. How does the new URL tab issue affect Selenium testing in Python and Chrome?

3. Is there a way to fix the new URL tab issue in Selenium?

4. Can the new URL tab issue be prevented in Selenium?

Answers:

1. The new URL tab issue in Selenium occurs when a new tab is opened during a test, causing Selenium to lose focus on the original tab and resulting in errors or test failures.

2. The new URL tab issue can cause Selenium scripts in Python and Chrome to fail, as the script may not be able to locate elements or interact with them properly due to the loss of focus.

3. There are several ways to fix the new URL tab issue in Selenium, including using the switch_to_window() method to switch back to the original tab, using the close() method to close the new tab, and using the driver.switch_to.window() method to switch between tabs.

4. The new URL tab issue can be prevented in Selenium by ensuring that all links and buttons are set to open in the same tab, rather than a new tab, and by using the appropriate Selenium methods to switch between tabs when necessary.