How to Resolve Element Not Interactable Error in Selenium Java for Hidden Elements

Discover effective solutions to resolve the "Element Not Interactable" error in Selenium Java when dealing with hidden elements. Learn how to handle this common issue in Selenium WebDriver.
---
Disclaimer/Disclosure: Some of the content was synthetically produced using various Generative AI (artificial intelligence) tools; so, there may be inaccuracies or misleading information present in the video. Please consider this before relying on the content to make any decisions or take any actions etc. If you still have any concerns, please feel free to write them in a comment. Thank you.
---
How to Resolve Element Not Interactable Error in Selenium Java for Hidden Elements

Introduction

Encountering the "Element Not Interactable" error in Selenium Java can be quite frustrating, especially when dealing with hidden elements or elements that are not currently visible on the screen. This error occurs when Selenium tries to interact with an element that is either hidden, covered by another element, or not yet clickable. In this guide, we'll explore common scenarios that cause this error and discuss potential solutions to resolve it.

Understanding the Error

The "Element Not Interactable" error typically occurs in the following situations:

Hidden Elements: The element is present in the DOM but is not visible on the screen.

Covered Elements: Another element is overlaying the element you wish to interact with.

Unready Elements: The element is not yet fully loaded or rendered on the web page.

Solutions to Resolve the Error

Waiting for Element to be Visible

One of the most reliable methods to resolve this issue is to wait until the element becomes visible and interactable. Selenium WebDriver provides explicit waits using the WebDriverWait class along with ExpectedConditions.

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

Scrolling to the Element

If the element is outside the current viewport, JavaScriptExecutor can be used to scroll to the element.

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

Handling Overlapping Elements

If another element overlaps the target element, you can use JavaScript to click the element directly.

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

Ensure the Element is Enabled

Make sure that the element is enabled and can be interacted with.

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

Conclusion

The "Element Not Interactable" error can be mitigated effectively by understanding the root cause and applying appropriate solutions such as waiting for the element to be visible, scrolling to the element, using JavaScript to handle overlapping elements, or ensuring that the element is enabled. These techniques will help you interact with elements more reliably and improve the stability of your tests in Selenium Java.

By addressing the specific causes of this error, you can make your Selenium WebDriver scripts more robust and efficient. Happy testing!