Selenium’s Python Module is built to perform automated testing with Python. ActionChains are a way to automate low-level interactions such as mouse movements, mouse button actions, keypress, and context menu interactions. This is useful for doing more complex actions like hover over and drag and drop. Action chain methods are used by advanced scripts where we need to drag an element, click an element, double click, etc.
This article revolves around key_down method on Action Chains in Python Selenium. key_down method is used to send a key press, without releasing it. this method is used in case one wants to press, ctrl+c, or ctrl+v. For this purpose one needs to first hold the ctrl key down and then press c. This method automates this work. It should only be used with modifier keys (Control, Alt and Shift).
Syntax –
key_down(value, element=None)
Args –
- value: The modifier key to send. Values are defined in Keys class.
- element: The element to send keys. If None, sends a key to current focused element.
Example –
One can use key_down method as an Action chain as below. This example clicks Ctrl+C after opening the webpage
ActionChains(driver).key_down(Keys.CONTROL).send_keys('c').key_up(Keys.CONTROL).perform()
How to use key_down Action Chain method in Selenium Python ?
To demonstrate, key_down method of Action Chains in Selenium Python. Let’ s visit https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/ and press ctrl+f to open search bar.
Program –
Python3
# import webdriverfrom selenium import webdriver# import Action chains from selenium.webdriver.common.action_chains import ActionChains# import KEYSfrom selenium.webdriver.common.keys import Keys# create webdriver objectdriver = webdriver.Firefox()# get geeksforgeeks.org# create action chain objectaction = ActionChains(driver)# perform the operationaction.key_down(Keys.CONTROL).send_keys('F').key_up(Keys.CONTROL).perform() |
Output –
