Return 'NameError' instead of 'Pass' when Can't find element

Question

I am using Python Selenium. When I try this:

try:
    element = driver.find_element_by_xpath('--path--').text.encode('ascii','ignore')
except NoSuchElementException:
    pass


print element

But, when element does not exist, shown error

NameError: name 'element' is not defined

..when it should just pass when can't find the element.

Answer 1

The error is because you are setting the element in the try part only. Either set 'element' outside try-except or in except.

Ex:

try:
    element = driver.find_element_by_xpath('--path--').text.encode('ascii','ignore')
except NoSuchElementException:
    element = None