A StaleElementReferenceException in Selenium occurs when a web element is no longer attached to the DOM (Document Object Model). This could happen if the element has been deleted or if the DOM has been refreshed.
❓ How
1. Using explicit waits: Explicit waits allow your code to halt program execution, or freeze the thread, until the condition you pass it resolves. The condition could be the presence of a certain element or an element to be clickable.
2. Retry the failed operation: If the StaleElementReferenceException was caused by a race condition between your Selenium code and the web page's JavaScript, retrying the failed operation could resolve the issue.
✅ Points to Remember
1. Avoid using Thread.sleep(): While it might seem like a good idea to just pause the execution of your test for a few seconds, this is usually a bad practice. It can lead to flaky tests and long test execution times.
2. Be careful with Ajax-heavy pages: On Ajax-heavy pages, elements might load at different times. Be mindful of this and make sure your waits are set up correctly.