How to Store WebElements in an Array with Selenium in Java

Описание: A comprehensive guide on how to store Selenium WebElements in an array using Java. Learn the correct approach and avoid common pitfalls.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/63935770/ asked by the user 'vishal gupta' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/11675917/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/63935997/ provided by the user 'Robo Mop' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8089674/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Store WebElements in an Array with Selenium in Java

In the world of Selenium automation testing, you're often required to interact with various web elements on a page. One common scenario is needing to store these WebElements in an array for easy management and access. However, you might find yourself facing some challenges when attempting to do this. In this guide, we'll dissect the problem and explore an effective solution.

Understanding the Problem

You may want to store multiple WebElements so that you can perform actions on them collectively. The initial attempt might look something like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Here, multiple WebElements are being retrieved using the findElement method. But when you try to store them in a list, you may encounter errors, like so:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This line of code is incorrect and results in a compilation error. Let's explore how to correct it!

Solution Overview

You cannot create lists in Java in the way you tried to. Instead, you should utilize the List.of() method, which allows you to instantiate a list with a predefined set of elements and ensures proper handling of types.

Step-by-Step Guide to Store WebElements in an Array

Retrieve the WebElements: First, you must fetch the elements using the findElement method as demonstrated earlier.

Store in a List: Instead of attempting to create a new ArrayList directly with curly braces, use the List.of() method to create a list from your WebElements.

Here’s the corrected code snippet:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Points to Remember

List Creation: Always use the proper method (List.of()) for list initialization in Java when you want to add predetermined elements.

WebElement Management: By storing WebElements in a list, you can easily loop through them and perform actions like click, get text, etc.

Using these approaches will help you avoid runtime exceptions and make your code cleaner and more maintainable.

Conclusion

Storing WebElements in an array is a foundational skill for anyone automating web applications using Selenium. By using the List.of() method, you ensure that the elements are properly handled and accessible. With this knowledge, you can effectively manage multiple elements in your Selenium tests.

Feel free to reach out with any questions or share your experiences with storing WebElements in your Selenium projects!