How to Implement a Simple Wait Using Java and Selenium

Learn how to create a simple wait in Selenium with this short tutorial. This simple java tutorial will help you better create waits in your Selenium framework.

Jan 10, 2019 • 2 Minute Read

Subscribe to the newsletter

Using a simple wait in Selenium

In your Selenium Framework, you might have already created some methods that allow you to wait for elements to be present before continuing forward. As such, you no longer need to use SLEEPS in your test code.

The code below is not good for tests because it is hardcoded and static.

      Thread.sleep(1000);

**The code down here is dynamic and allows tests to move quickly. **

      WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(webDriver, timeoutInSeconds);
wait.until(ExpectedConditions.visibilityOfElementLocated(By.id<locator>));
    

Here we create an instance of the WebDriverWait class. The wait class takes 2 parameters; webDriver and timoutInSeconds. Once you have created this instance it gives you access to different methods to wait.

Here are a few of the different methods you can use to wait.

alertIsPresent
elementIfVisible
elementSelectionStateToBe
frameToBeAvailableAndSwitchToIt
invisibilityOfElementLocated
numberOfWindowsToBe
presenceOfElementLocated
textToBePresentInElement
titleContains
titleIs
urlContains
urlMatches
visibilityOfElementLocated
visibilityOfAllElemenentsLocated

Another tip about using a wait is that you can create your elements with a wait. Check out this simple example:

      WebDriver wait = new WebDriverWait(webDriver, timeoutInSeconds);
WebElement button = wait.until(ExpectedConditions.visibilityOfElementLocated(By.id<locator>));
    

There's an even better example of using the Page Object Pattern and Page Factory setup to implement a wait.

Your creation of the wait instance should be on the BasePage:

      private static final String ERROR_DIV_ID = <locator>;

@FindBy(id = <locator>)
private WebElement errorDiv;

public TestingContext getTestingContext() {
    return testingContext;
}

public WebElement getErrorDiv() {
    return wait.until(ExpectedConditions.visibilityOfElementLocated(By.id(ERROR_DIV_ID)));
}
    

I hope you enjoyed this simple tutorial on creating a Java-Selenium wait. Please leave your comments and feedback in the section below.