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How to Manage Test Execution Across Different Browsers and Environments (QA, UAT, Staging)

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In real-time automation projects, test execution is never limited to a single browser or a single environment . Applications must be validated across multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) and multiple environments such as QA, UAT, and Staging before going live. A well-designed Selenium + Java + Cucumber automation framework should allow testers to switch browsers and environments easily without changing test scripts . This blog explains how to manage test execution efficiently across different browsers and environments using best practices followed in real projects. Why Multi-Browser and Multi-Environment Testing Is Important Different users use different browsers QA, UAT, and Staging environments have different configurations Bugs may appear only in specific environments or browsers Same test cases must be validated everywhere before production release Common Challenges Testers Face Hardcoded browser names and URLs Maintaining separate test scripts for each environment Browse...
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What is Background in BDD Cucumber

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Introduction
The Background keyword in Cucumber allows you to define a set of steps that are executed before every scenario in a feature file. These steps are shared across all scenarios in that file, making it easier to maintain and reducing redundancy.

Why Use Background
In many test cases, there are setup steps that are repeated across multiple scenarios. For example, logging into an application or setting up a test environment might be required for every scenario in a feature file. Instead of repeating these steps for each scenario, you can define them once under a Background section.

Syntax and Example
Here’s the structure of a feature file using the Background keyword:

Feature: User Account Management

  Background:
    Given a user is logged in
    And navigates to the dashboard

  Scenario: View user profile
    When the user clicks on the profile button
    Then the profile page is displayed

  Scenario: Update user settings
    When the user updates their preferences
    Then the changes are saved successfully

How Background Works
  1. Position: The Background section comes after the Feature declaration and before any Scenario or Scenario Outline.
  2. Execution: The steps in the Background section are executed before each scenario or example in the feature file.
  3. Reusability: Steps written in the Background are shared across all scenarios, making the test cases more concise and readable.
Benefits of Using Background
  • Avoids Redundancy: Common steps are written once, avoiding repetition.
  • Improves Readability: Keeps scenarios focused on their specific actions and outcomes.
  • Simplifies Maintenance: Updates to shared steps need to be made in only one place.
Example: Before and After Using Background

Without Background:

Feature: User Account Management

  Scenario: View profile
    Given a user is logged in
    And navigates to the dashboard
    When the user clicks on the profile button
    Then the profile page is displayed

  Scenario: Update settings
    Given a user is logged in
    And navigates to the dashboard
    When the user updates their preferences
    Then the changes are saved successfully

With Background:

Feature: User Account Management

  Background:
    Given a user is logged in
    And navigates to the dashboard

  Scenario: View profile
    When the user clicks on the profile button
    Then the profile page is displayed

  Scenario: Update settings
    When the user updates their preferences
    Then the changes are saved successfully

Key Points to Remember
  • The Background applies only to scenarios in the same feature file.
  • It should only include steps that are common to all scenarios.
  • Avoid using a Background for steps that are specific to only a few scenarios.
By using the Background feature in Cucumber, you can write cleaner, more maintainable test scripts, ensuring your BDD framework remains efficient and readable.

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