Developers must recognize the need for a robust and efficient web testing framework in today’s dynamic digital environment. Cypress testing tool, being a top-rated JavaScript-based end-to-end testing tool, has captured the attention of many front-end developers and QA engineers.
However, no testing framework is immune to challenges. That’s why in this blog, we delve into the techniques and tools for debugging and maintaining Cypress tests. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting, this guide has something for everyone.
So let’s elevate your Cypress testing skills to new heights!
What is Cypress?
Cypress is a modern end-to-end tool for web automation testing, built with JavaScript and designed for ease of use by developers and QA engineers. It operates directly in the browser through DOM manipulation, reducing pain points in the test automation process.
Best Practices for Cypress Automation
Use Unique Selectors:
It is essential to use unique selectors when selecting DOM elements in Cypress. It will ensure that your tests remain stable and won’t break due to changes in the structure of your application.
Write Atomic Tests:
Atomic tests are individual tests designed to test one specific functionality or feature of an application. This approach makes it easier to maintain and update your tests.
Use Fixtures to Load Data:
Fixtures are external data files that contain test data. By using fixtures, you can avoid hardcoding data in your tests and keep them clean and maintainable.
Use Before and After Hooks:
Cypress provides before and after hooks that one can use to perform actions before and after your tests. For example, they can use these hooks to set up test data, clean the environment, and perform other necessary measures.
Use Cypress Commands:
Cypress provides a set of powerful commands that can simplify your test code. These commands allow you to interact with the application and perform actions like clicking buttons, filling out forms, and more.
Use Page Objects:
Page Objects are a design pattern that can help you organize your test code. By separating the test code from the application code, you can make your tests more maintainable and easier to update.
Use Cypress Plugins:
Cypress provides a wide range of plugins that can extend its functionality. Using these plugins can enhance your testing process and improve your test results.
In conclusion, following best practices for optimizing Cypress tests can help you save time, reduce the likelihood of bugs and issues, and increase the efficiency of your testing process. By writing clear and concise test cases and using data-driven testing, you can ensure that your application works as expected under a variety of conditions and scenarios.
Cypress Test Types
Cypress offers a variety of testing types, providing increased confidence that your tested application is working as intended.
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End-to-End (E2E)
Cypress was initially designed to run end-to-end (E2E) tests on any browser-based application. A typical E2E test emulates a user by visiting the application in a browser and performing actions through the UI.
Example:
it(‘adds todos’, () => {
cy.visit(‘https://todo.app.com’)
cy.get(‘[data-testid=”new-todo”]’)
.type(‘write code{enter}’)
.type(‘write tests{enter}’)
// confirm the application is showing two items
cy.get(‘[data-testid=”todos”]’).should(‘have.length’, 2)
})
-
Component
Cypress can also mount components from supported web frameworks and execute component tests.
Example:
import TodoList from ‘./components/TodoList’
it(‘contains the correct number of todos’, () => {
const todos = [
{ text: ‘Buy milk’, id: 1 },
{ text: ‘Learn Component Testing’, id: 2 },
]
cy.mount(<TodoList todos={todos} />)
// the component starts running like a mini web app
cy.get(‘[data-testid=”todos”]’).should(‘have.length’, todos.length)
})
-
API
Cypress can perform arbitrary HTTP calls, making it useful for API testing.
Example:
it(‘adds a todo’, () => {
cy.request({
url: ‘/todos’,
method: ‘POST’,
body: {
title: ‘Write REST API’,
},
})
.its(‘body’)
.should(‘deep.contain’, {
title: ‘Write REST API’,
completed: false,
})
})
-
Other
Finally, a vast array of official and third-party plugins enable you to write additional tests, such as accessibility (a11y), visual, email, and more.
What is the Best Way to Conduct End-To-End Cypress Testing on the Cypress Grid?
Cypress end-to-end testing has been successfully carried out on the local Cypress Grid. However, with the cloud-based platform, Cypress parallel testing can be performed on multiple browsers, versions, and operating systems. LambdaTest is one such cross-browser automation testing platform that provides online browser farms of real browsers and OS, making web testing with Cypress automation possible. Additionally, Cypress end-to-end testing can be carried out on a fast test execution cloud.
LambdaTest offers high-scale parallelization and is easily integrated with CI/CD pipelines. The lambdatest-Cypress CLI displays real-time Cypress test results. Upon the completion of all test cases, the Cypress test results can be viewed on the LambdaTest dashboard. Screenshots, videos, and logs for all test cases can also be accessed on LambdaTest.
What is Debugging?
Debugging is a crucial step in computer programming and engineering that involves finding and fixing bugs. It is a multi-faceted process during software development, testing, updating, and maintenance. Software often contains errors, called bugs, that need to be identified and resolved. These bugs can arise from unexpected events or accidental coding mistakes. In addition, debugging can become challenging when different modules are tightly connected, as changes in one module can create additional bugs in another. As a result, debugging can sometimes take longer than writing the code itself.
Debugging Cypress Tests: Techniques and Best Practices
Debugging test scripts is essential to software testing, and Cypress provides powerful debugging options to help you troubleshoot issues efficiently. Here are some of the best techniques for debugging Cypress tests:
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Use Stack Traces
Cypress generates stack traces for all failed tests, providing detailed information on the location of the error. You can use these stack traces to identify the root cause of the issue and make the necessary changes to your test script.
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Use Debuggers
Cypress also allows you to use a debugger to step through your test script line by line, making it easier to understand what is happening at each stage. This is particularly useful when dealing with complex scenarios that are difficult to diagnose.
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Use Console Logs
Another useful technique for debugging Cypress tests is to use console logs to output information about the execution of your test script. For example, you can use console logs to print out the values of variables and any other relevant information that may help you identify the root cause of the issue.
-
Use .debug() Command
Cypress provides a built-in .debug() command that you can use to pause your test script and open the Cypress Test Runner, allowing you to inspect the current state of your application and debug any issues you encounter.
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Use .pause() Command
Similar to the .debug() command, the .pause() command allows you to pause your test script at any point and manually inspect the application in the Cypress Test Runner. This is particularly useful when you need to test the state of your application at a specific point in the execution of your test script.
Using these techniques, you can debug your Cypress tests more efficiently and effectively, ensuring that your application is thoroughly tested and any issues are identified and resolved quickly.
Tips for Improving Your Debugging Workflow
Debugging can be a time-consuming process, but there are several tips and best practices that can help you improve your workflow and save time.
- One of the most important things to remember is to stay organized. Keep track of the bugs and issues you encounter, and prioritize them based on their severity and impact on your application.
- Another useful tip is to use the Cypress Dashboard to monitor your tests and identify issues as they occur. The Cypress Dashboard provides a real-time view of your test runs, including logs, screenshots, and video recordings. This can be particularly useful when you’re trying to identify issues that only occur under specific conditions.
The Advantages of Using Cypress Testing for Web Development
Cypress testing has become an increasingly popular choice for web developers and testers due to its numerous benefits over other testing frameworks. Here are some of the critical advantages of using Cypress testing:
Cypress is More Universal
One of the most significant advantages of Cypress testing is its universality. It is written in JavaScript and based on Mocha and Chai, making it more accessible to developers familiar with these languages. It also means that one can easily integrate the Cypress tests into a web development project without requiring significant changes to the existing code.
Moreover, Cypress supports cross-browser testing, allowing developers to test their applications on a range of popular web browsers, including Firefox and the Chrome family of browsers like Edge and Electron.
Simple Setup and Configuration
Another key advantage of Cypress is its ease of setup and configuration. Unlike other testing frameworks, such as Selenium, Cypress does not require the installation of additional dependencies and libraries. In addition, it comes bundled with a Chrome browser and can work with any other browser installed on the local machine, making it easy to get started with minimal setup.
Cypress Offers Debugging Capabilities
Cypress provides robust debugging capabilities that make it easier to identify and fix issues in web applications. For example, when a test fails, developers receive detailed suggestions for fixing the defect and can easily debug the app from within the Chrome DevTools. In addition, Cypress supports features such as Time Travel and real-time reload, allowing developers to examine the website’s code during and after test execution.
Cypress can also provide screenshots of test failures, which simplifies the error analysis process and makes it easy to identify and fix defects in the app.
Fast Test Execution with Automatic Waiting
Cypress testing offers fast test execution, with a response time of less than 20 MS. This is due to the framework’s automatic waiting feature, which eliminates the need for developers to define implicit and explicit waits. In addition, Cypress automatically waits for DOM loading, animations, and other elements, making the testing process quicker and more efficient.
In addition, Cypress automatically runs subsequent tests after the first one is executed, further reducing downtime and streamlining the testing process.
Active Community and Documentation
Cypress is a free and open-source framework with a growing user base and an active community on platforms like GitHub, Gitter, and StackOverflow. It means developers can find support and advice on using the framework from various sources.
Cypress provides comprehensive documentation, including guides, tutorials, and API reference materials. It makes it easier for developers to get started with the framework and to use its features effectively.
Freemium Model with Advanced Features
Cypress operates on a freemium model, allowing users to choose between a free or paid version of the framework. The paid version includes advanced features such as a dashboard with artifacts like DOM snapshots, which can be helpful for debugging and video storage.
It means that developers can choose the version of Cypress that best suits their needs and budget and upgrade to the paid version if and when they need the additional features.
Overall, Cypress testing offers many advantages over other web testing frameworks, making it an excellent choice for developers looking for a reliable and user-friendly tool for testing their web applications.
Closing Notes
To conclude, Cypress has become a preferred choice for developers and QA engineers regarding web automation testing. However, debugging and maintaining Cypress tests can be a challenging task. Therefore, we discussed various techniques and tools to help developers and QA engineers efficiently debug and maintain their Cypress tests.
We have emphasized using unique selectors, writing atomic tests, fixtures to load data, before and after hooks, Cypress commands, page objects, and Cypress plugins. Additionally, we have discussed the various types of tests that Cypress offers, including end-to-end (E2E), components, API, and others.
Finally, we have discussed debugging techniques such as using stack traces, debuggers, console logs, and more. By following these best practices, developers and QA engineers can save time, reduce the likelihood of bugs and issues, and increase the efficiency of their testing process.
