---
title: "Read Attribute From Web Element Step"
url: "https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/read-attribute-from-web-element-step"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-03-27T08:47:54.331Z"
---

# Read Attribute From Web Element Step

The Read Attribute From Web Element step gets a specific attribute's value from a web element. It saves this value in a string variable. Use this step to pull out data like `href` from a link or `src` from an image.

## How to Use Read Attribute From Web Element

This step helps you get attribute values from elements on a web page.

### Step 1: Add the Step to Your Process

1.  Drag and drop the **Read Attribute From Web Element** step into your automation process.
2.  Give the step a clear **Step Name**. This helps you find the step in your workflow.

### Step 2: Configure Input Parameters

1.  **Selector Type**: Choose how you want to find the web element.
    -   Class Name
    -   CSS Selector
    -   Name
    -   Id
    -   Link Text
    -   Partial Link Text
    -   Tag Name
    -   XPath
2.  **Selector Value**: Type the value for your chosen selector type. For example, if you picked "Id", enter the element's ID here.
3.  **Attribute**: Type the exact name of the attribute you want to read (e.g., `href`, `src`, `class`).
4.  **Driver Reference**: Give the variable that holds your web browser's driver instance.
5.  **Wait for Element until timeout \[ms\]**: Set the longest time (in milliseconds) the robot should wait for the element to show up on the page.

### Step 3: Define Output Parameter

1.  **Extracted attribute variable name**: Enter the name of the string variable where the attribute value will be saved.

## Parameters Explained

**Step Name** (Optional)

-   A custom name for this step in your process.
-   Example: `Read Image Source`
-   Use it to make your process easier to understand.

**Selector Type** (Required)

-   How the robot finds the web element.
-   Options: `Class Name`, `CSS Selector`, `Name`, `Id`, `Link Text`, `Partial Link Text`, `Tag Name`, `XPath`.
-   Pick the most reliable way for your web page.

**Selector Value** (Required)

-   The specific value that matches your chosen `Selector Type`.
-   Example: If `Selector Type` is `Id`, `Selector Value` could be `myImageId`.
-   You can use an existing variable here.

**Attribute** (Required)

-   The name of the attribute you want to read from the web element.
-   Example: `href` (for a link's URL), `src` (for an image's source).
-   This must be an exact attribute name.

**IFrame Selector Type** (Optional)

-   Defines how the iframe containing the target web element is identified.
-   Options: `Class Name`, `CSS Selector`, `Name`, `Id`, `Link Text`, `Partial Link Text`, `Tag Name`, `XPath`
-   Select the option that best identifies the iframe you want to interact with.

**IFrame Selector Value** (Optional)

-   Specifies the value used to locate the iframe based on the selected **IFrame Selector Type**.
-   Example: If *IFrame Selector Type* is `Id`, the *IFrame Selector Value* could be `paymentIframe`.
-   Use this when the element you want to interact with is located inside an iframe.

**Driver Reference** (Required)

-   The variable that points to your active web browser session.
-   Example: `browserDriver`
-   This connects the step to the browser you are automating.

**Wait for Element until timeout \[ms\]** (Required)

-   The longest time (in milliseconds) the robot waits for the web element to load.
-   Example: `5000` (for 5 seconds).
-   Set this to avoid errors if the page loads slowly.

**Addditional Selectors** (Optional)

-   List of selectors, allowing you to define multiple selectors for the same step
-   If the primary selector fails and additional selectors are defined, the step will automatically try the additional selectors in order.
-   You can add, remove, and reorder selectors at any time.
-   Any selector can be promoted to the primary selector, which will swap its position with the current primary selector.
-   Each selector is evaluated for the duration of the timeout defined on the step before moving on to the next one.
-   If you want to promote a selector to be the primary selector, first provide all required details (selector type and value), then click the swap icon next to selector type.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/8b840fcb-eef0-4609-9f19-156c0b47150c)

 The log indicates which selector was successfully resolved. If a secondary selector from the selector list is consistently matched, you may consider setting it as the primary selector.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/7f2451e8-3e6d-454f-ae09-ae6ccbd81164)

**Extracted attribute variable name** (Required)

-   The name of the string variable that will hold the attribute's value.
-   Example: `imageSrcValue`
-   You can then use this variable in later steps.

## Related Articles

-   [Read Text From Web Element Step](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/read-text-from-web-element-step)
-   [Click On Web Element Step](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/click-on-web-element-step)
-   [Type Into Web Element Step](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/type-into-web-element-step)

## Need Help?

Can't find what you're looking for? Join the [Robotiq Community](https://community.robotiq.ai/home/) to get help from other users and the Robotiq team.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/3816a1df-1db6-4d3f-b8d6-3b7198581a49)