Understanding and Handling StaleElementReferenceExceptions in Selenium

What is StaleElementReferenceException in Selenium?

StaleElementReferenceException is an exception that occurs when a reference to a web element is stale, i.e. the element is no longer found on the DOM of the page. This is usually because the element has been removed or replaced by another element. When this happens, it is impossible for Selenium to interact with the element and an exception is thrown.

What causes StaleElementReferenceException in Selenium?

StaleElementReferenceException is usually caused when the web page is changed during the process of an automation test. This could be due to the page being refreshed, an AJAX call being made, or some other modification to the page. If the element that was originally located is no longer in the page DOM then the exception will be thrown.

How to handle StaleElementReferenceException in Selenium?

StaleElementReferenceException can be handled in several ways. One way is to use WebDriverWait to re-find the element, as this will update the reference to the element if it has changed. Another way is to use a Try/Catch block and re-find the element inside the Catch block. Finally, it is important to ensure that all elements are correctly located before interacting with them to reduce the chances of the exception being thrown.