Adding Java variable to xpath

Question

Is it possible to add a defined Java String variable to an xpath-expression? Here is some code to make it clear:

String newUser = "NewUser123";
driver.findElement(By.xpath("//td[normalize-space(text())=**newUser**]/a")).click();

The xpath should work with the variable newUser, but I don´t know how.

Possible duplicate of [Java - Including variables within strings?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9643610/java-including-variables-within-strings) — JeffC, Oct 18 '15 at 13:33

score 11 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 12 '16 at 17:57

Yes, when you choose Java as your programming language while working with selenium, you can perform all things that are logically possible in Java.

Take your example, xpath is a function which takes string arguments. So Like in Java we concatenate multiple strings using +. you can do the same thing here.

String newUser = "NewUser123";
driver.findElement(By.xpath("//td[normalize-space(text())='"+newUser+"']/a")).click();

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 18 '15 at 17:04

In similar situations I will extract the lookup to a constant in the class, and use the String.format utility to insert the variable(s) where I need it. Note the use of %s in the example constant USER_XPATH below.

I think this is better for readability and maintenance than the inline concatenation option, but both will achieve the goal.

/** Format string for the ### xpath lookup.*/
private static final String USER_XPATH ="//td[normalize-space(text())=%s]/a";

Then you can use String.format to insert the variable you want:

 private void myMethod() {
      String newUser = "NewUser123";
      String fullXpath = String.format(USER_XPATH, newUser);
      driver.findElement(By.xpath(fullXpath)).click();
    }

This is nice except that `%s` needs to be included between quotes (either single or double). Otherwise, it does not work. I mean it should be `private static final USER_XPATH ="//td[normalize-space(text())='%s']/a";` — Rao, May 24 '16 at 06:48

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 12 '20 at 14:13

2

Xpath with variable and space

String CasesCount = Utility.WebDriverHelper.Wdriver.findElement
(By.xpath("//button[text()=' "+tabname+"']/span")).getText();

Remove this kind of special braces () in text

CasesCount  = CasesCount.replaceAll("\\(", "").replaceAll("\\)","");

edited Mar 12 '20 at 14:13

Nisarg

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answered Mar 12 '20 at 13:22

Ashan Mabharana

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score 1 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 08 '17 at 03:53

1

You can try the following code:

String newUser = "NewUser123";
driver.findElement(By.xpath("//td[normalize-space(text())=" + newUser + "]/a")).click();

edited Dec 08 '17 at 03:53

Jobin

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answered Oct 18 '15 at 10:08

Kumrun Nahar Keya

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 15 '19 at 01:44

0

In case if its a number in any loop table it can be written like

String sCol = "1";

driver.findElement(By.xpath("/html/body/div[1]/div[2]/div/div[2]/article/div/table/tbody/tr["+sRow+"]/td["+sCol+"]")).getText();

answered Apr 15 '19 at 01:44

Garima Thakur

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score -1 · Answer 6 · answered Oct 18 '15 at 10:01

-1

Treat the xpath like any other string concatenation or interpolation you would do in Java

answered Oct 18 '15 at 10:01

Robbie Wareham

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Adding Java variable to xpath

6 Answers6

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