Use the latest versions of ChromeDriver and Chrome browser

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 89 views

Introduction

When working with Selenium WebDriver, especially with ChromeDriver, you may encounter a peculiar issue where data appears in the address bar of a newly launched Chrome window. This can be frustrating, especially when you're running a series of automated test cases with TestNG and Selenium. In this article, we'll delve into the possible causes of this issue and provide solutions to help you resolve it.

Understanding the Issue

The issue you're facing is likely due to the way ChromeDriver handles new window launches. When you launch a new window using ChromeDriver, it may inherit the current window's session, which can cause data to appear in the address bar. This can be due to various reasons, including:

Inheritance of session: When you launch a new window, ChromeDriver may inherit the current window's session, which can cause data to appear in the address bar.
Chrome's default behavior: Chrome has a default behavior of displaying the current URL in the address bar when a new window is launched.
Selenium's window handling: Selenium's window handling mechanism may also contribute to this issue.

Possible Causes

Before we dive into the solutions, let's explore some possible causes of this issue:

ChromeDriver version: Outdated or incompatible ChromeDriver versions may cause this issue.
Chrome browser version: Incompatible or outdated Chrome browser versions may also contribute to this issue.
Selenium version: Outdated or incompatible Selenium versions may cause this issue.
TestNG configuration: Incorrect TestNG configuration may also lead to this issue.

Solutions

Now that we've identified the possible causes, let's explore some solutions to help you resolve this issue:

Solution 1: Update ChromeDriver and Chrome Browser

Ensure that you're using the latest versions of ChromeDriver and Chrome browser. You can update ChromeDriver using the following command:

webdriver-manager update

You can also update Chrome browser to the latest version.

Solution 2: Use the `--incognito` Flag

You can use the --incognito flag when launching the Chrome browser to prevent data from appearing in the address bar. Here's an example:

ChromeOptions options = new ChromeOptions();
options.addArguments("--incognito");
driver = new ChromeDriver(options);

Solution 3: Use the `--new-window` Flag

You can use the --new-window flag when launching the Chrome browser to prevent data from appearing in the address bar. Here's an example:

ChromeOptions options = new ChromeOptions();
options.addArguments("--new-window");
driver = new ChromeDriver(options);

Solution 4: Use the `windowHandles` Method

You can use the windowHandles method to switch to the new window and prevent data from appearing in the address bar. Here's an example:

String mainWindowHandle = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().window(driver.getWindowHandles().iterator().next());

Solution 5: Use the `driver.quit()` Method

You can use the driver.quit() method to close the driver and prevent data from appearing in the address bar. Here's an example:

driver.quit();

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of data appearing in the address bar with Selenium is a common problem that can be caused by various factors. By understanding the possible causes and using the solutions provided in this article, you can resolve this issue and ensure that your automated test cases run smoothly.

Best Practices

To avoid this issue in the future, follow these best practices:

Use the latest versions of ChromeDriver and Chrome browser.
Use the --incognito flag when launching the Chrome browser.
Use the --new-window flag when launching the Chrome browser.
Use the windowHandles method to switch to the new window.
Use the driver.quit() method to close the driver.

By following these best practices, you can ensure that your automated test cases run smoothly and efficiently.

Additional Resources

For more information on Selenium WebDriver, ChromeDriver, and TestNG, refer to the following resources:

Selenium WebDriver documentation: https://www.selenium.dev/documentation/en/webdriver/
ChromeDriver documentation: https://chromedriver.chromium.org/
TestNG documentation: https://testng.org/doc/index.html

FAQs

Q: Why is data appearing in the address bar with Selenium?

A: Data may appear in the address bar with Selenium due to various reasons, including inheritance of session, Chrome's default behavior, and Selenium's window handling mechanism.

Q: How can I resolve this issue?

A: You can resolve this issue by using the solutions provided in this article, such as updating ChromeDriver and Chrome browser, using the --incognito flag, using the --new-window flag, using the windowHandles method, and using the driver.quit() method.

Q: What are the best practices to avoid this issue in the future?

Q: What is the difference between ChromeDriver and Chrome browser?

A: ChromeDriver is a separate executable that interacts with the Chrome browser to automate web browsers. It is a WebDriver implementation for Chrome browser. Chrome browser is the actual browser that you use to browse the web.

Q: How do I update ChromeDriver?

A: You can update ChromeDriver using the following command:

webdriver-manager update

Q: Why is my test case failing with Selenium?

A: There could be several reasons why your test case is failing with Selenium. Some common reasons include:

Incorrect test case: Make sure that your test case is correct and is testing the right functionality.
Incorrect test data: Make sure that your test data is correct and is being used in the right context.
Incorrect test environment: Make sure that your test environment is correct and is set up properly.
Incorrect test configuration: Make sure that your test configuration is correct and is set up properly.

Q: How do I handle multiple windows with Selenium?

A: You can handle multiple windows with Selenium using the windowHandles method. Here's an example:

String mainWindowHandle = driver.getWindowHandle();
driver.switchTo().window(driver.getWindowHandles().iterator().next());

Q: Why is my test case taking a long time to run?

A: There could be several reasons why your test case is taking a long time to run. Some common reasons include:

Incorrect test case: Make sure that your test case is correct and is testing the right functionality.
Incorrect test data: Make sure that your test data is correct and is being used in the right context.
Incorrect test environment: Make sure that your test environment is correct and is set up properly.
Incorrect test configuration: Make sure that your test configuration is correct and is set up properly.
Slow test execution: Make sure that your test execution is not slow due to any issues with the test environment or test configuration.

Q: How do I handle exceptions with Selenium?

A: You can handle exceptions with Selenium using try-catch blocks. Here's an example:

try {
    // Your test code here
} catch (Exception e) {
    // Handle the exception here
}

Q: Why is my test case failing with TestNG?

A: There could be several reasons why your test case is failing with TestNG. Some common reasons include:

Incorrect test case: Make sure that your test case is correct and is testing the right functionality.
Incorrect test data: Make sure that your test data is correct and is being used in the right context.
Incorrect test environment: Make sure that your test environment is correct and is set up properly.
Incorrect test configuration: Make sure that your test configuration is correct and is set up properly.

Q: How do I run my test cases in parallel with TestNG?

A: You can run your test cases in parallel with TestNG using the parallel attribute in the testng.xml file. Here's an example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE suite SYSTEM "http://testng.org/testng-1.0.dtd">
<suite name="My Test Suite" parallel="methods">
    <test name="My Test">
        <classes>
            <class name="com.example.MyTestClass"/>
        </classes>
    </test>
</suite>

Q: Why is my test case failing with JUnit?

A: There could be several reasons why your test case is failing with JUnit. Some common reasons include:

Incorrect test case: Make sure that your test case is correct and is testing the right functionality.
Incorrect test data: Make sure that your test data is correct and is being used in the right context.
Incorrect test environment: Make sure that your test environment is correct and is set up properly.
Incorrect test configuration: Make sure that your test configuration is correct and is set up properly.

Q: How do I run my test cases in parallel with JUnit?

A: You can run your test cases in parallel with JUnit using the @RunWith annotation and the ParallelComputer class. Here's an example:

import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.junit.runners.ParallelComputer;
import org.junit.runners.Suite;
@RunWith(Suite.class)
@Suite.SuiteClasses({
MyTestClass.class
})
public class MyTestSuite {
}

Q: Why is my test case failing with Cucumber?

A: There could be several reasons why your test case is failing with Cucumber. Some common reasons include:

Incorrect test case: Make sure that your test case is correct and is testing the right functionality.
Incorrect test data: Make sure that your test data is correct and is being used in the right context.
Incorrect test environment: Make sure that your test environment is correct and is set up properly.
Incorrect test configuration: Make sure that your test configuration is correct and is set up properly.

Q: How do I run my test cases in parallel with Cucumber?

A: You can run your test cases in parallel with Cucumber using the @RunWith annotation and the ParallelComputer class. Here's an example:

import cucumber.api.junit.Cucumber;
import cucumber.api.junit.CucumberOptions;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
@RunWith(Cucumber.class)
@CucumberOptions(
features = "classpath:features",
glue = "classpath:step_definitions",
tags = "@parallel",
plugin = "pretty", "jsontarget/cucumber.json", "junit:target/cucumber.xml"
)
public class MyTestSuite {
}

Q: Why is my test case failing with Appium?

A: There could be several reasons why your test case is failing with Appium. Some common reasons include:

Incorrect test case: Make sure that your test case is correct and is testing the right functionality.
Incorrect test data: Make sure that your test data is correct and is being used in the right context.
Incorrect test environment: Make sure that your test environment is correct and is set up properly.
Incorrect test configuration: Make sure that your test configuration is correct and is set up properly.

Q: How do I run my test cases in parallel with Appium?

A: You can run your test cases in parallel with Appium using the @RunWith annotation and the ParallelComputer class. Here's an example:

import io.appium.java_client.AppiumOptions;
import io.appium.java_client.android.AndroidDriver;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.junit.runners.ParallelComputer;
import org.junit.runners.Suite;
@RunWith(Suite.class)
@Suite.SuiteClasses(
MyTestClass.class
})
public class MyTestSuite {
@BeforeClass
public static void setup() {
AppiumOptions options = new AppiumOptions();
options.setCapability("platformName", "Android");
options.setCapability("platformVersion", "10");
options.setCapability("deviceName", "emulator-5554");
options.setCapability("appPackage", "com.example.app");
options.setCapability("appActivity", ".MainActivity");
AndroidDriver driver = new AndroidDriver(new URL("http//localhost:4723/wd/hub"), options);

}

Q: Why is my test case failing with Selenium Grid?

A: There could be several reasons why your test case is failing with Selenium Grid. Some common reasons include:

Incorrect test case: Make sure that your test case is correct and is testing the right functionality.
Incorrect test data: Make sure that your test data is correct and is being used in the right context.
Incorrect test environment: Make sure that your test environment is correct and is set up properly.
Incorrect test configuration: Make sure that your test configuration is correct and is set up properly.

Q: How do I run my test cases in parallel with Selenium Grid?

A: You can run your test cases in parallel with Selenium Grid using the @RunWith annotation and the ParallelComputer class. Here's an example:

import org.openqa.selenium.remote.DesiredCapabilities;
import org.openqa.selenium.remote.RemoteWebDriver;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.junit.runners.ParallelComputer;
import org.junit.runners.Suite;
@RunWith(Suite.class)
@Suite.SuiteClasses(
MyTestClass.class
})
public class MyTestSuite {
@BeforeClass
public static void setup() {
DesiredCapabilities capabilities = new DesiredCapabilities();
capabilities.setBrowserName("chrome");
capabilities.setPlatform(Platform.WINDOWS);
RemoteWebDriver driver = new RemoteWebDriver(new URL("http//localhost:4444/wd/hub"), capabilities);

}

Q: Why is my test case failing with TestNG Grid?

A: There could be several reasons why your test case is failing with TestNG Grid. Some common reasons include:

Incorrect test case: Make sure that your test case is correct and is testing the right functionality.
Incorrect test data: Make sure that your test data is correct and is being used in the right context.
Incorrect test environment: Make sure that your test environment is correct and is set up properly.