Accelerating Test Automation with the Power of Gherkin, Cucumber, and playwright.

Blog Author - Vrushali Kapadner

Testing software has never been more exciting By combining Gherkin, Cucumber, and Playwright, teams can now create and run tests that are easy to understand, efficient, and incredibly powerful.

What is Gherkin?

Gherkin is a way to describe what an app should do in plain English. It is simple enough that anyone — developers, testers, or even non-technical team members — can write or understand it. It uses some key keywords: Feature: Describes what part of the app you are testing. Scenario: Explain a specific situation you are testing. Given: Sets up the starting point. When: Describes the action being tested. Then: Defines the expected outcome. And, But: Used to add more steps to Given, When, or Then.

Here’s an example:

Why Combine Cucumber, Gherkin, and Playwright?

Each tool brings something special to the table: 1. Gherkin : makes tests easy to understand.

2. Cucumber : Bridging Gherkin and Test Execution Cucumber serves as the execution engine for Gherkin scenarios. It maps each step in the Gherkin feature file to code written in languages like JavaScript, Python, or Java, enabling automated validation of business rules.

Why Cucumber? Step Definition Reuse: Common steps can be reused across multiple scenarios. Integration with CI/CD Pipelines: Run automated tests as part of your deployment process. Rich Reporting: Generate detailed reports on test execution, aiding in debugging and analysis.

3. Playwright : A Modern Tool for Browser Automation Playwright is a powerful, flexible tool for browser automation. Its seamless integration with Cucumber makes it an ideal choice for executing Gherkin scenarios.

Key Features of Playwright: Cross-Browser Support: Test in Chromium, Firefox, and Safari. Parallel Execution: Speed up tests with parallel execution across multiple browsers. Flexible Contexts: Simulate multiple users or scenarios using isolated browser contexts. Powerful API: Handle complex scenarios with ease, including file uploads, API mocking, and network interception.

Together, they create a powerful testing system that: Works on all major browsers. Runs test quickly in “headless mode” (invisible browser). Provides great debugging tools. It is easy to scale as your app grows.

How to Get Started Here’s a quick guide to setting up these tools:

1. Install the Tools

Set up your project and install the needed packages:

$npm init -y
$npm install @playwright/test @cucumber/cucumber playwright        

2. Write a Gherkin Feature File

Create a file like search.feature with your scenarios:

3. Write Step Definitions

This is the code that runs the tests. Save it in step_Definitions/playwrightt.Steps.ts:

4. Run the Tests

Add this to your package.json to make testing easier :

"scripts": {
 "test": "cucumber-js"
}        

Run the test with:

$npm run test        

Benefits of This Setup

Easy to Read: Everyone on the team can understand Gherkin scripts. Powerful Automation: Playwright handles modern web testing needs. Well-Organized: Cucumber keeps things tidy with reusable test pieces. Collaborative: Non-technical team members can contribute. Reusability: Steps can be reused across multiple scenarios, saving effort.

Conclusion:

Why This Trio Works So Well- Using Gherkin, Cucumber, and Playwright together simplifies testing, boosts collaboration, and ensures your app works as expected. It’s a smart choice for any team looking to deliver high-quality software faster. Ready to give it a try? Start using this powerful trio today and transform your testing process!