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Links

Links are navigation elements typically implemented using the <a> tag. They are used to move between pages, trigger downloads, or open external resources.

Understanding how links behave is important for navigation testing and validation.

A link is usually an <a> tag with an href attribute.

Examples:

  • Menu items
  • Footer links
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Hyperlinks inside content

Preferred locator strategies:

  • linkText
  • partialLinkText
  • id / cssSelector / xpath (when needed)
WebElement forgotPwd = driver.findElement(By.linkText("Forgot Password"));
forgotPwd.click();

Use after ensuring:

  • Link is visible
  • Link is clickable
  • No overlay blocks it

getAttribute("href")​

String url = forgotPwd.getAttribute("href");

Used to:

  • Validate navigation targets
  • Check broken links (with HTTP calls)

Validating Navigation​

After clicking a link:

Assert.assertTrue(driver.getCurrentUrl().contains("forgot"));

Or validate page title:

Assert.assertEquals(driver.getTitle(), "Forgot Password");

Opening Links in New Tab / Window​

Some links open in new tabs using target="_blank".

Handle using window handles:

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

(Switching windows covered in a dedicated section.)

Some links are:

  • Styled as disabled
  • Hidden until conditions met

Validation approach:

  • Check CSS classes
  • Ensure no navigation occurs

Common Mistakes ❌​

  • Using partialLinkText everywhere
  • Not validating navigation result
  • Ignoring new tab behavior
  • Hardcoding expected URLs

Best Practices ✅​

  • Prefer stable locators
  • Validate both click and destination
  • Handle new tabs explicitly
  • Use API checks for broken links when possible

Interview Notes 🎯​

Q: How do you validate a link without clicking it?
A: By reading the href attribute.

Q: Why is partialLinkText risky?
A: It may match multiple links and cause flakiness.

Key Takeaways​

  • Links drive navigation
  • Always validate where a link goes
  • Handle new tabs carefully
  • Use stable locator strategies