For ordinary typing, locate an editable, keyboard-interactable element and call its send_keys method. For shortcuts or sequences that must hold a modifier across several actions, build an Actions sequence with keyDown(), sendKeys(), and keyUp(), then call perform(). The exact method spelling and special-key constants depend on your Selenium language binding.
Choose the right keyboard method
| Task | Use | Target behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Type text into a field | Element send_keys |
The located element receives the text. |
| Send keys as part of a sequence | Actions sendKeys |
Keys go to the active element, or a designated element where the binding supports that overload. |
| Keep a modifier held between actions | Actions keyDown and keyUp |
The key remains pressed until you release it in the sequence. |
Selenium describes keyboard input as pressing a key down and releasing a pressed key. Its Actions API lets you compose those inputs with other actions. See the Selenium Project’s keyboard actions documentation and Actions API overview.
Type text into an element with send_keys
Use an element’s send_keys method for straightforward text entry. The target needs to be keyboard-interactable, such as a text input or an element with contenteditable enabled. Locate the intended control, then send the text:
element.send_keys("Selenium WebDriver")The snippet shows the Python method spelling. In other bindings, the method name’s capitalization or surrounding syntax may differ. Selenium’s element interaction documentation explains the keyboard-interactable requirement; a target that cannot receive input may produce an invalid element state error.
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Use Actions for sequences and held modifiers
Send keys through an Actions sequence
Actions are useful when keyboard input belongs to a larger interaction sequence or should be directed to the active element. Bindings may also provide an overload for sending keys to a designated element. Make focus explicit if the test depends on a particular control receiving input, and check your binding’s API for the supported form.
Hold and release a modifier deliberately
To keep Shift held while sending another key, use separate key-down and key-up actions. For example, this Python sequence holds Shift while sending a, releases Shift, then sends b:
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from selenium.webdriver.common.action_chains import ActionChains
from selenium.webdriver.common.keys import Keys
actions = ActionChains(driver)
actions.key_down(Keys.SHIFT).send_keys("a").key_up(Keys.SHIFT).send_keys("b").perform()The sequence produces Ab. Calling perform() executes the actions you built.
Do not assume that placing Shift and a letter together in Actions sendKeys will hold Shift. Selenium’s JavaScript Actions reference says each key in sendKeys gets its own down/up pair; for a held modifier, use keyDown, send the desired key, then keyUp. See the JavaScript Actions API reference.
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Use special-key constants and platform-aware shortcuts
Use the constants supplied by your binding for special keys rather than relying on typed key names. Selenium documents constants such as Java Keys, Python Keys, .NET Keys, Ruby KEYS, and JavaScript KEYS. The precise names and casing vary by binding.
For common copy-and-paste shortcuts, Selenium’s example uses COMMAND on macOS and CONTROL on other platforms. Browser and test-environment behavior can still affect the result, so make the intended platform choice in the test rather than assuming one modifier works everywhere. The official keyboard actions examples also show combining arrow navigation, Shift selection, and a platform modifier.
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Binding syntax examples
The interaction model is consistent, but names and syntax differ. These examples show the held-Shift pattern; check the current API reference for the binding and version used by your project.
- Java:
new Actions(driver).keyDown(Keys.SHIFT).sendKeys("a").keyUp(Keys.SHIFT).perform(); - Python:
ActionChains(driver).key_down(Keys.SHIFT).send_keys("a").key_up(Keys.SHIFT).perform() - JavaScript:
driver.actions().keyDown(Key.SHIFT).sendKeys('a').keyUp(Key.SHIFT).perform();
For Python, import ActionChains from selenium.webdriver.common.action_chains and Keys from selenium.webdriver.common.keys. In JavaScript, the official reference documents the Key constants. Use the naming conventions for your installed binding.
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Troubleshoot keyboard input
- An invalid element state error occurs: The target may not be keyboard-interactable. Confirm that it is an editable text input or an appropriate
contenteditableelement, and that its current state accepts input. - Text goes to the wrong place: Actions
sendKeysmay target the active element. Set focus on the intended element or use the designated-element overload available in your binding. - A modifier does not affect the next key: A modifier passed to
sendKeysmay be pressed and released as its own key. Use explicitkeyDown, the key action, andkeyUp. - A shortcut works on one operating system but not another: Choose the platform modifier deliberately—Selenium’s example uses Command on macOS and Control elsewhere—and account for your browser and test environment.
- The code does not compile or the method cannot be found: Check the syntax and constant names for your language binding. Java, Python, JavaScript, .NET, and Ruby use different naming conventions.
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