org.openqa.selenium.StaleElementReferenceException: element is not attached to the page document

Question

I am trying to test the GeeksForGeeks UI. When I click the tutorials dropdown, then select languages and select Java, it links to a new page and the following error occurs org.openqa.selenium.StaleElementReferenceException. How can I solve this issue? I have tried all the possible solutions from stackoverflow.

public class SeleniumTest {

    public static WebDriver driver;

    @BeforeClass
    public static void setupClass() {
        System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "driver/chromedriver.exe");
    }

    @Before
    public void setup() {
        driver = new ChromeDriver();
        driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(Duration.ofSeconds(5));
    }

    @After
    public void after() {
        driver.close();
    }

    @Test
    public void testGeeksForGeeksR() throws InterruptedException {
        driver.get("https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/");
        WebElement tutorialsMenu = driver.findElement(By.className("header-main__list-item"));
        tutorialsMenu.click();
        List<WebElement> tutorialsList = tutorialsMenu.findElements(By.tagName("li"));
        for (WebElement li : tutorialsList) {
            if (li.getText().equals("Languages")) {
                li.click();
                List<WebElement> languages = driver.findElements(By.tagName("a"));
                for (WebElement a : languages) {
                    if (a.getText().equals("Java")) {
                        WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, 20);
                        wait.until(ExpectedConditions.elementToBeClickable(a));
                        a.click();
                        WebElement title = driver.findElement(By.className("entry-title"));
                        assertEquals("Java Programming Language", title.getText());

                    }
                }
            }
        }
        Thread.sleep(6000);
    }

}

Solution:

@Test
    public void testGeeksForGeeksR() throws InterruptedException {
        driver.get("https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/");
        WebElement tutorialsMenu = driver.findElement(By.className("header-main__list-item"));
        tutorialsMenu.click();
        List<WebElement> tutorialsList = tutorialsMenu.findElements(By.tagName("li"));
        WebElement javaLanguage = null;
        for (WebElement li : tutorialsList) {
            if (li.getText().equals("Languages")) {
                li.click();
                List<WebElement> languages = driver.findElements(By.tagName("a"));
                for (WebElement a : languages) {
                    if (a.getText().equals("Java")) {
                        javaLanguage = a;
                        break;
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        javaLanguage.click();
        driver.switchTo().activeElement();
        WebElement title = driver.findElement(By.className("entry-title"));
        assertEquals("Java Programming Language", title.getText());
        Thread.sleep(3000);
    }

But it actually comes from this line -> if(a.getText().equals("Java")). I have just uploaded a screenshot of the failure trace — Enchantres
– Enchantres, Commented Mar 2, 2022 at 19:14
Does this occur after the clicking on Java link and the page https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/java/?ref=ghm is presented or this page never opened? — Prophet
– Prophet, Commented Mar 2, 2022 at 19:22
Yes, this occurs after clicking on Java and the page geeksforgeeks.org/java/?ref=ghm is presented. — Enchantres
– Enchantres, Commented Mar 2, 2022 at 19:28

Prophet · Accepted Answer · 2022-03-02 19:47:59Z

1

After clicking on the a element with Java text the Java Programming Language page is opened.
At this point all the element references collected on the previous page are becoming Stale.
Generally, each Selenium WebElement object is actually a reference (pointer) to physical web element object.
So, when you are opening another web page or refreshing the existing page (reloading the web elements there) all the references to the web elements on the previous web page are no more valid.
In the Selenium terminology this situation is called Stale Element.
Getting back to your specific code flow.
Looks like your target here is to open the Java Programming Language page. If so, all what you are missing here is to exit your loop once that page is opened and finish the test.
In case you wish to continue opening another tutorials from the menu on the main page you will have to go back from the internal page you opened and then get all the elements you wish to use there again.

answered Mar 2, 2022 at 19:47

Prophet

33.5k28 gold badges58 silver badges90 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

Enchantres Over a year ago

I have added a break statement and now it works.

deokyong song Over a year ago

Apart from the question, I like this part. Generally, each Selenium WebElement object is actually a reference (pointer) to physical web element object. Thank you Prophet.

Prophet Over a year ago

Thanks @deokyongsong! I think it's important to make people understand how things working.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

org.openqa.selenium.StaleElementReferenceException: element is not attached to the page document

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related