In WebdriverIO, browser is the active session object for controlling a browser or mobile device. Use it for session-level work such as navigation, reading the current URL or title, managing browsing contexts, and running scripts. For interactions with a particular page element, use the element-level API; for deliberately composed keyboard, pointer, or wheel input, use browser.action() and finish with perform().
The examples below follow the current WebdriverIO documentation scope, which labels its API pages for version 8.x and later. Exact commands and capabilities can vary with the selected driver or automation backend, so check the API reference for your environment.
What the browser object represents
WebdriverIO exposes two useful layers: bindings to protocol commands sent to the underlying driver, and higher-level convenience commands on objects such as browser and element. The browser object represents the active session; it is not the browser installation itself.
In a test-runner project, the runner initializes and ends the session. You can access it through the global browser or driver, or via @wdio/globals. In standalone usage, create a session with remote and use the returned browser object. Available commands may differ by backend.
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Runner-managed session
// In a WebdriverIO test-runner test, use the runner's active session.
await browser.url('https://example.com');
console.log(await browser.getTitle());Do not create a separate session inside every runner-managed test unless your setup specifically requires one; the runner owns that session lifecycle.
Standalone session
import { remote } from 'webdriverio';
const browser = await remote({
capabilities: { browserName: 'chrome' }
});
try {
await browser.url('https://example.com');
console.log(await browser.getTitle());
} finally {
await browser.deleteSession();
}This illustrates the standalone pattern; the required capabilities and driver setup depend on your environment. Consult the current browser API and your backend’s setup instructions.
Navigate and inspect the current page
Use browser.url() as the convenient navigation method. The protocol-level reference also documents navigateTo(), getUrl(), and getTitle().
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await browser.url('https://example.com/account');
const currentUrl = await browser.getUrl();
const title = await browser.getTitle();
console.log({ currentUrl, title });URL and title checks are useful assertion points, but they do not prove that all asynchronous work on the page has finished. If the test depends on content loaded after navigation, wait for the specific state it needs.
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Browser-level commands cover history navigation, refresh, window handles, switching between contexts, and creating a browsing context. Keep the handle you intend to use and switch explicitly before checking a page.
const originalHandle = await browser.getWindowHandle();
const handlesBefore = await browser.getWindowHandles();
// After the application opens another tab or window:
const handlesAfter = await browser.getWindowHandles();
const newHandle = handlesAfter.find(handle => !handlesBefore.includes(handle));
if (!newHandle) {
throw new Error('The expected new browsing context was not opened');
}
await browser.switchToWindow(newHandle);
console.log(await browser.getUrl());
await browser.switchToWindow(originalHandle);
await browser.back();
await browser.forward();
await browser.refresh();Use the current protocol reference for exact command signatures and the behavior supported by your driver. Do not assume a command available in a desktop browser session is also supported by a mobile automation backend.
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Choose the right way to send input
Ordinary element interactions
For a normal click, typing into a field, or selecting an element, start with the higher-level element commands. The API separates browser/session scope from element scope, so inspect which object owns a command rather than treating every operation as a browser command.
Composed keyboard, pointer, or wheel input
Use browser.action() when an interaction needs a deliberate sequence of low-level inputs. Build the sequence and call perform() to dispatch it. The supported input types and behavior vary by environment.
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.down('SHIFT')
.up('SHIFT')
.perform();Check the action API reference for the accepted input types and methods in the backend you use; do not assume every keyboard, pointer, or wheel action works identically across environments.
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Wait for page state instead of relying on timing
A navigation command completing does not necessarily mean the application has rendered the data your test needs. Prefer a condition-based wait tied to the expected page state, such as a result element becoming visible, rather than adding an arbitrary delay.
The current protocol reference includes session timeouts. Implicit timeouts are not recommended in the current documentation because they can affect other WebdriverIO commands. Use the relevant current wait API and confirm its signature in the version installed in your project; older v5 and v6 examples may show outdated syntax.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Run JavaScript in the page when needed
The protocol reference includes script execution for cases where page-context JavaScript is necessary. Keep ordinary interactions in WebdriverIO’s element and browser APIs where possible; scripts execute in the page context and should be used only when that is the operation the test actually needs.
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const pageTitle = await browser.execute(() => document.title);
console.log(pageTitle);Script execution capability depends on the active browser or automation backend. Consult the current protocol API for the supported arguments and return behavior in your setup.
Extend the browser API only when necessary
The browser API documents addCommand for adding custom commands and overwriteCommand for replacing existing command behavior. These are extension points for shared project-specific operations, not the first step for a test that can use a standard browser or element command.
Troubleshoot common command problems
- A command is missing or behaves differently: Confirm whether it belongs to the browser, element, or another object, then check the API reference for your WebdriverIO version and backend. Backend-specific command availability is expected.
- A URL or title assertion passes before the page is ready: Wait for the element or application state the next test step requires; navigation completion alone is not a universal readiness signal.
- An action sequence has no effect: Check that the chain ends in
perform(), and verify that the driver and environment support the chosen input type. - A window switch targets the wrong page: Compare window handles before and after the application action, identify the new handle, and switch to it before asserting state.
- Implicit waiting causes inconsistent timing: Replace implicit timeouts with a condition-based wait for the specific page state, following the current API syntax rather than legacy examples.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the browser object mean a Chrome or Firefox installation?
No. It represents the active WebdriverIO session used to control a browser or mobile device.
Can every WebdriverIO browser command run on every backend?
No. Command availability and input support can differ by driver and automation environment; check the current API reference for your setup.
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