Introduction:
When working with automated testing using Selenium, you may encounter the org.openqa.selenium.ElementNotInteractableException: Element is not reachable by keyboard error. This error typically occurs when you try to send text to the FirstName field on Facebook. In this blog post, we will explore the possible causes of this error and provide solutions to overcome it. Let’s dive in!
Understanding the Error:
The ElementNotInteractableException error indicates that the element you are trying to interact with cannot be reached using the keyboard. There could be several reasons for this, such as hidden elements, overlays, or incorrect locator strategies. It’s essential to identify the underlying cause to effectively resolve the issue.
Possible Reasons for the Error:
- Hidden Elements: Modern JavaScript-centric UI styles often hide raw HTML input fields using attributes like class=”ng-hide” or style=”display: none”. These hidden elements may prevent interaction through the keyboard.
- Overlays: Temporary or permanent overlays of other elements may cover the desired element, making it inaccessible for keyboard input.
- Incorrect Locator Strategies: Invoking click() or sendKeys() on <p> or <div> tags instead of the desired <input> tag can result in the ElementNotInteractableException.
Solutions to Resolve the Error:
- Waiting for Element Visibility: Use WebDriverWait in conjunction with ExpectedConditions to wait for the desired element to become visible or clickable before interacting with it. This approach is suitable for handling temporary overlays.
- Executing JavaScript: Utilize the executeScript() method from the JavascriptExecutor interface to interact with hidden or overlaid elements. You can update attributes like style=”display: none” to style=”display: block” to make the element reachable by the keyboard.
- Dynamically Identifying Elements: If the element’s representation changes across different runs or environments, consider using dynamic locator strategies like XPath or CSS selectors to locate the element reliably.
Sample Code: Here’s an example code snippet that demonstrates how to address the ElementNotInteractableException error while interacting with Facebook’s FirstName field:
code
System.setProperty("webdriver.gecko.driver", "/path/to/geckodriver");
WebDriver driver = new FirefoxDriver();
driver.get("http://www.facebook.com");
driver.manage().window().maximize();
// Entering first name
driver.findElement(By.name("firstname")).sendKeys("testing it");
// Selecting date of birth
Select sel1 = new Select(driver.findElement(By.xpath(".//*[@id='month']
")));
sel1.selectByIndex(4);
Select sel2 = new Select(driver.findElement(By.xpath(".//*[@id='day']
")));
sel2.selectByValue("6");
Select sel3 = new Select(driver.findElement(By.xpath(".//*[@id='year']
")));
sel3.selectByValue("2013");
// Clicking sign up
driver.findElement(By.name("websubmit")).click();
Debugging Steps:
When encountering the ElementNotInteractableException error, it’s crucial to follow these debugging steps to identify the root cause:
- Check if the element is visible on the page.
- Verify if there are any overlays or hidden elements obstructing the target element.
- Inspect the HTML structure and attributes of the element to ensure it’s the correct one.
- Validate the locator strategy used to locate the element.
CSS Disabling:
In some cases, disabling CSS styles can help overcome the ElementNotInteractableException error. You can achieve this by injecting JavaScript code to modify the style attribute of the element, making it visible or removing any overlays.
Alternative Interaction Methods:
If the traditional sendKeys() method doesn’t work, you can try alternative interaction methods like JavaScript events or actions. For example, using JavaScript’s dispatchEvent() to trigger keyboard events or using the Actions class in Selenium to perform actions like click-and-hold or drag-and-drop.
Updating WebDriver and Browser Versions:
Ensure that you are using the latest versions of Selenium WebDriver and the browser you are testing on. Sometimes, compatibility issues between older versions can lead to unexpected errors. Updating to the latest versions can often resolve such issues.
Consider Waiting Strategies:
Apart from waiting
for visibility or clickability, you can explore other waiting strategies like waiting for element presence or custom conditions. WebDriverWait offers a range of ExpectedConditions that you can utilize based on your specific scenario.
Error Handling and Retry Mechanism:
Implement proper error handling and retry mechanisms in your automation code. This will help you handle intermittent issues that may cause the ElementNotInteractableException. For example, you can catch the exception, log the error, and retry the action after a short delay.
Conclusion:
The org.openqa.selenium.ElementNotInteractableException: Element is not reachable by keyboard error can occur when interacting with the FirstName field in Facebook. By understanding the possible causes and applying appropriate solutions like waiting for element visibility, executing JavaScript, or using dynamic locator strategies, you can overcome this error and ensure smooth automated testing. Remember to adapt the code based on your specific scenario.
