Cucumber - Backgrounds

Cucumber: Backgrounds Explained

Backgrounds in Cucumber are used to define a common set of steps that are executed before each scenario in a feature file. This feature helps reduce repetition by consolidating shared steps into a single block, improving readability and maintainability of your test scripts.

What is a Background in Cucumber?

A Background section is defined in a feature file and contains steps that are run before every scenario within that feature. These steps are executed sequentially for each scenario and provide a way to set up a consistent initial state.

Syntax:

                  Background:
                    Given [shared step 1]
                    And [shared step 2]
                

Example:

Feature File:

                  Feature: User Account Management
              
                  Background:
                    Given a user is logged into the application
                    And they are on the dashboard page
              
                  Scenario: View account details
                    When the user navigates to the "Account Details" page
                    Then the account information should be displayed
              
                  Scenario: Edit account details
                    When the user navigates to the "Edit Account" page
                    And updates their email address to "new.email@example.com"
                    Then the email address should be updated successfully
                

Execution Flow:

For each scenario in the feature file, the steps in the Background section will be executed first, followed by the steps in the scenario.

Real-World Scenario:

Consider a banking application where most scenarios require the user to be logged in and on the dashboard. Instead of repeating these steps in every scenario, you can define them in a Background section.

Feature File:

                  Feature: Fund Transfer
              
                  Background:
                    Given the user is logged into their bank account
                    And they are on the home page
              
                  Scenario: Transfer money to another account
                    When the user selects the "Transfer Money" option
                    And enters the recipient's account details
                    And submits the transfer of $500
                    Then the transaction should be successful
              
                  Scenario: View recent transactions
                    When the user selects the "Transaction History" option
                    Then the recent transactions should be displayed
                

Benefits of Using Backgrounds

• Reduces duplication of steps across multiple scenarios.
• Improves the readability of feature files by consolidating common setup steps.
• Ensures consistency in the preconditions for each scenario.
• Makes feature files easier to maintain and update.

Limitations of Backgrounds

• Should not contain too many steps to avoid cluttering the setup process.
• Applies to all scenarios in a feature file, so avoid using steps that are not universally applicable.
• If scenarios have different setup requirements, consider using tags or separate feature files instead.