Handling Alerts & Popups

Handle native JavaScript popup dialogs with Selenium WebDriver.

Concept

JavaScript can show three main types of native popups: Alert (message + OK), Confirm (message + OK/Cancel), and Prompt (input + OK/Cancel).

These are browser-native dialogs, not normal HTML elements. You cannot locate them with By.id or By.cssSelector. Instead, Selenium gives you the Alert interface.

The Alert Interface

driver.switchTo().alert(): Switches focus to the popup.
getText(): Read the message.
accept(): Press OK.
dismiss(): Press Cancel.
sendKeys("text"): Type into a prompt.

Types of Dialogs

Alert: Simple notification. Use accept().
Confirm: Yes/No choice. Use accept() or dismiss().
Prompt: Input required. Use sendKeys() then accept().

Mental Model

1. Trigger the popup from the page.
2. Switch to it with switchTo().alert().
3. Interact using the Alert methods.

Interactive Practice

JavaScript Popups Lab

Result:

No action yet

Click the buttons to trigger native popups, then handle them with Selenium!

Java Code Example

AlertHandler.java

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// Handle a simple alert
driver.findElement(By.id("alert-btn")).click();
Alert alert = driver.switchTo().alert();
System.out.println("Alert text: " + alert.getText());
alert.accept();

// Handle a confirm dialog (dismiss / Cancel)
driver.findElement(By.id("confirm-btn")).click();
Alert confirm = driver.switchTo().alert();
confirm.dismiss();

// Handle a prompt dialog (send text + OK)
driver.findElement(By.id("prompt-btn")).click();
Alert prompt = driver.switchTo().alert();
prompt.sendKeys("Selenium Student");
prompt.accept();

driver.quit();

Code Breakdown

driver.switchTo().alert(): Switches Selenium’s focus from the page to the currently open alert and returns an Alert object.
alert.accept(): Clicks OK on the alert and closes it.
confirm.dismiss(): Clicks Cancel on the confirm dialog.
prompt.sendKeys("..."): Types text into the prompt’s input field.

Pro Tip

Handle First

Once a JS popup appears, the browser is "blocked". Most WebDriver calls will fail until you use switchTo().alert().

Fresh Handles

Don’t reuse an old Alert object after closing it—fetch a new one every time with switchTo().alert().

Test Both Paths

Assert both OK and Cancel flows. Real bugs often hide in the "Cancel" path that nobody automated.