Cypress - A Powerful Automation Tool for web/UI Testing
What is Cypress Testing?
Cypress is a contemporary and comprehensive end-to-end testing framework aimed at unifying web app testing independent of programming language. It is compatible with all systems and browsers. Cypress also offers an integrated development environment (IDE) that you may use through your browser.
Cypress may be used for integration as well as unit testing. Cypress tests are written in JavaScript and executed in a browser. It employs an event-based design that connects to Google Chrome's lifecycle events, allowing it to wait for things to happen.
The goal is to run tests on the same stack that is used for development. Cypress is more than simply a testing tool. It is an open-source testing framework with many unique capabilities like as running tests in the browser or headless mode, screenshots and video recordings, in-browser debugging, asynchronous testing, and so on. Cypress also provides a command-line interface (CLI) that can be used to test your website across several browsers and devices.
The best part is that it will all happen right in front of your eyes. When you save your modifications in the test file, you may instantly detect your tests running on a second monitor. This will save you a significant amount of time while developing tests, troubleshooting faulty tests, and making tests enjoyable to write.
In a nutshell, it is the future of E2E testing and how it should have been from the start.
What are the advantages of Cypress?
There are several advantages to utilising Cypress for web application testing. Here are a few of the most notable:
1. Simple user interface
Cypress provides a simple interface that makes testing quick and efficient. Furthermore, Cypress waits for orders to finish before going on to the next command, eliminating the need for manual synchronisation.
2. Built-in assertion library support
Cypress also contains built-in support for assertion libraries, as well as a comprehensive collection of debugging and troubleshooting tools. Overall, Cypress is a terrific choice for web application testing since it offers a lot of flexibility and capability.
3. JavaScript framework compatibility
Cypress is designed to be compatible with all of the main JavaScript frameworks. Because all Cypress tests are written in JavaScript, the time necessary to construct your web application tests is frequently less than that of Selenium.
4. Run in your browser natively
Cypress operates entirely within the browser, rather than outside of it. It also means better handling when pieces are visible and ready, making it typically faster.
5. Using Chrome Dev Tools to Debuggle Live Inspect
Cypress has a great Test Runner for running tests and debugging your app. It also permits the usage of Chrome Dev Tools. This allows you to directly interact with your browser's console to observe what's going on with your application.
6. Videotaping
Cypress has a built-in screenshot and video recorder for taking screenshots of test failures or recording a video of the whole test while it is executing.
7. Cypress Dashboard
Cypress has a paid service that provides a hosted dashboard service where you can access all of the test recordings.
There are some significant distinctions between Cypress and Selenium:
> Cypress is primarily built for testing online applications, whereas Selenium may be used to test a variety of applications.
> Cypress's UI is more simpler and more straightforward than Selenium's. This makes it much easier for beginner testers to understand and utilise.
> Cypress runs directly in the browser, allowing for significantly quicker testing. Selenium WebDriver, on the other hand, employs a driver that talks with the browser through HTTP.
> Cypress writes tests in JavaScript and runs them in browsers. Selenium has its own language called Selenese, but you may also use other scripting languages such as JavaScipt, C#, Ruby, and Python.
Mayank Bhola, Co-Founder & Head of Product at LambdaTest
Why should you include Cypress in your technological stack?
Cypress.io is a contemporary automated testing platform that is gaining popularity in the IT sector.
To assist you in making that decision, here are some reasons why you should utilise Cypress to automate web application testing.
1. Start with no setup.
After installing and initialising Cypress, everything is ready to use and requires no more configuration. Installed. Initialized. And you can now begin developing automated tests to check that your application's most critical functions are covered. That simple.
Cypress also includes executable examples of how to utilise each of its capabilities to assist you in testing the most different conditions seen in modern web applications.
2. A short learning curve
This is my opinion, as well as the opinions of all the specialists I've spoken with regarding how simple it was to learn to utilise the programme. However, we must keep in mind that the crew is already familiar with JavaScript and CSS selectors. After all, such expertise is required regardless of the testing methodology used.
3. Extensive experience in development
Cypress utilises its own test runner for running tests in interactive mode.
> Watch mode re-runs tests when a test file is saved.
> Time-travel - to assist you in debugging test failures, application snapshots are recorded before and after each operation, and you may "go back in time" to observe precisely what happened while the tests were running.
> Screenshots - When a Cypress test fails, a screenshot is automatically captured as proof of the failure, making it easier to analyse and resolve the issue.
> Videos - When headless mode is utilised, videos of the tests are automatically stored and can be used as bug proof.
And a lot more.
Conclusion
Cypress is a solid framework for test automation. It marks a major jump in testing productivity and creativity, with capabilities such as time travel, diffing, headful/headless mode, synchronous code execution, and so on. It has numerous advantages over other testing tools such as Selenium. And, best of all, it is simple to incorporate into your own project and begin utilising right away.
Have you ever used Cypress? What do you think about the tool? And if you want to explore in depth about Cypress testing explore our Notabletalks with industry leader in Testing Automation Mayank Bhola, Co-Founder & Head of Product at LambdaTest.
