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element.waitFor(...options)

Introduction​

ShadowDriverJS is a powerful library that extends Selenium WebDriver capabilities to handle elements within shadow DOM. This README provides detailed information about the waitFor() method, which is used to wait until an element meets certain conditions.

Table of Contents​

Overview​

The waitFor() method is a helper function provided by ShadowDriverJS that simplifies the process of waiting for elements to meet specific conditions. It can be used with any element found using the element(by.xpath(...)), element(by.css(...)), or other similar locators.

This method is particularly useful when dealing with elements inside shadow DOM, where standard methods might not work due to encapsulation constraints.

Usage​

Basic Usage​

The most basic usage of waitFor() involves specifying a condition that the element must meet. The library will keep checking this condition until it becomes true or until a timeout occurs.

await element(by.xpath("//div")).waitFor();

This line waits indefinitely (or until the specified timeout) for the element to be present in the DOM.

Advanced Options​

For more control over the waiting process, you can provide advanced options. These options allow you to specify various parameters that define how the waitFor() method should behave.

Element Visibility​

To wait until an element is visible, use:

await element(by.xpath("//div")).waitFor({ options: "elementIsVisible" });

This ensures that not only does the element exist in the DOM, but it is also fully visible to the user. The function will continue checking if the element becomes visible.

Element Display​

To wait until an element is displayed (i.e., has a display style other than none), use:

await element(by.xpath("//div")).waitFor({ options: "elementIsDisplayed" });

This ensures that the element not only exists and is in the DOM but also has its display property set to something other than none.

Combining Conditions​

You can combine multiple conditions using logical operators like AND (&&) or OR (||). For example:

await element(by.xpath("//div")).waitFor({
    options: "elementIsVisible",
    timeout: 5000, // Wait up to 5 seconds for the condition to be met.
});

This waits until the element is visible and does so within a specified time limit.

Examples​

Here are some practical examples demonstrating how waitFor() can be used in real-world scenarios.

Example 1: Waiting for an Element to Become Visible​

try {
    await element(by.xpath("//div")).waitFor({ options: "elementIsVisible" });
} catch (error) {
    console.log("Element did not become visible within the specified time.");
}

Example 2: Combining Conditions with Logical Operators​

await element(by.xpath("//div")).waitFor({
    options: "elementIsDisplayed && textEquals('Expected Text')",
    timeout: 10000,
});

In this example, we wait until the element is displayed and contains the exact text 'Expected Text'.

FAQs​

Q: What happens if the waitFor() method times out?​

A: If the condition specified in the waitFor() method does not become true within the allotted time (default timeout), a timeout error will be thrown. It's advisable to catch this exception and handle it appropriately.

try {
    await element(by.xpath("//div")).waitFor({ options: "elementIsVisible", timeout: 2000 });
} catch (error) {
    console.error("Element did not become visible within the specified time.");
}

Q: Can I specify my own condition function?​

A: Yes, you can pass a custom JavaScript function that returns a boolean value indicating whether the element meets your criteria. The function should take the element as an argument.

await element(by.xpath("//div")).waitFor(function(element) {
    return element.isDisplayed() && element.getText().then(text => text === "Expected Text");
});

This allows for highly customized waiting logic based on dynamic conditions or complex checks.

By using waitFor(), you can enhance your automation scripts to be more robust and responsive, especially when dealing with shadow DOM elements. Happy coding!