difference between @FindAll and @FindBys annotations in webdriver page factory

Question

Please explain the difference between @FindAll and @FindBys annotations in webdriver page factory concept.

Answer 1

Look at the JavaDocs:

Annotation Type FindBys

@Retention(value=RUNTIME)
@Target(value={FIELD,TYPE})
public @interface FindBys

Used to mark a field on a Page Object to indicate that lookup should use a series of @FindBy tags in a chain as described in ByChained Eg:

 @FindBys({@FindBy(id = "foo"),
           @FindBy(className = "bar")})

Annotation Type FindAll

@Retention(value=RUNTIME)
@Target(value={FIELD,TYPE})
public @interface FindAll

Used to mark a field on a Page Object to indicate that lookup should use a series of @FindBy tags It will then search for all elements that match any of the FindBy criteria. Note that elements are not guaranteed to be in document order. Eg:

 @FindAll({@FindBy(how = How.ID, using = "foo"),
           @FindBy(className = "bar")})

Answer 2

We can use these annotations in those cases when we have more than a single criteria to to identify one or more WebElement objects.

@FindBys : When the required WebElement objects need to match all of the given criteria use @FindBys annotation

@FindAll : When required WebElement objects need to match at least one of the given criteria use @FindAll annotation

Usage:

@FindBys( {
   @FindBy(className = "class1")
   @FindBy(className = "class2")
} )
private List<WebElement> elementsWithBoth_class1ANDclass2;

Here List elementsWithBothclass1ANDclass2 will contain any WebElement which satisfies both criteria.

@FindAll({
   @FindBy(className = "class1")
   @FindBy(className = "class2")
})
private List<WebElement> elementsWithEither_class1ORclass2  

Here List elementsWithEither_class1ORclass2 will contain all those WebElement that satisfies any one of the criteria.

Answer 3

to put it in simple words, @FindBys have AND conditional relationship among the @FindBy whereas @FindAll has OR conditional relationship.

Answer 4

@FindAll can contain multiple @FindBy and will return all the elements which matches any @FindBy in a single list.

Example:

@FindAll({
@FindBy(id = "one"),
@FindBy(id = "two")
})
public List<WebElement> allElementsInList;

Whereas,

@FindBys will return the elements depending upon how @FindBy specified inside it.

 @FindBys({
    @FindBy(id = "one"),
    @FindBy(className = "two")
    })
    public List<WebElement> allElementsInList;

Where allElementsInList contains all the elements having className="two" inside id="one"