Streamline Cypress Testing: How to Use Tags for Faster, More Efficient Test Runs

Want to speed up your Cypress testing and make your test suite more manageable? As your Cypress test suite grows, execution time can become a major bottleneck. The solution? Cypress tags. This guide provides a straightforward approach to using tags in Cypress to categorize and run specific tests, saving you time and improving efficiency.

Why Use Cypress Tags? The Core Benefits

Cypress tags offer several key advantages:

• Faster Test Execution: Run only the tests you need, when you need them (e.g., smoke tests before a deployment).
• Improved Organization: Categorize tests based on functionality, modules, or risk level.
• Enhanced Maintainability: Easily identify and manage specific test groups for updates or debugging.
• Targeted Testing: Focus on specific areas of your application during development or troubleshooting.

Step-by-Step: Implementing Cypress Tags with @cypress/grep

While several packages offer tagging functionality, we'll focus on @cypress/grep due to its simplicity and effectiveness. Here's how to get started:

1. Install @cypress/grep

Install the package as a development dependency using npm or Yarn:

# using NPM
npm i -D @cypress/grep

# using Yarn
yarn add -D @cypress/grep

2. Register @cypress/grep in Your Support File

Modify your cypress/support/e2e.js file to register the grep feature:

// cypress/support/e2e.js
// load and register the grep feature using "require" function
// https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress/tree/develop/npm/grep
const registerCypressGrep = require('@cypress/grep')
registerCypressGrep()

If you're using TypeScript, consult the @cypress/grep documentation for specific configuration examples.

3. Configure Cypress to Use the Plugin

Add the following to your cypress.config.js file within the setupNodeEvents function:

// cypress.config.js
{
  e2e: {
    setupNodeEvents(on, config) {
      require('@cypress/grep/src/plugin')(config);
      return config;
    },
  }
}

4. Enable grepFilterSpecs

Enable the grepFilterSpecs option in your Cypress configuration:

{
  "env": {
    "grepFilterSpecs": true
  }
}

Alternatively, you can enable this parameter via the command line.

5. Add Tags to Your Cypress Test Cases

Now, the fun part! Add tags to your test cases using the tags option within the it() block.

it('verify log in', { tags: ['@smoke', '@regression'] }, () => {
  cy.visit('/login')
  cy.get('#username').type('user')
  cy.get('#password').type('password')
  cy.get('#submit-button').click()
})

You can add multiple tags to a single test case by including them in the array. Common tags include @smoke, @regression, @e2e, or feature-specific tags like @login, @checkout. Use Cypress test case tags strategically so you can target the correct test every time.

6. Run Tests by Tag

Execute your tests based on specific tags using the --env grepTags flag:

npx cypress run --env grepTags=@smoke

To run multiple tags, use the + symbol:

npx cypress run --env grepTags=@smoke+@fast

Real-World Example: Integrating Tags into Your CI/CD Pipeline

Here's how you can update your YAML file (e.g., for GitHub Actions) to run only smoke tests:

name: Cypress Tests
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
  pull_request:
    branches:
      - main
jobs:
  cypress-run:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
        uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Setup Node.js
        uses: actions/setup-node@v3
        with:
          node-version: '16'
      - name: Install dependencies
        run: npm install
      - name: Run Cypress tests with grep
        run: npx cypress run --env grepTags=@smoke

This ensures that only tests tagged with @smoke are executed during your CI/CD pipeline, saving valuable time. Using the Cypress grep tags feature can drastically improve the speed and accuracy of your build.

Mastering Cypress Test Management

By implementing Cypress tags, you'll gain significant control over your test suite, enabling faster execution, improved organization, and easier maintenance. Start small, experiment with different tagging strategies, and adapt your approach as your project evolves. With a little effort, you can transform your Cypress testing workflow and achieve substantial gains in efficiency and productivity.