lrhache/python-selenium-open-tab.md

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Python Selenium - Open new tab / focus tab / close tab

Raw

On a recent project, I ran into an issue with Python Selenium webdriver. There's no easy way to open a new tab, grab whatever you need and return to original window opener.

Here's a couple people who ran into the same complication:

So, after many minutes (read about an hour) of searching, I decided to do find a quick solution to this problem.

First thing, I've broken down all the steps that were required to do by my program:

Open a new window/tab by simulating a click on a link
Add focus on this new tab
Wait for an element on the new page to be rendered (ui.WebDriverWait)
Do whatever I have to do on this new page
Close the tab
Return focus on original window opener

Easy solution

First off, we import our packages:

import selenium.webdriver as webdriver
import selenium.webdriver.support.ui as ui
from selenium.webdriver.common.keys import Keys
from time import sleep

Let's do it:

browser = webdriver.Firefox()
browser.get('https://www.google.com?q=python#q=python')
first_result = ui.WebDriverWait(browser, 15).until(lambda browser: browser.find_element_by_class_name('rc'))
first_link = first_result.find_element_by_tag_name('a')

# Save the window opener (current window, do not mistaken with tab... not the same)
main_window = browser.current_window_handle

# Open the link in a new tab by sending key strokes on the element
# Use: Keys.CONTROL + Keys.SHIFT + Keys.RETURN to open tab on top of the stack 
first_link.send_keys(Keys.CONTROL + Keys.RETURN)

# Switch tab to the new tab, which we will assume is the next one on the right
browser.find_element_by_tag_name('body').send_keys(Keys.CONTROL + Keys.TAB)
    
# Put focus on current window which will, in fact, put focus on the current visible tab
browser.switch_to_window(main_window)

# do whatever you have to do on this page, we will just got to sleep for now
sleep(2)

# Close current tab
browser.find_element_by_tag_name('body').send_keys(Keys.CONTROL + 'w')

# Put focus on current window which will be the window opener
browser.switch_to_window(main_window)

Simple!

Danielyan86 commented Jan 13, 2016

chrome doesn't work and no exception neither

saikirankv commented Jan 27, 2016

I'm using chromeDriver, I'm able to open a new tab but, I'm unable to pass the URL to newly opened tab.

purvabansal commented Mar 1, 2016

This thing doesnot work for phantomjs. Any suggestions on how to close and open a new tab in phantomjs using shortcut keys and selenium? For chrome, it worked fine in my case.

niveditakhoche commented Mar 14, 2016

Hi This is regarding selenium automation I am trying to switch between tabs using window handler could you tell me what am I doing wrong.

go to Gmail
open bing.com in next tab
I am using browser.execute_script('''window.open("http://bings.com","_blank");''')
to open new tab as Keys.COMMAND +’t’ is not working
Also, for switching between windows I am trying to use window handler but could not get it work.Could you please let me know what am I doing wrong and what needs to be done thanks.
browser = self.resource_handler.driver
browser.set_page_load_timeout(60)
browser.implicitly_wait(15)
browser.get("http://google.com")
main_window = browser.current_window_handle

main_window = browser.getWindowHandle()

print main_window

time.sleep(5)

browser.execute_script('''window.open("http://bings.com","_blank");''')

time.sleep(2)

second_window = browser.current_window_handle

print browser.title

------------------------

body = browser.find_element_by_tag_name("body").send_keys(Keys.COMMAND+Keys.TAB)

browser.execute_script('''window.open("http://bings.com","_blank");''')

browser.find_element_by_tag_name("body").send_keys(Keys.COMMAND + Keys.ENTER)

time.sleep(5)
print 'new oldtab opened'
print browser.title
browser.switch_to_window(main_window)
print browser.switch_to_window(browser.window_handles[1])
print 'newtab opened'
time.sleep(5)

vermontitude commented Mar 21, 2016

On OS X using Chromebrowser, I've been able to open new tabs using:

send_keys(Keys.COMMAND + Keys.RETURN + "2")

And then switch to that tab using:

for handle in self.driver.window_handles:
    print "Handle is:" + str(handle) #only one handle number
    self.driver.switch_to_window(handle)

Instead of trying to physically switch to the tab using key commands, which didn't work, I realized that I could extract data from a tab as long as its window handle was selected. With the handle switched to the last tab opened, I generically extract data like so:

summary = self.driver.find_element(By.XPATH, '//body/div/div/div/section/section/div/section/p')
print summary.text

Then I close the tab like so:

self.driver.close()

Then switch back to the current window using the handle loop code from above:

for handle in self.driver.window_handles:
    print "Handle is:" + str(handle) #only one handle number
    self.driver.switch_to_window(handle)

dandepeched commented Oct 19, 2016 •

edited

Loading

Currently this solution does not work for Firefox (tested on 47.0.1). Selenium does not see new Firefox tab as the new window and can't window_handle new tabs.
I was able to make it work by opening the link in a new window, not new tab. Following shortcut can be used for this:
Keys.SHIFT + Keys.RETURN

Here is modified code that I'm using:

browser = webdriver.Firefox()
browser.get('https://www.google.com?q=python#q=python')
first_result = ui.WebDriverWait(browser, 15).until(lambda browser: browser.find_element_by_class_name('rc'))
first_link = first_result.find_element_by_tag_name('a')

# Save the window opener (current window)
main_window = browser.current_window_handle

# Open the link in a new window by sending key strokes on the element
first_link.send_keys(Keys.SHIFT + Keys.RETURN)

# Get windows list and put focus on new window (which is on the 1st index in the list)
windows = browser.window_handles
browser.switch_to.window(windows[1])

# do whatever you have to do on this page, we will just got to sleep for now
sleep(2)

# Close current window
browser.find_element_by_tag_name('body').send_keys(Keys.CONTROL + 'w')

# Put focus back on main window
browser.switch_to.window(main_window)

roesler-stan commented Oct 21, 2016

This is great, thanks! However, I am having trouble reading the new tab's page source with browser.page_source. It keeps giving me the not-open tab on the left's source instead.

nemxbg commented Nov 29, 2016 •

edited

Loading

@roesler-stan
To read new TAB u must handle it first:
browser.switch_to.window(browser.window_handles[-1])

window_handles[-1]

It handles THE LAST tab opened in browser because window_handles give us LIST and -1 in list take the last element
Than u can use : browser.page_source :)

nemxbg commented Nov 29, 2016

ui.WebDriverWait(browser, 15).until(lambda browser: browser.find_element_by_class_name('rc'))

What this do?

icesri commented Mar 31, 2017

Thanks!!! I am able to switch to the new tab and read page contents.
But Not able to close the second tab.
I have nearly 100 links on the first tab which would open on new tab and I want to close them.

ankushpatial commented May 10, 2017

i am able to use some keys like tab
browser.find_element_by_tag_name('body').send_keys(Keys.TAB)
but not able to use like ctrl+p & ctrl+f
browser.find_element_by_tag_name('body').send_keys(Keys.CONTROL +'p')

Sentinel-Prime commented Jun 16, 2017

This is great. Somehow I can't read the new tab page_source to get information . It give me the first tab page_source. how ca I solve this problem?

michaelbukachi commented Jul 5, 2017 •

edited

Loading

This is how I do it:

element.send_keys(Keys.CONTROL + Keys.RETURN)
driver.switch_to.window(self.driver.window_handles[1])
# do stuff
driver.close()
driver.switch_to.window(self.driver.window_handles[0])

xia-m commented Oct 10, 2017 •

edited

Loading

Confirmed that these work on MacOS:

Open link in a new tab:
link_element.send_keys(Keys.COMMAND + Keys.RETURN)

Switch between tabs:
driver.switch_to.window(self.driver.window_handles[1])
driver.switch_to.window(self.driver.window_handles[0])

pbabvey commented Mar 29, 2018

Very good!

aaravgotra commented Jun 18, 2018 •

edited

Loading

current_handle=self.driver.current_window_handle
print current_handle
for i in self.driver.window_handles:
if (current_handle!=i):
self.driver.switch_to_window(i)
print self.driver.current_window_handle
It works on all browser for both win and mac

rakibulhaq commented Apr 24, 2019

@xia-mu, thanks for your input it worked!

sugatoray commented Jun 27, 2019 •

edited

Loading

Thank you @typedt

browser.execute_script('''window.open("about:blank", "_blank");''')

browser.execute_script('''window.open("about:blank", "_blank");''') ==> worked for me

aleglez22 commented Sep 20, 2019

browser.switch_to_window(browser.window_handles[1])

you saved my life thanks

emmatovar27 commented Nov 13, 2019 •

edited

Loading

    This works for me, on windows 10 and Firefox 70

        main_window= driver.current_window_handle
        #Open a new tab in blank
        driver.execute_script("window.open(''),'_blannk'")
        # Switch to the new window
        driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])
        #Change the url in the .get
        driver.get("https://gist.github.com/lrhache/7686903")
        sleep(2)
        print("DO things")
        #Close Current Tab
        driver.close()
         #Focus to the main window
        driver.switch_to.window(main_window)

freyesval commented Jan 9, 2020

    This works for me, on windows 10 and Firefox 70

    main_window= driver.current_window_handle
    #Open a new tab in blank
    driver.execute_script("window.open(''),'_blannk'")
    # Switch to the new window
    driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])
    **#Change the url in the .get**
    driver.get("https://gist.github.com/lrhache/7686903")
    sleep(2)
    print("DO things")
    #Close Current Tab
    driver.close()
     #Focus to the main window
    driver.switch_to.window(main_window)

Thanks a loot!!!

ghost commented Apr 2, 2020

    This works for me, on windows 10 and Firefox 70

    main_window= driver.current_window_handle
    #Open a new tab in blank
    driver.execute_script("window.open(''),'_blannk'")
    # Switch to the new window
    driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])
    **#Change the url in the .get**
    driver.get("https://gist.github.com/lrhache/7686903")
    sleep(2)
    print("DO things")
    #Close Current Tab
    driver.close()
     #Focus to the main window
    driver.switch_to.window(main_window)

THANK YOU!

falgom4 commented May 23, 2020

I'm using Mac OSX with selenium with Chrome webdriver, tried to use
browser.find_element_by_tag_name('body').send_keys(Keys.COMMAND + Keys.NUMPAD2)
and
browser.find_element_by_tag_name('body').send_keys(Keys.COMMAND+ 't'),
but neither worked.
So I had to use
browser.execute_script('''window.open("about:blank", "_blank");''') which finally worked.

thanks!! This works on IE and Win7

driver.execute_script("window.open(''),'_blannk'")
driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])
#do stuff
driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[0])

thevipinsaini commented Aug 28, 2020

    This works for me, on windows 10 and Firefox 70

    main_window= driver.current_window_handle
    #Open a new tab in blank
    driver.execute_script("window.open(''),'_blannk'")
    # Switch to the new window
    driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])
    **#Change the url in the .get**
    driver.get("https://gist.github.com/lrhache/7686903")
    sleep(2)
    print("DO things")
    #Close Current Tab
    driver.close()
     #Focus to the main window
    driver.switch_to.window(main_window)

Wonderful!
I am using windows 10 and chrome brower. Changing my code from this driver.execute_script("window.open('')") to this driver.execute_script("window.open(''),'_blank'") solved the problem.

kwamena98 commented Aug 29, 2020

I'm using Mac OSX with selenium with Chrome webdriver, tried to use
browser.find_element_by_tag_name('body').send_keys(Keys.COMMAND + Keys.NUMPAD2)
and
browser.find_element_by_tag_name('body').send_keys(Keys.COMMAND+ 't'),
but neither worked.
So I had to use
browser.execute_script('''window.open("about:blank", "_blank");''') which finally worked.

Thanks, it worked for me

medelmaimouni commented Nov 15, 2020

Thanks man! it helped a lot, you saved my day

hirios commented Mar 8, 2021

    This works for me, on windows 10 and Firefox 70

        main_window= driver.current_window_handle
        #Open a new tab in blank
        driver.execute_script("window.open(''),'_blannk'")
        # Switch to the new window
        driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])
        #Change the url in the .get
        driver.get("https://gist.github.com/lrhache/7686903")
        sleep(2)
        print("DO things")
        #Close Current Tab
        driver.close()
         #Focus to the main window
        driver.switch_to.window(main_window)

Thanks Bro!! <3

dheeraj07 commented Apr 6, 2021 •

edited

Loading

but

    This works for me, on windows 10 and Firefox 70

        main_window= driver.current_window_handle
        #Open a new tab in blank
        driver.execute_script("window.open(''),'_blannk'")
        # Switch to the new window
        driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])
        #Change the url in the .get
        driver.get("https://gist.github.com/lrhache/7686903")
        sleep(2)
        print("DO things")
        #Close Current Tab
        driver.close()
         #Focus to the main window
        driver.switch_to.window(main_window)

But this opens in a new window, any idea how to open in new tab?

nikhilpatidar commented Jul 18, 2021 •

edited

Loading

i want to do it in android what should i do ?????

carevjr commented Sep 16, 2021

Amazing boys!! This is exactly what I was looking for!
Works smoothly on Windows 10 using Chrome tkss

    This works for me, on windows 10 and Firefox 70

        main_window= driver.current_window_handle
        #Open a new tab in blank
        driver.execute_script("window.open(''),'_blannk'")
        # Switch to the new window
        driver.switch_to.window(driver.window_handles[1])
        #Change the url in the .get
        driver.get("https://gist.github.com/lrhache/7686903")
        sleep(2)
        print("DO things")
        #Close Current Tab
        driver.close()
         #Focus to the main window
        driver.switch_to.window(main_window)

Thanks Bro!! <3

lrhache/python-selenium-open-tab.md

Easy solution

Danielyan86 commented Jan 13, 2016

saikirankv commented Jan 27, 2016

purvabansal commented Mar 1, 2016

niveditakhoche commented Mar 14, 2016

main_window = browser.getWindowHandle()

time.sleep(5)

browser.execute_script('''window.open("http://bings.com","_blank");''')

time.sleep(2)

second_window = browser.current_window_handle

------------------------

body = browser.find_element_by_tag_name("body").send_keys(Keys.COMMAND+Keys.TAB)

browser.find_element_by_tag_name("body").send_keys(Keys.COMMAND + Keys.ENTER)