Selenium in Python shows Unable to locate an element with the xpath expression

Question

I have written like this

repos=driver.find_elements_by_xpath('//a[@class="execute repo-list--repo-name"]')
choice=input()
ch=repos[choice-1].text
print ch #prints choice1
driver.find_element_by_xpath('//a[contains(text(),"%s"]' % ch).click()

for the HTML code

<a class="execute repo-list--repo-name" href="/vivek-puri/choice1">choice1</a>

But it is showing the error

The given selector //a[contains(text(),"choice1"] is either invalid or does not result in a WebElement.

Why it is showing such error although the element with text choice1 exits.

If you do not have other elements of with the class, use find_element_by_class_name instead — Lars Kakavandi-Nielsen
– Lars Kakavandi-Nielsen, Commented Feb 22, 2016 at 7:47

Andersson · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-22 07:50:21Z

1

This is because of parentheses. You forgot second bracket: use

//a[contains(text(),"choice1")]

instead of

//a[contains(text(),"choice1"]

answered Feb 22, 2016 at 7:50

Andersson

52.8k18 gold badges83 silver badges132 bronze badges

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

1 Comment

Vivek Puri Over a year ago

driver.find_element_by_xpath('//a[contains(text(),"%s")]' % ch).click() is also not working

Guy · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-22 08:21:36Z

1

You are missing brackets after choice1 in the selector. It should be

//a[contains(text(),"choice1")]

You can also use by_link_text or by_partial_link_text

find_element_by_link_text('choice1')

find_element_by_partial_link_text('choice1')

answered Feb 22, 2016 at 8:21

Guy

51.2k10 gold badges49 silver badges96 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Selenium in Python shows Unable to locate an element with the xpath expression

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related