Validate that an element is not clickable in your automated test
Not every element on a page should be interactive at all times. User interfaces often display buttons, links, or controls that are present in the layout but should not respond to clicks under certain conditions—such as when a form is incomplete, a step is locked, or a feature is disabled. The Check Not Clickable step lets your automation assert that a target element cannot be clicked, confirming that user interaction is correctly restricted when it should be.
This gives your test insight not just into what users should be able to do, but also into what they should not be able to do.
Why checking non-clickability matters
UI behaviour often depends on context and state. There are many legitimate reasons why an element should not respond to interaction:
A submit button should be unclickable until required fields are filled
A navigation item may be present but disabled based on permissions
A feature toggle may hide functionality until enabled
A loading state should prevent premature actions
Validation rules may temporarily block interactions
If these controls become clickable when they shouldn’t be, users could proceed through invalid or unwanted flows.
By asserting that elements are not clickable, your automation ensures that gating logic and state-dependent behaviour are enforced correctly.
How this step works
With Check Not Clickable, your test:
Targets the element using a selector
Confirms it cannot be clicked
Fails the test if the element is unexpectedly interactive
This provides a clear signal that the interface is doing the right thing when interaction should not be allowed.
This is different from simply checking that an element exists or is visible. Some elements may be visible but intentionally inert. This step confirms that attempting to click them would not trigger any action.
Combine with other assertions
Non-clickability checks are most valuable when used in sequence with actions and validations. For example:
Fill only some required fields
Assert that the submit button is not clickable
Complete all fields
Assert that the submit button becomes clickable
This reflects real usage and confirms that your interface enforces the correct progression of steps.
You can also pair it with:
Check Enabled to confirm opposite states
Check Text to verify instructional messages
Wait for Element to sync dynamic behaviour
Touch to confirm real interaction outcomes
These combinations give you deeper insight into interactive behaviour.
Confidence in state-dependent UI logic
Testing that elements are not clickable adds an important dimension to your automation suite. Instead of only verifying success conditions, you also confirm that your product stops users from doing things they should not do.
This helps catch issues such as:
Missing validation enforcement
Broken gating logic
Unexpected navigation paths
Missing permissions checks
By automating non-clickability assertions, you ensure that restricted interactions remain restricted and that your interface behaves predictably across states and releases.