Element Click Intercepted | Basics & Recommendations to Fix It

Introduction:

The "element click intercepted" problem typically occurs in web automation or testing scenarios when a script or program attempts to interact with a web element (such as a button or link) on a webpage, but another element overlies or obstructs it. As a result, the intended element cannot be clicked or accessed by the automation tool or script.

When does Element Click Intercepted occur?

This issue commonly arises in dynamic web pages where elements or pop-ups can appear or move dynamically based on user interactions or other events. If an element that is targeted for interaction becomes covered or obscured by another element before the automation tool or script attempts to click it, an element click error is raised. This error is a safety mechanism built into web browsers to prevent malicious or unexpected interactions with web pages. It ensures that user actions, such as clicking on buttons or links, are not inadvertently intercepted by unwanted elements.

How to Solve this Problem?

1. If this error occurs due to pop-ups or overlays, handle them appropriately in your automation script. This may involve dismissing or closing the interfering element before attempting to click the desired element.

2. Inspect the webpage's Document Object Model (DOM) structure to identify potential elements that could be interfering with the target element. Make necessary adjustments to prevent overlaps or conflicts.

3. If feasible, adjust the CSS or layout of the webpage to ensure that the target element is not obscured by other overlapping components.

4. Before trying the click action, use strategies such as waiting for a certain condition (e.g., element visibility or existence). This method gives the element time to become accessible.

5. Incorporate explicit waiting mechanisms, like timeouts or polling intervals, into your automation script to guarantee that the target element is fully loaded and available for interaction.

6. If the target element is not immediately visible on the webpage, you can use the "scrollIntoView" method to bring it into the visible area before attempting the click action. This ensures that the element is not hidden or obstructed by other elements.

7. Instead of relying on the standard click function provided by the automation tool or framework, you can execute a JavaScript click event on the target element. This method bypasses any potential interception issues caused by overlaying elements.

8. You can try triggering the click event on the parent elements if the target element is nested within other elements. By clicking on a higher-level element, you might be able to bypass any obstructions caused by child elements.

9. If the interfering element has a higher z-index or is positioned in front of the target element using CSS properties, you can modify those properties to adjust the layering and ensure that the target element becomes accessible.

10. If the element click interception occurs due to incorrect or ambiguous selectors, try using different methods to locate the target element. For example, you can use XPath, CSS selectors, or other element identification strategies to pinpoint the desired element more accurately.

Sometimes, the interception occurs due to event propagation, where an event triggered on one element also triggers events on other elements. You can stop the event propagation using JavaScript methods like stopPropagation() or preventDefault() to prevent interference with the target element. We also want o stress that the specific solution may depend on the context and nature of the web application you are automating. Experimenting with different approaches and considering the unique characteristics of the webpage can help you find the most effective solution for the "element click intercepted" problem.

Conclusion:

We can wrap by stating that the element click intercepted occurs when you attempted to click an element, which might have been a button, radio button, checkbox, or just a click action. When the target element that you intend to click is overlaid by another element on the web page, this error prompt pops up and by following the above recommendations, one can avoid it. At WeTest, such errors and miscalculated results are taken care of through vigorous testing methods and inbuilt tools to get the best possible products that can be released to the masses. Their services of testing with real devices get the best possible deep insights and also give access to WeTest’s own iOS and Android Real Device Cloud. Moreover, the test is carried out on a large number of trending hardware in the smartphone industry.