Zendriver provides comprehensive keyboard and mouse control capabilities, from simple text input to complex key combinations and drag-and-drop operations.
Basic text input Send text to elements using send_keys():
import asyncio import zendriver as zd async def main (): browser = await zd.start() tab = await browser.get( "https://www.google.com" ) search_box = await tab.select( "textarea[name='q']" ) await search_box.send_keys( "zendriver automation" ) await browser.stop() if __name__ == "__main__" : asyncio.run(main())
Special keys Use the SpecialKeys enum for non-printable keys:
from zendriver.core.keys import SpecialKeys # Press Enter await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. ENTER ) # Press Tab await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. TAB ) # Press Escape await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. ESCAPE ) # Arrow keys await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. ARROW_DOWN ) await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. ARROW_UP ) await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. ARROW_LEFT ) await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. ARROW_RIGHT ) # Other keys await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. BACKSPACE ) await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. DELETE ) await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. SPACE )
Available special keys: SPACE, ENTER, TAB, BACKSPACE, ESCAPE, DELETE, ARROW_LEFT, ARROW_UP, ARROW_RIGHT, ARROW_DOWN
Combining text and special keys Mix regular text with special keys:
# Type text and press Enter await search_box.send_keys( "search query" ) await search_box.send_keys(SpecialKeys. ENTER ) # Or use newline character await search_box.send_keys( "search query \n " ) # Tab between fields await username_field.send_keys( "myuser" ) await username_field.send_keys(SpecialKeys. TAB ) await password_field.send_keys( "mypassword" ) await password_field.send_keys(SpecialKeys. ENTER )
Key modifiers and combinations Using key modifiers Send key combinations with modifiers like Ctrl, Alt, and Shift:
from zendriver.core.keys import KeyModifiers, KeyEvents # Ctrl+A (Select All) ctrl_a = KeyEvents( "a" , KeyModifiers.Ctrl) payload = ctrl_a.to_cdp_events(KeyPressEvent. DOWN_AND_UP ) await element.send_keys(payload) # Ctrl+C (Copy) ctrl_c = KeyEvents( "c" , KeyModifiers.Ctrl) await element.send_keys(ctrl_c.to_cdp_events(KeyPressEvent. DOWN_AND_UP )) # Ctrl+V (Paste) ctrl_v = KeyEvents( "v" , KeyModifiers.Ctrl) await element.send_keys(ctrl_v.to_cdp_events(KeyPressEvent. DOWN_AND_UP ))
Multiple modifiers Combine multiple modifiers:
from zendriver.core.keys import KeyModifiers, KeyEvents, KeyPressEvent # Ctrl+Shift+Delete modifiers = KeyModifiers.Ctrl | KeyModifiers.Shift key_event = KeyEvents(SpecialKeys. DELETE , modifiers) await element.send_keys(key_event.to_cdp_events(KeyPressEvent. DOWN_AND_UP )) # Alt+Shift+A modifiers = KeyModifiers.Alt | KeyModifiers.Shift key_event = KeyEvents( "a" , modifiers) await element.send_keys(key_event.to_cdp_events(KeyPressEvent. DOWN_AND_UP ))
Available modifiers:
KeyModifiers.Alt - Alt keyKeyModifiers.Ctrl - Ctrl keyKeyModifiers.Meta - Meta/Command keyKeyModifiers.Shift - Shift key
Send complex sequences of text and key combinations:
from zendriver.core.keys import KeyEvents, SpecialKeys, KeyModifiers # Create a sequence sequence = KeyEvents.from_mixed_input([ "Hello World" , SpecialKeys. ENTER , "More text here" , ( "a" , KeyModifiers.Ctrl), # Ctrl+A ( "c" , KeyModifiers.Ctrl), # Ctrl+C ]) await element.send_keys(sequence)
Unicode and emoji support Zendriver fully supports Unicode characters and emoji:
# Send Unicode text await search_box.send_keys( "Здравствуй мир" ) # Russian await search_box.send_keys( "こんにちは世界" ) # Japanese await search_box.send_keys( "مرحبا بالعالم" ) # Arabic # Send emoji await search_box.send_keys( "Hello 👋 World 🌍" ) await search_box.send_keys( "✅ ❌ ⚠️ ℹ️" )
Zendriver automatically handles Unicode graphemes and emoji sequences correctly.
Mouse operations Mouse click at coordinates Click at specific page coordinates:
# Click at position (100, 200) await tab.mouse_click( x = 100 , y = 200 ) # Right click await tab.mouse_click( x = 100 , y = 200 , button = "right" ) # Middle click await tab.mouse_click( x = 100 , y = 200 , button = "middle" )
Mouse movement Move the mouse to specific coordinates:
# Move mouse to coordinates await tab.mouse_move( x = 500 , y = 300 ) # Move with steps for smooth motion await tab.mouse_move( x = 500 , y = 300 , steps = 10 ) # Move with visual flash await tab.mouse_move( x = 500 , y = 300 , steps = 10 , flash = True )
Element mouse operations Perform mouse operations on elements:
element = await tab.select( ".button" ) # Click element await element.click() # Mouse move to element (triggers hover) await element.mouse_move() # Mouse click on element await element.mouse_click() # Right click await element.mouse_click( button = "right" )
Drag and drop Dragging to another element Drag one element to another:
# Simple drag to target source = await tab.select( ".draggable" ) target = await tab.select( ".drop-zone" ) await source.mouse_drag(target) # Drag with smooth steps await source.mouse_drag(target, steps = 50 )
Dragging to coordinates Drag to absolute coordinates:
element = await tab.select( ".draggable" ) # Drag to absolute position await element.mouse_drag(( 500 , 500 )) # With smooth animation await element.mouse_drag(( 500 , 500 ), steps = 100 )
Relative dragging Drag relative to current position:
element = await tab.select( ".draggable" ) # Move 100px right and 200px down await element.mouse_drag(( 100 , 200 ), relative = True ) # Move with steps for smooth motion await element.mouse_drag(( 100 , 200 ), relative = True , steps = 50 )
Complete drag and drop example Example from the source repository:
import asyncio import zendriver as zd async def demo_drag_operations (): browser = await zd.start() # Demo 1: Drag to target element tab = await browser.get( "https://nowsecure.nl/mouse.html?boxes=50" ) boxes = await tab.select_all( ".box" ) area = await tab.select( ".area-a" ) for box in boxes: await box.mouse_drag(area) # Demo 2: Drag to target with smooth steps tab = await browser.get( "https://nowsecure.nl/mouse.html" ) boxes = await tab.select_all( ".box" ) area = await tab.select( ".area-a" ) for box in boxes: await box.mouse_drag(area, steps = 100 ) # Demo 3: Drag to absolute position tab = await browser.get( "https://nowsecure.nl/mouse.html?boxes=50" ) boxes = await tab.select_all( ".box" ) for box in boxes: await box.mouse_drag(( 500 , 500 )) # Demo 4: Drag to relative position tab = await browser.get( "https://nowsecure.nl/mouse.html" ) boxes = await tab.select_all( ".box" ) for box in boxes: await box.mouse_drag(( 500 , 500 ), relative = True , steps = 50 ) await browser.stop() if __name__ == "__main__" : asyncio.run(demo_drag_operations())
Source: examples/mouse_drag_boxes.py
Page scrolling Scroll the page up and down:
# Scroll down 25% of viewport height await tab.scroll_down( 25 ) # Scroll down 50% (half page) await tab.scroll_down( 50 ) # Scroll up await tab.scroll_up( 25 ) # Control scroll speed (pixels per second) await tab.scroll_down( 50 , speed = 800 )
Scroll elements into view:
element = await tab.find( "Footer Content" ) await element.scroll_into_view()
Advanced keyboard techniques Creating custom key sequences Build complex key event sequences:
from zendriver.core.keys import KeyEvents, KeyPressEvent # Create events from text events = KeyEvents.from_text( "Hello World" , KeyPressEvent. CHAR ) await element.send_keys(events) # Mix different input types from zendriver.core.keys import SpecialKeys, KeyModifiers sequence = KeyEvents.from_mixed_input([ "First line" , SpecialKeys. ENTER , "Second line" , SpecialKeys. ENTER , ( "a" , KeyModifiers.Ctrl), # Select all ( "x" , KeyModifiers.Ctrl), # Cut "Replacement text" , ]) await element.send_keys(sequence)
Simulating keyboard typing delay Add natural typing delays:
import random async def type_naturally ( element , text ): """Type text with random delays like a human""" for char in text: await element.send_keys(char) delay = random.uniform( 0.05 , 0.15 ) await element.tab.sleep(delay) await type_naturally(search_box, "realistic typing" )
Navigate forms using keyboard:
# Fill multi-field form with Tab navigation first_name = await tab.select( "#first-name" ) await first_name.send_keys( "John" ) await first_name.send_keys(SpecialKeys. TAB ) # Current field is now last name await tab.send_keys(cdp.input_.dispatch_key_event( type_ = "char" , text = "Doe" , modifiers = 0 ))
Perform press-and-hold operations:
from zendriver import cdp # Press mouse button await tab.send( cdp.input_.dispatch_mouse_event( "mousePressed" , x = 100 , y = 100 , button = cdp.input_.MouseButton( "left" ), click_count = 1 ) ) # Do something while button is held await tab.sleep( 2 ) # Release mouse button await tab.send( cdp.input_.dispatch_mouse_event( "mouseReleased" , x = 100 , y = 100 , button = cdp.input_.MouseButton( "left" ), click_count = 1 ) )
Visual feedback Flash points to visualize mouse operations:
# Flash a point on the page await tab.flash_point( x = 500 , y = 300 , duration = 1.0 , size = 20 ) # Combine with mouse movement await tab.mouse_move( 500 , 300 , flash = True )
Best practices
Focus before typing
Always focus elements before sending keyboard input to ensure keys go to the right place.
Use appropriate key types
Use SpecialKeys for control keys and plain strings for text input.
Smooth drag operations
Use steps parameter for drag operations to make them appear more natural.
Wait after interactions
Add small delays after mouse and keyboard operations to let the page respond.
Mouse coordinates are relative to the viewport. Elements outside the viewport may not be clickable at their current coordinates.
Next steps
Element interaction Learn about clicking, typing, and form handling
Waiting and timing Master timing and synchronization