Validating CSS Selectors in Chrome Console

Tips and Tricks on CSS Selectors

March 5, 2024 by cryan.com

As Quality Assurance professionals, we know that meticulous testing is the backbone of delivering high-quality software. One crucial aspect of our work involves validating CSS selectors to ensure they accurately target the desired elements on a web page. In this blog post, we'll explore how to validate CSS selectors using the Google Chrome Dev Console.

Why Validate CSS Selectors?

CSS selectors allow us to create triggers for various actions, such as tracking clicks, form submissions, or interactions with specific UI elements. However, relying on selectors without proper validation can lead to unexpected behavior or false positives. Let's dive into the process of validating selectors step by step.

Step 1: Inspect the Element

1. Right-Click and Inspect:
   • Begin by right-clicking on the element you want to examine (e.g., a button).
   • Select "Inspect" from the context menu.
   • The Elements panel will open, displaying the HTML and CSS related to the selected element.

Step 2: Access the Chrome Dev Console

1. Open the Dev Console:
   • If you already have the Dev Console open, click on the "Console" tab (located to the right of the "Elements" tab).
   • If not, open the Dev Console by clicking the three dots in the top-right corner of your Chrome browser, then selecting "More Tools" and "Developer Tools".

Step 3: Evaluate the Selector

1. Type in the Console:
   • In the Console, type the following line: $$('.your-selector')
   • Replace '.your-selector' with the actual CSS selector you want to test.
   • For example, if you're checking how many buttons on the page have the class "button", use: $$('.button')
2. View the Results:
   • The Console will display a NodeList with the matching elements.
   • If there are multiple elements with the same selector, you'll see a count (e.g., "(2)").
   • Expand the NodeList to see all the elements that match your selector.
   • Hover over each one to highlight it on the page.

Step 4: Refine Your Selector

1. Be More Specific:
   • To narrow down to a specific element, be more specific in your selector.
   • For instance, to target only buttons with class "button" within a specific div, adjust your selector accordingly.

Conclusion

Validating CSS selectors using the Chrome Dev Console ensures that our triggers and tracking accurately reflect the intended behavior. Remember to test thoroughly, be specific, and avoid assumptions about uniqueness. Happy testing!