🌐 How to Handle Multiple Browser Tabs or Windows in Selenium

In web automation, you might encounter scenarios where a link opens in a new tab or window. Selenium provides methods to switch between these windows so you can interact with the content.

✅ Key Methods to Know

driver.getWindowHandles()

Returns a list of all open window handles (IDs).

driver.getWindowHandle()

Returns the handle (ID) of the current window.

driver.switchTo().window(handle)

Switches to the specified window.

🔄 Steps to Handle Multiple Windows/Tabs

Open the initial page.

Trigger action that opens a new tab/window.

Get window handles.

Switch to the new window.

Interact with the new page.

Switch back if needed.

🧪 Example in Selenium (Java)

java

Copy

Edit

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;

import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;

import java.util.Set;

public class WindowHandlingExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

        // Step 1: Open initial page

        driver.get("https://example.com");

        // Step 2: Click something that opens a new tab/window

        driver.findElement(By.linkText("Open New Tab")).click();

        // Step 3: Get all window handles

        String originalWindow = driver.getWindowHandle();

        Set<String> allWindows = driver.getWindowHandles();

        // Step 4: Switch to the new window

        for (String windowHandle : allWindows) {

            if (!windowHandle.equals(originalWindow)) {

                driver.switchTo().window(windowHandle);

                break;

            }

        }

        // Step 5: Perform actions in the new window

        System.out.println("Title in new window: " + driver.getTitle());

        // Step 6: Switch back to original window

        driver.switchTo().window(originalWindow);

        System.out.println("Back to original window: " + driver.getTitle());

        driver.quit();

    }

}

🧪 Example in Selenium (Python)

python

Copy

Edit

from selenium import webdriver

driver = webdriver.Chrome()

driver.get("https://example.com")

# Click to open new window

driver.find_element("link text", "Open New Tab").click()

# Get all window handles

original = driver.current_window_handle

all_windows = driver.window_handles

# Switch to the new window

for window in all_windows:

    if window != original:

        driver.switch_to.window(window)

        break

print("New window title:", driver.title)

# Switch back to original window

driver.switch_to.window(original)

print("Back to original window:", driver.title)

driver.quit()

📝 Tips

Always store the original window handle before switching.

You can close a specific tab using driver.close() and then switch back.

Wait for new tabs/windows if opened with a delay (use WebDriverWait).

📌 Summary

Action Selenium Command

Get current window driver.getWindowHandle()

Get all windows driver.getWindowHandles()

Switch window driver.switchTo().window(handle)

Close current window driver.close()

Learn Selenium Python Training in Hyderabad

Read More

Waits in Selenium: Implicit vs Explicit Waits Explained

Automating Form Filling Using Selenium and Python

Handling Alerts, Pop-ups, and iFrames in Selenium with Python

Visit Our Quality Thought Training in Hyderabad

Get Directions