What are the differences between current_window_handle and window_handles methods in Selenium with python?

There are differences between current_window_handle and window_handles methods in Selenium. Both are methods to handle multiple windows. They differences are listed below −

• current_window_handle

  This method fetches the handle of the present window. Thus it deals with the window in focus at the moment. It returns the window handle id as a string value.

Syntax −

driver.current_window_handle

• window_handles

  This method fetches all the handle ids of the windows that are currently open. The collection of window handle ids is returned as a set data structure.

Syntax −

driver.window_handles
w = driver.window_handles[2]

The above code gives the handle id of the second window open in the present session.

Example

Code Implementation with current_window_handle

from selenium import webdriver
driver = webdriver.Chrome(executable_path="C:\chromedriver.exe")
# to maximize the browser window
driver.maximize_window()
#get method to launch the URL
driver.get("https://the-internet.herokuapp.com/windows")
#to refresh the browser
driver.refresh()
driver.find_element_by_link_text("Click Here").click()
#prints the window handle in focus
print(driver.current_window_handle)
#to close the browser
driver.quit()

Code Implementation with window_handles.

from selenium import webdriver
driver = webdriver.Chrome(executable_path="C:\chromedriver.exe")
# to maximize the browser window
driver.maximize_window()
#get method to launch the URL
driver.get("https://the-internet.herokuapp.com/windows")
#to refresh the browser
driver.refresh()
driver.find_element_by_link_text("Click Here").click()
#prints the window handle in focus
print(driver.current_window_handle)
#to fetch the all handle ids of opened windows
chwnd = driver.window_handles;
# count the number of open windows in console
print("Total Windows : "+chwnd.size());
#to close the browser
driver.quit()