How to use cucumber in test automation?

Cucumber is a software testing tool used for test automation. It is an open-source tool that allows non-technical staff to do test automation without learning the complexities of programming languages. The tool is popular with Quality Assurance (QA) and software testers as it makes testing easier, faster, and more effective. In this article, we will explore how to use cucumber in test automation, its benefits, and how to get started.

What is Cucumber?

Cucumber is an open-source software testing tool used for test automation. It is written in the Ruby programming language. Cucumber is unique in that it enables non-technical staff to write and understand automated tests using English-like scripts. It was introduced by Aslak Hellesøy in 2008 and has since been a popular tool in the software development industry.

Benefits of using Cucumber in test automation

1. Collaboration: Cucumber allows the creation of plain text scripts which can be easily read and understood by the team, making it easier to collaborate and involve individuals outside the development team such as business analysts and product owners in testing.
2. Reusability: Cucumber can create a repository of features which can be reused in other scenarios. This results in less development time and the ability to maintain less code.
3. Test Coverage: Cucumber scripts can be created for nearly every functionality of an application. This ensures that every feature of an application is being tested.
4. Test Scenarios: Cucumber provides the ability to create test scenarios that cover many end-user scenarios.
5. Code Scalability: Cucumber supports integration with various code libraries like Page Object, browser driver, and frameworks. These codes can be scaled up or down according to the user’s preference.

Getting Started with Cucumber

To get started with Cucumber, you need the following:

1. Ruby programming language – Cucumber is written in Ruby. You need to install Ruby on your computer first.
2. Cucumber Framework – Cucumber needs an appropriate framework that lets it work with different programming languages. This is available in different programming languages such as Ruby, Java, and Python.
3. Integrated Development Environment (IDE) – Cucumber works with most of the famous IDEs like Visual Studio Code, Eclipse, or IntelliJ IDEA.

The following steps outline how to use cucumber with Java:

1. Create a Cucumber Maven Project – To create a Cucumber project, you need to use Maven to create the project structure. You can create a project from the command line or from within your IDE.
2. Install Cucumber-Java and Selenium Libraries – After creating a project, you need to install the Cucumber-Java and Selenium libraries. This will help run cucumber scripts with selenium.
3. Create a Feature File – The feature file is a plain text file that includes scenarios that are written in a human-readable language. You can use a BDD editor like Gherkin to write Cucumber feature files.
4. Write Step Definitions – Step definitions which are code blocks are attached to each scenario in the feature file. These code blocks when executed will perform actual testing.
5. Implement the Test Code – Test codes are written in programming languages like Java to support running cucumber scripts with selenium. They determine the interaction between the cucumber code, the Selenium commands, and other libraries.

Tips to Write Effective Cucumber Scenarios

1. Write User Stories – Cucumber scripts should be used on user stories. User stories give an overview of what a user needs and how the user interacts with the software.
2. Make your Scenarios Readable – Make sure to write a scenario using English-like syntax that can be easily read and understood by individuals outside your development team.
3. Keep your Scenarios Small – Large and complex scenarios make it challenging to read and understand. Consider splitting them into smaller and reusable scenarios.
4. Avoid Technical Details – Scenarios should have a goal. Make sure it covers the user experience and not about the technical implementation.
5. Use meaningful Scenario Names – The name of a scenario is key to convey the scenario’s purpose and to make it easily identifiable.

Conclusion

Cucumber is a powerful test automation tool that allows developers and testers to write automated tests in a language that is readable and understandable to non-technical staff. It simplifies testing activities and enables teams to collaborate more easily on testing activities. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can write more effective scenarios and generate higher confidence in the quality of your application.