Cucumber BDD: Data-Driven Testing for Mobile Apps & Selenium

Introduction

Enhance mobile app testing with Cucumber BDD. Improve test readability, collaboration & reporting over TestNG. Boost Selenium & Appium automation efficiency.

In mobile application testing, automation plays a vital role in ensuring quality and performance. While TestNG is widely used for test execution, Cucumber offers a behaviour-driven development (BDD) approach that enhances collaboration and readability. This article explores why Cucumber is more effective than TestNG for mobile application testing using Java and Selenium.

Advantages of Using Cucumber Over TestNG

One of the key advantages of Cucumber is its improved readability and collaboration. Cucumber employs Gherkin syntax, which is human-readable and allows non-technical stakeholders to understand test cases. In contrast, TestNG relies on Java-based annotations, making it less accessible to business teams.

Cucumber supports a BDD-driven approach, enabling tests to be written in plain English and aligned with business requirements. TestNG follows a more traditional unit-testing approach, which makes it harder to map tests directly to user stories.

The reusability of steps is another significant advantage of Cucumber. Step definitions in Cucumber can be reused across multiple scenarios, reducing code duplication and simplifying maintenance. TestNG, however, requires test methods to be explicitly written, which increases maintenance efforts over time.

Cucumber also provides enhanced reporting capabilities. It generates structured and detailed reports, including scenario-wise execution results. In contrast, TestNG reports require additional configuration to achieve the same level of readability and organisation.

Challenges of Using Cucumber

Despite its advantages, implementing Cucumber does come with certain challenges. One of these is the learning curve. Teams unfamiliar with BDD may require time to understand Gherkin syntax and the specifics of Cucumber’s implementation.

Performance overhead is another consideration. The additional layer of step definitions in Cucumber can result in slower execution compared to TestNG’s direct method execution.

Integration complexity can also be a challenge. Adapting Cucumber to existing TestNG-based frameworks may require considerable refactoring and restructuring of test cases.

How to Overcome These Challenges

To mitigate these challenges, teams can conduct training sessions and workshops on BDD and Gherkin to help testers and developers adopt the new approach more effectively.

Optimising step definitions is another crucial step. By avoiding redundant steps and creating modular, reusable steps, execution time can be significantly reduced.

A hybrid approach can also be beneficial. Cucumber can be used for functional scenarios while TestNG is retained for lower-level unit tests, thereby maintaining a balance between readability and execution efficiency.

How to Implement Cucumber for Mobile App Testing

The first step in implementing Cucumber for mobile application testing is setting up the project. This involves installing the necessary dependencies, including Selenium, Appium, Cucumber, and JUnit or TestNG, using Maven.

Next, feature files must be created. These are written in Gherkin syntax and contain scenarios that define test cases in a human-readable format.

Following this, step definitions need to be developed in Java. These map feature file steps to the corresponding Selenium or Appium automation code.

Finally, tests can be executed using Cucumber’s JUnit or TestNG runner, generating detailed reports on execution outcomes.

Cucumber Workflow

Report Comparison: Cucumber vs TestNG

When comparing Cucumber reports with TestNG reports, Cucumber offers greater readability due to its scenario-based format. TestNG reports, which are XML-based, are moderately readable but less intuitive for non-technical stakeholders.

In terms of customisation, Cucumber makes it easier to generate reports in built-in HTML and JSON formats, whereas TestNG often requires third-party tools for enhanced reporting.

Execution insights are more detailed in Cucumber, as it provides logs with screenshots, making it easier to track issues. TestNG reports, in contrast, primarily contain standard test method logs.

Cucumber is also more user-friendly for non-technical team members, whereas TestNG remains more suited to technical users familiar with Java-based annotations.

What We Learned

Cucumber enhances test readability, collaboration, and alignment with business goals. While TestNG offers faster execution, Cucumber provides a structured and reusable framework for BDD-based testing. Integrating Cucumber with Selenium and Appium improves test maintainability and reporting. Overcoming initial learning challenges and optimising implementation can maximise the benefits of using Cucumber.

Conclusion

Cucumber is a powerful tool for mobile application testing, offering superior readability, structured test execution, and enhanced collaboration compared to TestNG. By understanding its advantages, challenges, and implementation strategies, teams can make informed decisions about adopting Cucumber for automation testing.

Looking to implement Cucumber BDD for your mobile application testing? Our experts can help you streamline your automation framework and improve testing efficiency. Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can support your testing needs!