Cucumber BDD framework

Cucumber : cucumber is a popular open-source testing tool that supports behavior-driven development (BDD). BDD aqueduct the space between business stakeholders and also the technical team through a standard platform and communication among the team becomes more transparent.

Gherkin language is used to write the test cases in a very simple format and even be read and modified by a non-technical user.

To create cucumber framework

Step 1: Create maven project in eclipse IDE

Step 2 : Add dependencies in pom.xml

Step 3: Create feature file folder inside of src/test/resources and inside the feature folder create .feature files

Step 4: Write test cases in feature files using gherkin language.

Step 5 : Create StepDefinition package in src/test/java.

Step 6 : Create PageObjectModel package in src/test/java.

Step 7 : Create TestRunner

Step 8 : Generate reports

Step 1: Create maven project in eclipse IDE

Step 2 : Add dependencies in pom.xml

⦁ cucumber core

⦁ cucumber java

⦁ cucumber junit

⦁ cucumber gherkin

Step 3: Create feature file folder inside of src/test/resources and inside the feature folder create .feature files

Step 4: Write test cases in feature files using gherkin language.

Gherkin language syntax are mainly

• Given

• When

• Then

Step 5 : Create StepDefinition package in src/test/java. When Cucumber executes a Gherkin step in a scenario, it will look for a matching step definition to execute

Step 6 : Create PageObjectModel package in src/test/java. POM design pattern makes test automation framework user-friendly by keeping tests and the element locators separate.

Step 7 : Create TestRunner class in cucumberTest package in src/test/java.

package cucumberTest;

import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import cucumber.api.CucumberOptions;
import cucumber.api.junit.Cucumber;

@RunWith(Cucumber.class)
@CucumberOptions(
  features = "Feature"
  ,glue={"stepDefinition"}
  )

public class TestRunner {

step 8 : if we wants to generate reports in different formats like allure, cucumber, extent we can add their respective dependencies run through junit we will get different reports

Cucumber Features

Cucumber Hooks

These are the blocks of the code that runs before or after each scenario. So that we can define these, anywhere in our project. For Example, Step Definition.

Cucumber Tags

These are normally used over the feature file to classify the scenarios over the feature files as per their given tag name. We can have multiple tags for a given scenario in the feature file.

Tags are user-defined and we can give any name to it such as @Smoke, @Regression, etc.

Cucumber Annotations

These are inbuilt to Cucumber. Normally tags are @Given, @When, @Then.

However, later if we need we can create our own annotation and then use it in our program. During execution, the matching glue code i.e. functions are written in a Stepdef file having @Given, @When, @Then will get executed.

Cucumber Background

These are steps or series of steps that are common to all the scenarios in the feature file.

It allows us to add some context to the scenarios for a feature where it is defined. It runs before every scenario for a feature in which it is defined.

Cucumber Data Tables

Cucumber has the feature to support data-driven testing, which allows us to automatically run a test case multiple times with different input and validation values for a given script.

Benefits of using Cucumber Testing Tools

Involving stakeholders becomes easier regardless of their programming knowledge.

1. Collaboration:

Cucumber promotes collaboration between business stakeholders, developers, and testers by providing a common language for expressing requirements and specifications. Using Gherkin syntax, stakeholders can write executable specifications that describe the behavior of the application in simple, human-readable terms.

2. Living Documentation:

Cucumber feature files serve as living documentation for the application’s behavior. These feature files contain scenarios written in Gherkin syntax, which describe various use cases and functionalities of the application. By keeping the feature files up-to-date, teams can ensure that the documentation accurately reflects the current behavior of the application.

3. Reusability:

Cucumber encourages the reuse of step definitions across multiple scenarios, promoting modularity and reducing redundancy in test code. Step definitions are written in programming languages like Java or Ruby and define the actions to be taken for each step in the scenarios described in feature files.

4. Cross-Platform Support:

Cucumber supports multiple programming languages, including Java, Ruby, and JavaScript, making it suitable for a wide range of development environments. This cross-platform support allows teams to use Cucumber with their preferred programming languages and tools.

5. Integration with Test Automation Tools:

Cucumber integrates seamlessly with popular test automation frameworks like Selenium and Appium, enabling end-to-end testing of web and mobile applications. By combining Cucumber with these tools, teams can automate acceptance tests and ensure that the application meets the desired behavior.

6. Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) Principles:

Cucumber follows the principles of Behavior-Driven Development (BDD), which emphasizes collaboration, automation, and specification by example. By writing executable specifications in Gherkin syntax, teams can ensure that everyone has a shared understanding of the application’s behavior and that tests are aligned with business requirements.

7. Test Reporting and Visualization:

Cucumber provides built-in support for generating test reports and visualizing test results. Teams can use tools like Cucumber Reports and Cucumber HTML Formatter to generate comprehensive test reports with detailed information about test scenarios, step execution, and test outcomes.

Conclusion:

Cucumber is a powerful BDD framework that promotes collaboration, reusability, and maintainability in software development projects. By leveraging its features and following best practices, teams can create robust, easily maintainable automated tests that accurately reflect the behavior of their applications. Incorporate Cucumber into your testing toolkit to streamline your development process and deliver high-quality software products.