Locators: XPath vs CSS Selectors
To interact with web elements, your script needs to find them. That’s where locators come in.
Two common types:
CSS Selectors: Fast, simple. Work like in HTML/CSS.
XPath: More powerful. Can find elements by position, text, or parent.
Example:
# CSS
browser.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, "button.submit")
# XPath
browser.find_element(By.XPATH, "//button[text()='Submit']")
Use CSS when possible. It’s cleaner and quicker. Use XPath if you need to navigate complex structures.
Don’t rely on auto-generated IDs or long paths. They change often. Use class names, data attributes, or clear text.