Working with Cypress Commands: cy.get(), cy.visit(), and More

Cypress has become one of the most popular automation testing tools for modern web applications. Its ability to run end-to-end tests efficiently makes it an excellent choice for developers and QA engineers. In this blog, we'll explore some of Cypress's fundamental commands—particularly cy.get() and cy.visit()—and how they help streamline testing.

Introduction to Cypress

Cypress is a JavaScript-based end-to-end testing framework that runs directly in the browser. Unlike Selenium, Cypress operates within the same execution loop as the application, ensuring a more consistent test behavior. With its intuitive API and built-in debugging capabilities, Cypress makes web automation accessible and efficient.

Understanding cy.visit()

One of the first commands in any Cypress test is cy.visit(), which allows you to navigate to a specific webpage. Here’s a basic example:

javascript

describe('Navigating to the homepage', () => {

  it('Should load the home page', () => {

    cy.visit('https://example.com');

  });

});

In this example, Cypress will visit https://example.com before executing any further commands. The cy.visit() command helps initiate a testing session by loading the target application.

Using cy.get()

To interact with elements in a Cypress test, we use cy.get(). This command retrieves elements based on CSS selectors. Here's an example:

javascript

describe('Interacting with a button', () => {

  it('Should click the login button', () => {

    cy.visit('https://example.com');

    cy.get('.login-button').click();

  });

});

Here, Cypress first visits the specified URL and then selects the login button using its CSS class (.login-button). Once the button is identified, Cypress executes the .click() action, simulating a user clicking the button.

Combining Multiple Commands

Cypress commands can be chained together to create seamless workflows. For instance, if we need to type into an input field and submit a form, we might use:

javascript

describe('User Login Test', () => {

  it('Should login successfully', () => {

    cy.visit('https://example.com');

    cy.get('#username').type('testUser');

    cy.get('#password').type('securePassword');

    cy.get('.submit-btn').click();

  });

});

This sequence allows Cypress to fill out the login form and submit it, mimicking a real user’s interaction.

Assertions in Cypress

Assertions ensure that Cypress tests verify expected behavior. Common assertions include checking the visibility of an element or confirming that a page contains specific text:

javascript

cy.get('.welcome-message').should('be.visible');

cy.get('.error-message').should('contain', 'Invalid credentials');

These assertions help validate UI elements and error messages during automated testing.

Conclusion

Cypress offers a robust and user-friendly API for automating web applications. With commands like cy.visit() and cy.get(), testers can efficiently navigate pages and interact with elements. By leveraging Cypress’s chaining capabilities and assertions, developers can create reliable and efficient test suites that ensure application quality.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced tester, mastering Cypress commands will enhance your testing workflow. So, start exploring, write tests, and make your web applications more resilient with Cypress automation!

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