what is diffrence between findElement and findElements ?

[irondev84]

Describe

Please tell me what is the diffrence between findElement and findElements ?

Look at sample below:

Sample test

this.findElements('css selector', selectors.authorizationCodeInput, function (element) {
  console.log(element)
})

OUTPUT:
{ sessionId: '84f22cc63295758237971629b3dc624a', status: 0, value: [] }

this.findElement(selectors.authorizationCodeInput, function (element) {
  console.log(element)
})

OUTPUT:
NoSuchElementError: An error occurred while running .findElement() command on <#authorization-code>: {"sessionId":"84f22cc63295758237971629b3dc624a","status":0,"value":[]} at Object.module.exports.command (\tests\commands\AuthorizeTransaction.js:27:8) at runMicrotasks (<anonymous>) at processTicksAndRejections (internal/process/task_queues.js:93:5)

I would like to know why If an element doesn't exist the API findElements return object with empty value property, but in case of findElement it throw NoSuchElementError ?

Which behaviour is intentionally ?

And the next question is, why if I use try...catch construction, like you recommend, in case of NoSuchElementError it doesn't work correctly ? Example below:

this.perform(function () {
    try {
      this.findElement('css selector', selectors.authorizationCodeInput, function (element) {
        firstAuthInput = element.value
        return firstAuthInput
      })
    } catch (err) {
      console.log(err) 
    }
  })

it always throw NoSuchElementError ?

I dont know what do you mean related to this issue and how to use try catch block ?

Environment

Executable	Version
nightwatch --version	1.7.7

Browser driver	Version
chromedriver	91

OS	Version
Windows 10	1607

[irondev84]

I see the main diffrence is that in findElements is returned an array with objects, if there is no elements returned array is empty, but in case of findElement it return object but if element doesn't exist 'NoSuchElementError' is occur...
Is there any possible to return null or something in that case ?

[beatfactor]

The try/catch is intended to work in v2, not the current version.