Handle Tabs In Cypress

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Introduction

When working with Cypress, you may encounter scenarios where a new tab is opened on a click event. However, Cypress operates within a single browser window/tab, making it challenging to directly interact with the new tab. In this article, we will explore four approaches to handle new tabs in Cypress, including preventing the new tab from opening, handling URL changes, using cy.visit() to visit the new tab URL directly, and leveraging cy.origin() for cross-origin testing.

Option 1: Prevent the New Tab from Opening

One approach to handle new tabs in Cypress is to prevent the new tab from opening altogether. This can be achieved by using cy.stub() to override the behavior of the link that opens the new tab.

it('handles new tab', () => {
  // Stub window.open to prevent it from opening a new tab
  cy.window().then((win) => {
    cy.stub(win, 'open').as('windowOpen');
  });

  // Perform action that would normally open a new tab
  cy.get('button.open-new-tab').click();

  // Verify window.open was called
  cy.get('@windowOpen').should('be.called');
});

In this scenario, the window.open call is intercepted, and the new tab is not opened. You can then test what happens when the link is clicked in the current tab.

Option 2: Handle the New Tab by Checking its URL

If the new tab opens, but you want to test the behavior in that tab, you can simulate the URL change and check the target page by making a request (or by checking the URL directly).

it('handles new tab and checks URL', () => {
  // Click the element that opens the new tab
  cy.get('button.open-new-tab').click();

  // Ensure the new URL has opened in the new tab
  cy.url().should('include', '/new-tab-url');
});

This approach is useful if you want to test the result of the navigation and don't necessarily need to handle the tab directly but need to ensure the correct URL was loaded.

Option 3: Use cy.visit() to Visit the New Tab URL Directly

If you know the URL that the new tab would open to, you can use cy.visit() to visit that page directly.

it('handles new tab by visiting its URL directly', () => {
  // Click the element that opens the new tab
  cy.get('button.open-new-tab').click();

  // Visit the new tab's URL directly
  cy.visit('https://example.com/new-tab-url');

  // Verify the new page content
  cy.contains('Expected Content');
});

In this approach, you are not interacting with the new tab directly but testing the content of the page that was supposed to be opened.

Option 4: Using cy.origin (Cypress v10+)

Cypress introduced cy.origin() in version 10 to handle multiple domains or origins. If your new tab is on a different domain and Cypress cannot interact with the new tab directly, you can use cy.origin() to test actions across domains.

it('handles new tab with cy.origin', () => {
  cy.get('button.open-new-tab').click();

  // Assuming the new tab redirects to a different domain
  cy.origin('https://new-domain.com', () => {
    cy.url().should('include', '/new-page');
    cy.contains('New Page Content');
  });
});

This lets you interact with a page from a different domain, which can be helpful when testing links that open in new tabs.

Conclusion

Handling new tabs in Cypress can be achieved through various approaches, including preventing the new tab from opening, handling URL changes, using cy.visit() to visit the new tab URL directly, and leveraging cy.origin() for cross-origin testing. The right approach depends on your specific use case and requirements.

  • Preventing the new tab: Use cy.stub() on window.open() to keep everything in the same tab.
  • Handling URL changes: Use cy.url() or cy.visit() to directly check the content of the new page.
  • Cross-origin testing: Use cy.origin() for testing new tabs that navigate to a different domain.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored four approaches to handle new tabs in Cypress, including preventing the new tab from opening, handling URL changes, using cy.visit() to visit the new tab URL directly, and leveraging cy.origin() for cross-origin testing. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to handling new tabs in Cypress.

Q: How do I prevent a new tab from opening in Cypress?

A: You can prevent a new tab from opening in Cypress by using cy.stub() to override the behavior of the link that opens the new tab. This can be achieved by stubbing the window.open function and verifying that it was called.

it('handles new tab', () => {
  // Stub window.open to prevent it from opening a new tab
  cy.window().then((win) => {
    cy.stub(win, 'open').as('windowOpen');
  });

  // Perform action that would normally open a new tab
  cy.get('button.open-new-tab').click();

  // Verify window.open was called
  cy.get('@windowOpen').should('be.called');
});

Q: How do I handle a new tab that opens with a different URL?

A: You can handle a new tab that opens with a different URL by simulating the URL change and checking the target page by making a request (or by checking the URL directly). This can be achieved by using cy.url() to verify that the new URL has opened in the new tab.

it('handles new tab and checks URL', () => {
  // Click the element that opens the new tab
  cy.get('button.open-new-tab').click();

  // Ensure the new URL has opened in the new tab
  cy.url().should('include', '/new-tab-url');
});

Q: How do I visit a new tab URL directly in Cypress?

A: You can visit a new tab URL directly in Cypress by using cy.visit() to visit the new tab's URL directly. This can be achieved by clicking the element that opens the new tab and then visiting the new tab's URL using cy.visit().

it('handles new tab by visiting its URL directly', () => {
  // Click the element that opens the new tab
  cy.get('button.open-new-tab').click();

  // Visit the new tab's URL directly
  cy.visit('https://example.com/new-tab-url');

  // Verify the new page content
  cy.contains('Expected Content');
});

Q: How do I handle a new tab that opens on a different domain?

A: You can handle a new tab that opens on a different domain by using cy.origin() to test actions across domains. This can be achieved by clicking the element that opens the new tab and then using cy.origin() to interact with the new tab's URL.

it('handles new tab with cy.origin', () => {
  cy.get('button.open-new-tab').click();

  // Assuming the new tab redirects to a different domain
  cy.origin('https://new-domain.com', () => {
    cy.url().should('include', '/new-page');
    cy.contains('New Page Content');
  });
});

Q: What are the benefits of using cy.origin() in Cypress?

A: The benefits of using cy.origin() in Cypress include the ability to test actions across domains, which can be helpful when testing links that open in new tabs. Additionally, cy.origin() allows you to interact with a page from a different domain, which can be useful for testing cross-origin scenarios.

Conclusion

Handling new tabs in Cypress can be achieved through various approaches, including preventing the new tab from opening, handling URL changes, using cy.visit() to visit the new tab URL directly, and leveraging cy.origin() for cross-origin testing. By understanding these approaches and answering common questions related to handling new tabs in Cypress, you can effectively handle new tabs in Cypress and ensure that your tests are accurate and reliable.