Getting started with pytest to write selenium tests using python

In our previous few blog posts, we have learned how to write selenium tests using python, we will extend our learning to use pytest as our unit testing framework and write a simple selenium test using pytest and learn more about this library.

Prerequisite –

Configure & run python on PyCharm

Write first selenium test using python

Pytest features –

• Easy to write tests
• Increase readability of tests
• Out of box assert feature to validate
• Run multiple tests
• Categorise tests
• Pytest fixtures help to share common tests & testdata across classes, modules, packages or session

Pytest installation –

Create a new python project or open an existing project

In terminal, type

pip install -U pytest

Verify the installation

pytest --version

Rules to write tests in pytest

File name

File name should start or end with “test”

test_*.py or *_test.py

Test method name

Method name should start with “test”

test_*

Pytest considers above 2 rules to run the tests, else it can’t pick the tests.

Let’s run a sample selenium test using pytest

Create a new file – test_samplePytest.py

Note – Male sure you download latest version of browser driver with respect to your browser version to run the test.

# author - qavalidation.com
# test_samplePytest.py

import pytest
from selenium import webdriver
import time
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By

def test_sampleNav():
    driver = webdriver.Chrome("/Users/[userName]/sel/chromedriver")
    # driver.maximize_window()
    driver.implicitly_wait(30)
    driver.set_page_load_timeout(50)
    driver.get("https://qavbox.github.io/demo")
    assert "QAVBOX" in driver.title
    driver.find_element(By.LINK_TEXT, "SignUp Form").click()
    # driver.find_element_by_link_text("SignUp Form").click()
    driver.save_screenshot("/Users/skpatro/sel/test.png")
    time.sleep(3)
    driver.quit()

Explanation –

We have created test_samplePytest.py with test as prefix to file name

and also created a test method with test_sampleNav()

this above test will launch the browser with the specified url

and will click on the singup form button

and will navigate to the registration form page

To run the test

In your project terminal type

pytest -q test_samplePytest.py

Output –

(venv) userName SampleSelPython % pytest test_sampleSel.py
. [100%]
1 passed in 8.84s

We have used the parameter -q to brief the output

To know more pytest options, you can type

pytest --help

Another thing, we can have multiple test methods in side a test file.

let’s see that in action –

To share the driver object across multiple test methods, we have to create a global or static driver object, so let’s create a class and class variable and use across multiple test methods

# author - qavalidation.com
# test_samplePytest.py

import pytest
from selenium import webdriver
import time
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By


class Test_sampleSel1:
    driver = None

    def test_sampleNav(self):
        print("1")
        Test_sampleSel1.driver = webdriver.Chrome("/Users/skpatro/sel/chromedriver")
        # driver.maximize_window()
        Test_sampleSel1.driver.implicitly_wait(30)
        Test_sampleSel1.driver.set_page_load_timeout(50)
        Test_sampleSel1.driver.get("https://qavbox.github.io/demo")
        assert "QAVBOX" in Test_sampleSel1.driver.title
        time.sleep(3)

    def test_navReg(self):
        Test_sampleSel1.driver.find_element(By.LINK_TEXT, "SignUp Form").click()
        # driver.find_element_by_link_text("SignUp Form").click()
        Test_sampleSel1.driver.save_screenshot("/Users/skpatro/sel/test.png")
        time.sleep(3)
        Test_sampleSel1.driver.quit()

We have created a class – Test_sampleSel1 & a class variable – driver

now this class variable we can use as classname.variable

i.e – Test_sampleSel1.driver

1st test method will launch the browser and verify the browser title

2nd test method will continue the driver instance, click on the sign up button and take a screenshot

to run the test –

pytest -q test_samplePytest.py

Hope this helps!