Selenium Java with Cucumber: Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) Basics

In the world of agile software development, collaboration and clear communication between technical and non-technical team members is key. That’s where Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) steps in. When combined with Selenium and Java, BDD becomes a powerful approach for writing test automation that’s easy to understand, maintain, and scale.

In this blog, we’ll explore the basics of BDD using Cucumber with Selenium in Java, and why this combination is so popular for modern test automation.


🧠 What is Behavior-Driven Development (BDD)?

Behavior-Driven Development is a software development approach that encourages collaboration between developers, testers, and business stakeholders. Instead of writing traditional test scripts, BDD focuses on writing scenarios in plain English that describe the expected behavior of an application.

These scenarios are typically written in Gherkin syntax and follow a simple structure:

Given some context

When an action is performed

Then an expected outcome should occur


🧪 Why Use Selenium with Cucumber?

Selenium is one of the most widely used tools for web automation. By combining it with Cucumber:

You write readable test cases that even non-developers can understand.

You separate test logic (written in Java) from test scenarios (written in plain English).

You align testing closely with business requirements.

This makes BDD testing more maintainable and scalable across agile teams.


🛠️ Setting Up Cucumber with Selenium in Java

1. Add Dependencies (Maven Example)

xml


<dependencies>

  <dependency>

    <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>

    <artifactId>cucumber-java</artifactId>

    <version>7.11.0</version>

  </dependency>

  <dependency>

    <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>

    <artifactId>cucumber-junit</artifactId>

    <version>7.11.0</version>

  </dependency>

  <dependency>

    <groupId>org.seleniumhq.selenium</groupId>

    <artifactId>selenium-java</artifactId>

    <version>4.15.0</version>

  </dependency>

</dependencies>


2. Create Feature File

gherkin


Feature: Login Functionality


  Scenario: Successful login with valid credentials

    Given I am on the login page

    When I enter valid username and password

    Then I should be redirected to the dashboard


3. Create Step Definitions in Java

java

Copy

Edit

@Given("I am on the login page")

public void i_am_on_the_login_page() {

    driver.get("https://example.com/login");

}


@When("I enter valid username and password")

public void i_enter_valid_credentials() {

    driver.findElement(By.id("username")).sendKeys("testuser");

    driver.findElement(By.id("password")).sendKeys("password123");

    driver.findElement(By.id("login")).click();

}


@Then("I should be redirected to the dashboard")

public void i_should_see_dashboard() {

    assertTrue(driver.getCurrentUrl().contains("dashboard"));

}


💡 Benefits of Using BDD with Selenium and Java

Readable Tests: Anyone on the team can read and understand the test cases.

Traceability: Easy mapping between requirements and test cases.

Early Feedback: Encourages discussions early in the development cycle.

Reusability: Modular step definitions can be reused across scenarios.


✅ Conclusion

Using Selenium Java with Cucumber brings the best of both worlds: powerful browser automation and human-readable test scenarios. By embracing BDD, teams can foster better collaboration, improve test coverage, and align testing closely with business goals. Whether you're working in a small agile team or a large enterprise setup, this combination is a strong foundation for building robust, maintainable test suites.

Learn Selenium with Java Training

Read More: Automating Mobile Web Testing Using Selenium Java and Appium

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Use Tosca's Test Configuration Parameters

Tosca by Tricentis is a powerful model-based test automation tool widely used in enterprise environments for end-to-end testing. One of its most useful features is Test Configuration Parameters (TCPs), which provide flexibility and control in managing test execution. TCPs enable testers to create reusable test cases by passing dynamic values without hardcoding them. This significantly enhances test maintenance, scalability, and efficiency. In this blog, we’ll explore what Test Configuration Parameters are, how to create and use them, and the best practices to follow when working with TCPs in Tosca. What Are Test Configuration Parameters? Test Configuration Parameters are custom-defined key-value pairs that can be associated with test cases, test case folders, or execution lists in Tosca. They help manage configuration data such as environment URLs, browser types, credentials, or any other variable data that may differ across test runs. By using TCPs, you can avoid duplicating test case...
Read more

Tosca Licensing: Types and Considerations

 Tosca by Tricentis is a widely used, enterprise-level automation testing tool known for its model-based approach, scriptless testing, and support for a wide range of applications (web, desktop, mobile, API, etc.). As organizations look to implement Tosca into their quality assurance processes, one of the key areas to understand is its licensing model. In this blog, we’ll explore the various types of Tosca licenses, key considerations for choosing the right license, and best practices to manage licensing efficiently within your test automation ecosystem. 🔑 Why Licensing Matters in Tosca Tosca is a commercial tool, and proper licensing is crucial to access its full range of capabilities, manage costs, scale efficiently, and remain compliant with Tricentis’s usage policies. The right licensing setup ensures that testers and teams can collaborate effectively without disruptions due to access or resource limitations. 📌 Types of Tosca Licenses Tricentis offers several licensing types ...
Read more

Using Hibernate ORM for Fullstack Java Data Management

In the world of fullstack Java development, managing data efficiently and seamlessly across the application is critical. One of the most powerful tools in the Java ecosystem for handling database operations is Hibernate ORM (Object-Relational Mapping). Hibernate simplifies the interaction between Java applications and relational databases, reducing boilerplate code and improving maintainability. This blog explores how Hibernate ORM works, why it’s widely used, and how it fits into the data management strategy of a fullstack Java application. What is Hibernate ORM? Hibernate ORM is an open-source Java framework that provides a powerful and flexible mechanism for mapping Java objects to database tables. It abstracts the low-level JDBC code, allowing developers to work with high-level object-oriented concepts. Instead of writing raw SQL queries, Hibernate allows developers to define database interactions using simple Java classes (also known as POJOs) and annotations or XML configurations...
Read more