What are Exceptions in Selenium?

When it comes to automated testing, Selenium is one of the most popular and widely used tools. It is an open-source automation testing tool that is used to test web applications. It is a powerful tool that can be used to automate the testing process, but it is not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges is dealing with exceptions. In this article, we will discuss what exceptions are in Selenium and how to handle them.

What are Exceptions?

An exception is an event that occurs during the execution of a program that disrupts the normal flow of instructions. Exceptions can be either checked or unchecked. Checked exceptions are those that are checked at compile time and must be handled in the code. Unchecked exceptions are those that are not checked at compile time and can be handled at runtime.

Types of Exceptions in Selenium

In Selenium, there are two types of exceptions: checked exceptions and unchecked exceptions. Let’s take a look at each of them in more detail.

Checked Exceptions

Checked exceptions are those that are checked at compile time and must be handled in the code. In Selenium, checked exceptions are those that occur when a user interacts with a web page. Examples of checked exceptions in Selenium include NoSuchElementException, NoSuchFrameException, NoSuchWindowException, and StaleElementReferenceException.

These exceptions are handled before compiling the code, therefore, such exceptions are examined at the compile time. When a checked exception occurs, the code stops executing and the exception is thrown. The user must then handle the exception by writing code to handle the exception.

Unchecked Exceptions

Unchecked exceptions are those that are not checked at compile time and can be handled at runtime. In Selenium, unchecked exceptions are those that occur when a user interacts with a web page. Examples of unchecked exceptions in Selenium include ElementNotVisibleException, ElementNotSelectableException, and InvalidElementStateException.

These exceptions are not checked at compile time, therefore, such exceptions are examined at the runtime. When an unchecked exception occurs, the code continues to execute and the exception is thrown. The user must then handle the exception by writing code to handle the exception.

How to Handle Exceptions in Selenium

When dealing with exceptions in Selenium, it is important to understand how to handle them. There are several ways to handle exceptions in Selenium, including using try-catch blocks, using exception handling methods, and using the Assert class.

Using Try-Catch Blocks

Using try-catch blocks is one of the most common ways to handle exceptions in Selenium. Try-catch blocks are used to catch exceptions and handle them gracefully. When a try-catch block is used, the code is wrapped in a try block and any exceptions that occur are caught in the catch block.

Using Exception Handling Methods

Exception handling methods are another way to handle exceptions in Selenium. Exception handling methods are methods that are used to handle exceptions. Examples of exception handling methods in Selenium include onException(), onError(), and onFailure().

Using the Assert Class

The Assert class is another way to handle exceptions in Selenium. The Assert class is a class that is used to verify that a certain condition is true. If the condition is not true, an exception is thrown.

Conclusion

Exceptions are an important part of the automated testing process. In Selenium, there are two types of exceptions: checked exceptions and unchecked exceptions. Checked exceptions are those that are checked at compile time and must be handled in the code. Unchecked exceptions are those that are not checked at compile time and can be handled at runtime. There are several ways to handle exceptions in Selenium, including using try-catch blocks, using exception handling methods, and using the Assert class. Understanding how to handle exceptions in Selenium is an important part of the automated testing process.