Implementation:Teamcapybara Capybara Node Element Interaction

Knowledge Sources	Capybara
Domains	Testing, DOM_Interaction
Last Updated	2026-02-12 00:00 GMT

Overview

Concrete tools for clicking, setting values, and sending keystrokes to elements provided by Capybara::Node::Element.

Description

Node::Element#click delegates to base.click via perform_click_action which handles modifier keys and coordinate offsets within a synchronize block. Node::Element#set merges default_set_options with provided options and delegates to base.set. Node::Element#send_keys directly delegates to base.send_keys. All three return self for method chaining.

Usage

Call on a found element: find(:button, 'Submit').click, find(:field, 'Name').set('Alice'), find(:field, 'Search').send_keys('query', :enter).

Code Reference

Source Location

• Repository: capybara
• File: lib/capybara/node/element.rb
• Lines: L170-174 (click), L117-125 (set), L274-277 (send_keys)

Signature

def click(*keys, **options)
  # @param *keys [Symbol] Modifier keys: :alt, :control, :meta, :shift
  # @option options [Integer] x  Click offset X
  # @option options [Integer] y  Click offset Y
  # @option options [Float] delay  Delay between mousedown/mouseup
  # @return [Capybara::Node::Element]
end

def set(value, **options)
  # @param value [String] New value for the form element
  # @param **options [Hash] Driver-specific options (merged with default_set_options)
  # @return [Capybara::Node::Element]
end

def send_keys(*args)
  # @param *args [String, Symbol, Array] Keys to send
  # @return [Capybara::Node::Element]
end

Import

require 'capybara'
# Methods available on any Capybara::Node::Element instance

I/O Contract

Inputs

Name	Type	Required	Description
keys (click)	Symbol(s)	No	Modifier keys held during click
x, y (click)	Integer	No	Click offset coordinates
value (set)	String	Yes	Value to set on the form element
args (send_keys)	String/Symbol/Array	Yes	Keys to send

Outputs

Name	Type	Description
self	Capybara::Node::Element	The element itself (for chaining)

Usage Examples

Click Interactions

find(:button, 'Submit').click
find(:link, 'Delete').click(:control)  # Ctrl+Click
find('#canvas').click(x: 100, y: 50)   # Click at offset

# Right-click and double-click
find('#menu-trigger').right_click
find('#item').double_click

Set Values

find(:field, 'Email').set('user@example.com')
find(:field, 'Password').set('secret', clear: :backspace)

Send Keys

find(:field, 'Search').send_keys('capybara', :enter)
find('#editor').send_keys([:control, 'a'], :delete)

Related Pages

Implements Principle

• Principle:Teamcapybara_Capybara_Element_Interaction