How to Efficiently Extract and Use Text Values in Cypress Using XPath

Описание: Discover how to efficiently extract and use text values from web elements in Cypress, ensuring that you avoid common pitfalls such as empty selections.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/72626227/ asked by the user 'Yoooo' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/11943549/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/72626501/ provided by the user 'Fody' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/16997707/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Efficiently Extract and Use Text Values in Cypress Using XPath

When working with automated tests in Cypress, being able to select and utilize text from various elements is essential. A common scenario involves needing to extract lists of text values from a webpage, where you might want to use them at different points in your test. In this post, we'll explore an effective method to handle this task, particularly when you're facing issues with empty selections from your elements.

The Challenge

You might have found yourself trying to extract text values from two separate lists on a web page using Cypress. When utilizing XPath to select the elements, you've encountered a frustrating issue: after working with one list, the second appears empty. As a result, your tests fail, and you're left wondering how to successfully access the required data.

Your Initial Approach

Your initial code was structured like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this setup, you faced the issue that using @ multipleList would cause @ commaList to become empty and vice versa.

A Better Solution: Combined Selection and Iteration

The key to resolving this problem is to perform a single selection that retrieves both lists in one go. This approach not only simplifies the logic but also ensures that you have access to all elements without running into empty selections.

Revised Code Structure

Instead of selecting each list separately, you can combine the selections and iterate over all rows. Here's how you can do it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Approach

Single List Selection:

We retrieve all <tr> elements in one go with cy.xpath('//tbody/tr').

Iterate Over Rows:

Use cy.get('@ list').each(...) to iterate over each row and check the index.

Conditional Logic:

For the first list, we check if the rowIndex is less than 9.

For the second list, we check if rowIndex is between 15 and 20, allowing us to handle both lists without overlap or empty selections.

Conclusion

By adopting this combined selection and iteration method, you can effectively manage and utilize text values from your webpage using Cypress. Not only does this approach prevent issues with empty lists, but it also streamlines your code, making your tests more robust.

When working with elements in automation testing, clarity and efficiency are key. This refined method allows you to better access the text values you need while minimizing potential errors in your Cypress tests. Happy testing!