Invalid selector: Compound class names not permitted error using Selenium
I am trying to print one of my messages from a chat via webWhatsapp.
I was able to do it via Javascript from the Console tab i did it this way
recived_msg = document.getElementsByClassName('XELVh selectable-text invisible-space copyable-text') // returns an array of the chat
recived_msg[5].innerText // shows me the 4th message content
The problem is that i tried to do same thing on python but it doesnt work for me..
Heres what i tried:
from selenium import webdriver
recived_msg = driver.find_element_by_class_name('XELVh selectable-text invisible-space copyable-text')
final = recived_msg[5].innerText #doesnt work for some reason
my Error that i'm getting is: Message: invalid selector: Compound class names not permitted
I'm kinda new to javascript so sorry for missunderstanding and thank you for your help! :)
As per the documentation of selenium.webdriver.common.by
implementation:
class selenium.webdriver.common.by.By
Set of supported locator strategies.
CLASS_NAME = 'class name'
So,
-
Using
find_element_by_class_name()
you won't be able to pass multiple class names. Passing multiple classes you will face the error as:Message: invalid selector: Compound class names not permitted
Additionally, as you want to return an array of the chats, so instead of
find_element*
you need to usefind_elements*
Solution
As an alternative you can use either of :the following Locator Strategies:
-
CSS_SELECTOR
:recived_msg = driver.find_elements_by_css_selector(".XELVh.selectable-text.invisible-space.copyable-text")
-
XPATH
:recived_msg = driver.find_elements_by_xpath("//*[@class='XELVh selectable-text invisible-space copyable-text']")