Table of Content

• Cypress Architecture
• Cypress Architecture Image
• Difference Between Cypress and Selenium
• Cypress Environment Setup (Steps)
• Example Usage of Cypress
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions on Cypress – Architecture and Environment Setup

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

4. Open Cypress

In the terminal, type:

npx cypress open

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.

Frequently Asked Questions on Cypress – Architecture and Environment Setup

What makes Cypress unique?

Cypress’s unique architecture runs tests directly in the browser, offering real-time execution, automatic waiting, and time-travel debugging for faster, more reliable web application testing.

Is Cypress easy to learn?

Cypress is relatively easy to learn, especially for developers familiar with JavaScript, thanks to its intuitive API and comprehensive documentation.

Is Cypress asynchronous or synchronous?

Cypress uses a synchronous API but handles asynchronous operations automatically, making test writing feel synchronous while managing asynchronicity behind the scenes.