How to Fix the Element Not Interactable Error in Selenium When Using Python

Learn how to resolve the `Element Not Interactable` error in your Selenium automation scripts with Python. This guide provides step-by-step instructions and code samples to successfully interact with input elements on webpages.
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How to Fix the Element Not Interactable Error in Selenium When Using Python

If you’re working with Selenium and Python to automate browser tasks, you might encounter the frustrating ElementNotInteractableException. This common error typically indicates that your code is trying to interact with an element that isn't currently in a state to be interacted with. In this post, we will delve into the reasons behind this error and how to resolve it, using an example involving an input textbox for searching a company on a specific webpage.

Understanding the Problem

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

However, when you run this script, you encounter an error:

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

This error occurs because the input element you are trying to interact with is not currently visible or interactable on the webpage. Specifically, in this instance, it seems that the input is intended for mobile views and, as such, may be hidden in the current web view due to window dimensions or other reasons.

Solution: Access the Correct Input Element

To successfully interact with the input element, you need to ensure that you are selecting an element that is visible on the webpage. Below is a step-by-step approach to do this:

Step 1: Use WebDriverWait

Instead of directly searching for the element, you can leverage WebDriverWait to wait until the input elements are present on the page.

Step 2: Filter Visible Elements

After obtaining the list of elements, filter them to find the ones that are actually visible and interactable.

Step 3: Click and Input Search

Now, you can interact with the first visible input element. Here’s an updated version of the code that accomplishes this:

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

Key Points to Remember

Element Visibility: Ensure the element is visible before interaction. Use methods like is_displayed() to check visibility.

WebDriverWait: This is crucial for waiting until elements are present and interactable.

Error Handling: Consider incorporating error handling into your script to manage exceptions more gracefully.

By following these steps, you can effectively resolve ElementNotInteractableException issues, allowing your Selenium automation scripts to run smoothly and successfully interact with the necessary elements on the webpage.

With this knowledge, you can now confidently interact with any input textbox in your Selenium projects!