Ultimate XPath Writing Cheat Sheet Tutorial with Syntax and Examples

Greatest 20 methodologies for designing robust XPaths for any web elements (XPath validity guaranteed):

A web application accommodates various elements such as buttons, input fields, dropdown menus, and radio buttons.

These web components are also referred to tags or nodes.

The automation of web applications initiates by scripting an automation that can find the intended web element and performs a needed action on it, such as clicking a button, typing in text, choosing an option, or scrolling through the page.

What is XPath and Its Look?

Locating a web element can be compared to finding a house in a map. To locate a friend’s place without any aid, you require a map and a clear picture of what you’re looking for.

In terms of web automation, the map refers to the DOM (including HTML tags, JavaScript, etc.), which houses all the web elements, including your desired web element.

After determining the unique path or address of an element on the web, you can execute actions on it suitable for your testing scenario, like confirming the URL of a webpage post button clicking.

However, finding a web element’s unique address or path—also referred to as an XPath—can be hard due to similar tags, matching attributes, and complicated DOM layouts.

In this guide, we will delve into 20 effective methods to generate valid and exclusive XPaths for any web element.

Top Tactics for Writing XPath for Any Web Element

Below are the most impressive techniques to create stunning XPaths:

1st Method: Reverse Lookup

With similar web components, like dynamic attribute buttons, you can use reverse lookup to find a unique element. Begin by finding a nearby tag with an exclusive attribute and employ the XPath to navigate to the intended element.

Code example:

//*[@id='rcTEST']//*[contains(text(), 'TEST Interactive')]/../button[2]

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2nd Method: Using Variables and Custom Values

Utilize variables to store values or web element attributes and create XPaths based on the variables. This enables dynamic XPath creation and eases the process of comparing and interacting with web elements.
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3rd Method: Using “XML” Tags, “AND,” and More

Generate unique XPaths by merging customized tags and other conditions like “AND” clauses. This zooms into specific elements to ensure the validity of the XPath.
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4th Method: Using Attributes and Tabular XPATH

While working with web elements nested inside tables, navigate the table structure using XPATH syntax and attributes for table components. This aids in precisely pinpointing specific elements within the table.
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5th Method: Using Attributes, Tables, and Text

Whenever a desired web element is situated within a table and shares common text, mix attribute selection, table traversal, and text matching to locate the target element in the table.
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These are merely a handful of the 20 techniques covered in this guide. Every technique makes use of different combinations of XPath syntax, tags, attributes, and conditions to create effective and distinctive XPaths for web components.

By grasping and implementing these methodologies, you will become adept at crafting your own XPaths, dramatically decreasing the possibility of XPath invalidation.

Remember, asking your development team to assign unique IDs to web components can drastically streamline XPath creation and guarantee longevity.

Conclusion

Crafting efficient XPaths demands comprehensive knowledge of codes and a plethora of XPath tactics. The deeper your understanding of the code layout and the available XPath syntax, the more flexible you are at creating accurate and valid XPaths.

When confronted with complex DOM structures and identical web elements, relying on advanced XPath methods such as reverse lookup, a combination of tags and attributes, and the creative application of conditions like “contains” and “following-sibling” is crucial.

Communicate with your development team and advocate for unique IDs for web components to simplify XPath creation and assure long-term XPath validity.

Don’t forget to bookmark this in-depth guide and refer back whenever you need to author XPath for any web element!

About Author: This article has been written by Adnan Arif, an IT expert with more than 9 years of experience and a wide array of skills in his sector.