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Architecture and Environment Setup in Cypress

Last Updated : 15 Jul, 2024
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Cypress is a powerful end-to-end testing framework that revolutionizes web application testing. Unlike traditional tools, Cypress offers a unique architecture that enhances test reliability and speed. Whether you're a QA engineer or a web developer, understanding Cypress's structure and setting up your testing environment is crucial for efficient automated testing.

In this guide, we'll explore the innovative architecture of Cypress and walk you through the step-by-step setup process. You'll learn how Cypress differs from other testing tools like Selenium, and gain insights into its browser interaction capabilities. By the end, you'll be equipped to start writing tests and improving your web application quality with Cypress.

Cypress Architecture

Cypress has an architecture that is different from other testing frameworks:

The Unique architecture of Cypress's end-to-end testing framework is developed using JavaScript. Here is the description of the diagram

Cypress-Architecture
Cypress Architecture
  1. Web: The web component in the diagram Stands for the external web browser through which the application will interact.
  2. Node.js: Node.js is a component of Cypress that provides a run time environment for Cypress. In this run-time environment, all tests will execute independently.
  3. Cypress: Cypress is the main component or framework for testing. In Cypress we can write our test on different edge cases and execute it without any problem cypress will directly interact with browsers to execute tests and store the record of results in it.
  4. Proxy Server: A proxy server is a server that acts as an intermediator between the client and a particular service server. This server helps to communicate client and service server for sharing any resources. Cypress uses this proxy server to monitor and manage traffic between the browser and application during test execution. Proxy Server manipulates requests of HTTP and Response to give Brief Information of Activities of Network
  5. Browser: the Browser runs the Application under, the test and the cypress tests. It interacts with the Node.js environment via Web-Socket's and HTTP requests.
  6. Cypress Tests: These are the Original tests written in, Cypress that interact with the application under test.
  7. Application under Test: This is the web application that is being tested by Cypress.
  8. Operating System: The OS is where the Node.js environment and the browser run, managing all system-level interactions.

Difference Between Cypress and Selenium

You might have heard about Selenium, another popular testing tool. Let’s see how Cypress is different:

Feature

Cypress

Selenium

Installation

Easy, single-step installation via npm

Requires multiple components like WebDriver, browser-specific drivers, and language bindings

Test Execution Speed

Generally faster due to running directly in the browser

Slower, as it operates outside the browser and communicates with it via WebDriver

Debugging

Simplified with real-time reloading and time-travel debugging

More complex, and often requires manual inspection of logs and screenshots

Architecture

All-in-one, with test runner, assertion library, and mocking/stubbing tools built-in

Modular, requires integration of different libraries for various functions

Browser Support

Supports modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Supports a wide range of browsers, including older versions

Real-Time Feedback

Provides instant feedback with automatic reloading and detailed error messages

Feedback is slower and less detailed, often requiring additional setup for real-time insights.

Community and Support

Strong community with active development and support

Large community with extensive resources, but slower updates and support

Test Writing

Uses JavaScript with an intuitive and modern API

Supports multiple languages like Java, Python, and C#, but can be more verbose and complex

Integration with CI/CD

Easy integration with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment pipelines

Well-supported but might require more configuration for seamless integration

Cypress Environment Setup (Steps)

Now, let's set up Cypress so you can start testing your website!

Step 1. Install Node.js

Cypress needs Node.js to run. Go to the Node.js website, download, and install it.

Step 2. Create a Project Folder

Make a new folder on your computer for your Cypress project.

Step 3. Initialize Your Project

Open a terminal (like Command Prompt or Terminal on Mac), navigate to your project folder, and run:

npm init -y

This sets up a new Node.js project.

Install Cypress: In the terminal, type:

npm install cypress

This installs Cypress as a development tool.

Open Cypress: In the terminal, type:

npx cypress open

This opens the Cypress Test Runner, where you can write and run your tests.

Example Usage of Cypress

1. Create a Project Folder

Create a new folder on your computer for your project, if you haven't already.

Let's call it ' cypress testing '.

2. Initialize Your Project

Open a terminal inside the project directory( generally in VS -Code ).

Initialize a new Node.js project:

npm init -y

This creates a package.json file in your project folder.

{ "dependencies": { "cypress": "^13.12.0" }, "name": "cypress-testing", "version": "1.0.0", "main": "cypress.config.js", "devDependencies": {}, "scripts": { "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1" }, "keywords": [], "author": "", "license": "ISC", "description": "" }

3. Install Cypress

In the terminal, type:

npm install cypress

Installation of Cypress
Installation of Cypress

4. Open Cypress

In the terminal, type:

npx cypress open

Opening Cypress
Opening Cypress
Select what you What ( generally END to END testing )
Select what you What ( generally END to END testing )
Configuration of Cypress
Configuration of Cypress
Choose Browser in which you want to test ( list of available browsers in your pc )
Choose Browser in which you want to test ( list of available browsers in your pc )
Completion of Setup
Completion of Setup

Conclusion

Cypress stands out as a powerful and user-friendly tool for end-to-end testing of web applications. Its unique architecture offers significant advantages over traditional testing frameworks, including faster execution, real-time reloading, and simplified debugging. With its straightforward setup process and intuitive API, Cypress empowers developers and QA professionals to create robust, reliable tests efficiently.

By embracing Cypress, teams can enhance their test coverage, improve application quality, and streamline their development workflow. As you begin your journey with Cypress, remember that its strong community support and extensive documentation are valuable resources for continuous learning and improvement in your testing practices.


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