Python is popular as a quick-to-write, quick-to run scripting languages. It does not separate the compile step from the run
For an overview of how WebDriver works, please see the section “WebDriver Overview” in the
The Components You'll Need
To create and run WebDriver tests in Python you’ll need the following components:
- Python (This article uses 3.7.21 for examples)
- An editor
- WebDriver for Python
- The ChromeDriver executable
Choose Your Editor
Like Java, C#, Ruby, and most all other languages, Python’s code files
We’ll stay away from the Editor Wars and just suggest you try several to find one that matches your style and needs!
Get Python
OSx Sierra comes with Python 2.7 already installed. You absolutely can use that to write WebDriver; however, installing a newer version of Python is simple.
If you don’t already have it, install
brew install python
Now you have three commands - python, python2, and python3. Learn the version of python with this code:
Python -V
As of this publication the version is 3.7.2.
Adding WebDriver
pip3 install selenium
If you get an error, you may need to perform the pip install
for python3. Try this:
curl -O https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
sudo python3 get-pip.py
Adding The Firefox Driver Proxy
As noted in the WebDriver Overview in the first post of this series, you’ll need to have a proxy for your test to talk to the actual browser. This example uses Chrome so you’ll need to grab the appropriate proxy. Proxies for all WebDriver-supported browsers are listed on the SeleniumHQ’s list of Third Party Drivers. Download
Download the zip file and extract the driver to a location on your system. You may need to add that location to your system’s PATH environment variable.
Writing Your First Test
Creating your first test in Python is as simple as opening a new text file. The mechanics of that are specific to the editor you’re using. In Vim you would use something akin to
:e ~/Documents/Workspace/Python/webdriver_basics.py
This would open a new buffer for your test file in the editor.
A Simple Test
Below is a complete test case that starts a browser locally, executes a very simple test, then closes out the browser instance. The example sacrifices simplicity for “goodness”, and does not follow normal practices like the Page Object Pattern. As a
import
from selenium import
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
class WebDriverPythonBasics(unittest.TestCase):
def setUp(self):
self.browser = webdriver.Chrome()
def test_saucelabs_homepage_header_displayed(self):
self.browser.get("https://www.saucelabs.com")
element = self.browser.find_element(By.XPATH, '//a[text()="Platforms"]');
self.assertTrue(element.is_displayed());
element.click();
pricing_link = self.browser.find_element(By.XPATH, '//a[text()="Pricing"]');
self.assertTrue(pricing_link.is_displayed());
pricing_link.click();
def tearDown(self):
self.browser.close()
if __name__ == '__main__':
unittest.main()
Running The Test
Running the test is a matter of simply typing
python3 simpletest.py
from the directory where you created the file.
You’ll see Chome start, navigate to the Sauce Labs home page, click the “Platforms” link, click the “Pricing” link, and close. The tests verify that the links exist and are visible.
Wrapping It All Up
In this
Good luck with your explorations of WebDriver!
