How to Click on an Element Not Immediately Available in the DOM with Java + Selenium Automation

Discover effective techniques for clicking on elements using Selenium in Java, especially when they only become visible upon scrolling.
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How to Click on an Element Not Immediately Available in the DOM with Java + Selenium Automation

When automating web applications using Selenium, a common challenge developers face is interacting with elements that are initially not available in the DOM when the page loads. This often leads to frustrating errors, such as NoSuchElementException. In this guide, we’ll explore how to handle elements that become visible only when scrolling down the page, and provide you with an effective solution to ensure your clicks are successful.

The Problem: Elements Not in the DOM

Imagine you’re trying to click a button that’s essential for your automation script to run, but when first landing on the page, it’s simply not there. This can lead to errors as shown in the following code snippet:

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

As we can see, the code throws a NoSuchElementException because the button is not in the DOM until we scroll down the page.

The Solution: Scrolling to the Element

To successfully click on an element that isn’t visible right away, we need to scroll the page first, rather than scrolling the specific element itself. This allows us to load the part of the DOM where the button is located before we attempt to interact with it. Below is the corrected approach:

Step-by-Step Solution

Scroll the Page: Use JavaScript to scroll down the page to a specified number of pixels. This ensures that the button we wish to click is potentially brought into view.

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

Locate the Element: After scrolling, try to find the button using the same method as before.

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

Click on the Element: Once we have the element, we can safely click it.

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

Handling Errors with a Loop

Sometimes, even after scrolling, you might still face issues locating the element, especially if it takes time to load. To enhance the reliability of your script, wrap the find-and-click commands in a loop and handle exceptions appropriately.

Here’s a basic implementation using a try/catch block:

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

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively manage scenarios where elements are not immediately available in the DOM. Remember to scroll the entire page rather than just targeting the element itself. This approach should help you mitigate errors and enhance your Selenium automation scripts.

Now that you're equipped with this solution, you can confidently handle those tricky cases where elements appear only after scrolling. Happy automating!