Difference Between findElement() and findElements() in Java

When it comes to web automation testing with Java and Selenium, there are essential tools and functions that every automation engineer must understand. Among these are findElement() and findElements(). These methods are crucial for locating web elements on a page, but they serve different purposes and have distinct use cases.

In this section, we will delve into the differences between findElement() and findElements() in Java Selenium. We will also provide full Java programs with sample output to illustrate their usage in practical scenarios.

Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into the differences, let's establish a fundamental understanding of these two methods:

findElement()

• findElement() is a method provided by the WebDriver interface in Selenium.
• It is used to locate the first element that matches a specified set of criteria.
• If no matching element is found, it throws a NoSuchElementException.
• findElement() returns a single WebElement object.

findElements()

• findElements() is another method provided by the WebDriver interface in Selenium.
• It is used to locate all elements that match a specified set of criteria.
• If no matching elements are found, it returns an empty list (not null).
• findElements() returns a list of WebElement objects.

Difference 1: Singular vs. Plural

The most apparent difference between findElement() and findElements() is in their names, which suggest their return types. findElement() returns a single WebElement, whereas findElements() returns a list of WebElements.

Here's a simple program to demonstrate this difference:

Output:

Single Element Text: Example Domain Number of Multiple Elements: 4 

As we can see, findElement() returns a single WebElement, while findElements() returns a list of WebElements.

Difference 2: Exception Handling

Another significant difference between these methods is how they handle exceptions when no matching elements are found on the page.

findElement()

• When findElement() doesn't find a matching element, it throws a NoSuchElementException.

findElements()

• When findElements() doesn't find any matching elements, it returns an empty list (not null).

Here's a program illustrating the exception handling difference:

Output:

Exception caught: no such element: Unable to locate element: {"method":"id","selector":"nonExistentElement"} Number of Elements Found: 0 

In this program, we attempt to find an element with an ID that doesn't exist and elements with a class that doesn't exist on the page.

As we can see, findElement() throws an exception when it doesn't find a matching element, while findElements() simply returns an empty list without throwing an exception.

Difference 3: Use Cases

The choice between findElement() and findElements() largely depends on the specific testing scenario and what we intend to do with the located elements.

findElement()

• Use findElement() when you expect only one element to match your criteria, and you want to interact with or assert something on that element.
• It's ideal for scenarios where you need to locate the first occurrence of an element, such as clicking on a button or extracting text from a header.

findElements()

• Use findElements() when you expect multiple elements to match your criteria, and we want to interact with or assert something on each of these elements.
• It's useful for scenarios where you need to validate the presence of multiple elements, such as checking the count of search results or extracting data from a table with multiple rows.

UseCasesExample.java

Output:

Total Links on the Page: 10 

Key Differences Between findElement() and findElements()

Wrapping It Up

In the world of Java Selenium automation testing, understanding the differences between findElement() and findElements() is crucial. These methods serve different purposes and have distinct use cases, as we have explored in this section.

In summary, findElement() is used to locate and interact with a single element, throwing an exception if none is found. findElements() is used to locate multiple elements, returning an empty list if none are found. By choosing the appropriate method based on your testing needs, we can write efficient and effective automation scripts that navigate and validate web pages with ease. Remember that these methods are just one piece of the Selenium puzzle, and mastering them is essential for building robust automation solutions.