How Do I Replace a “Selector” When Needed?

Automation testing is a crucial aspect of software development, allowing for efficient and reliable testing of applications. One key element of automation testing is updating selectors, which are used to identify elements on a webpage. In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of replacing a selector when needed in your automation scripts.

When it comes to updating a selector in our automation script, the process is straightforward. By clicking on the three dots next to the step we want to update the selectors for, we can access the option to update selectors. This feature allows us to prioritize the selectors in a specific order, with the first selector being the most accurate or the first one to be attempted.

One notable aspect of selector updating is the flexibility it offers in matching elements on the webpage. The system follows an "or" condition, meaning that it doesn't require every selector to be correct. Instead, it only needs one matching selector to proceed with the element identification and interaction. This flexibility simplifies the process of maintaining selectors, especially in dynamic web environments.

To cater to a wide range of scenarios, the selector update functionality supports various types of selectors, including CSS selectors, XPath, and puppeteer expressions. This versatility ensures that you can choose the most suitable selector type based on the element you are targeting in your automation scripts.

In addition to updating existing selectors, the system allows users to customize their selectors by adding more variations or removing outdated ones. This level of customization ensures that your automation scripts remain adaptable to changes in the application under test, providing a seamless testing experience.

Updating selectors in automation testing is a fundamental task that enhances the reliability and efficiency of your test scripts. By following a structured approach to selector updates and leveraging the flexibility and customization options available, you can streamline your testing process and ensure accurate element identification in your automation tests.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

To update a selector in our automation, we can click on the three dots next to the step we want to update the selectors for. So I'll click the three dots here, and then we can click update selectors. The way that this works is it prioritizes the first selector, the first in the list, as the most accurate or the first to try.

And it works its way down the list. It is more of an or condition. It doesn't require every, um, selector to be correct. It just requires that one matches and then it'll work with that element. And then this is going to support CSS selectors, XPath and puppeteer expressions. So to update this, we can change the selector, the first one, most likely.

Um, in the list and then click save. We can also add more selectors if you wanted to add more variations of that, as well as remove any selectors that we disagree with or that we don't want to use anymore.