cy.contains() for text matching in Cypress - Build an Automation Script

Verify presence of specific text on the homepage using cy.contains()

Preconditions (2)

Step 1: Open the homepage URL in the browser

Step 2: Use cy.contains() to find the text 'Welcome to Our Site'

Step 3: Verify that the text is visible on the page

✅ Expected Result: The text 'Welcome to Our Site' is found and visible on the homepage

Automation Requirements - Cypress

Assertions Needed:

Verify that cy.contains('Welcome to Our Site') finds the element

Assert that the element containing the text is visible

Best Practices:

Use cy.contains() with exact text for clarity

Chain .should('be.visible') for assertion

Avoid using overly broad selectors

Use beforeEach hook to visit the page before each test

Automated Solution

Cypress

describe('Homepage Text Verification', () => {
  beforeEach(() => {
    cy.visit('https://example.com')
  })

  it('should find and display the welcome text', () => {
    cy.contains('Welcome to Our Site').should('be.visible')
  })
})

The describe block groups the test related to homepage text verification.

The beforeEach hook ensures the homepage is loaded before each test, keeping tests independent and clean.

The test uses cy.contains('Welcome to Our Site') to find the element with the exact text.

Chaining .should('be.visible') asserts that the text is actually visible to the user, confirming the page loaded correctly.

Common Mistakes - 3 Pitfalls

Using cy.contains() with partial or incorrect text

{'mistake': 'Not asserting visibility after cy.contains()', 'why_bad': 'Finding the element alone does not guarantee it is visible to the user.', 'correct_approach': "Always chain .should('be.visible') to confirm the element is displayed."}

Visiting the page inside the test instead of beforeEach

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing to verify multiple texts like 'Welcome to Our Site', 'Contact Us', and 'About Us' are visible on the homepage.

Show Hint

Practice

1. What does cy.contains('Submit') do in a Cypress test?

easy

A. Finds the first element containing the visible text 'Submit'.

B. Clicks the button named 'Submit' automatically.

C. Types 'Submit' into an input field.

D. Checks if the page URL contains the word 'Submit'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand cy.contains() basic function

   The command searches the page for an element that has visible text matching the given string.

2. Step 2: Analyze the given text 'Submit'

   It finds the first element that contains the text 'Submit' anywhere inside it.

3. Final Answer:

   Finds the first element containing the visible text 'Submit'. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   cy.contains('text') finds element by visible text [OK]

Hint: cy.contains() finds elements by visible text quickly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking cy.contains() clicks automatically
• Confusing cy.contains() with typing commands
• Assuming it checks URL instead of page content

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to find a button with text 'Login' using cy.contains()?

easy

A. cy.contains(button, Login)

B. cy.contains('button', 'Login')

C. cy.contains('Login', 'button')

D. cy.contains('button' + 'Login')

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall cy.contains() syntax with selector

   The correct syntax is cy.contains(selector, text) where selector is a string like 'button'.

2. Step 2: Match the correct option

   cy.contains('button', 'Login') uses cy.contains('button', 'Login') which is correct. Other options misuse quotes or argument order.

3. Final Answer:

   cy.contains('button', 'Login') -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   cy.contains('selector', 'text') correct syntax [OK]

Hint: Use cy.contains('selector', 'text') to narrow search [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting quotes around selector or text
• Swapping the order of selector and text
• Concatenating strings incorrectly inside cy.contains()

3. What will the following Cypress code do?

cy.contains('Submit').click()

medium

A. Types 'Submit' into the focused input field.

B. Throws an error because click() cannot be chained.

C. Finds the first element with text 'Submit' and clicks it.

D. Finds all elements with 'Submit' text but does not click.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand cy.contains() chaining

   cy.contains('Submit') finds the first element with visible text 'Submit'.

2. Step 2: Analyze the chained click()

   Calling .click() on the found element triggers a click event on it.

3. Final Answer:

   Finds the first element with text 'Submit' and clicks it. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   cy.contains('text').click() clicks matched element [OK]

Hint: Chain .click() after cy.contains() to click element [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking click() types text instead
• Assuming click() cannot be chained
• Believing it clicks multiple elements

4. You wrote cy.contains(button, 'Save').click() but the test fails with a syntax error. What is the problem?

medium

A. You must use cy.get() before cy.contains().

B. cy.contains() cannot be chained with click().

C. The text 'Save' must be uppercase.

D. The selector button should be a string: 'button'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check argument types in cy.contains()

   The selector argument must be a string, so 'button' needs quotes.

2. Step 2: Identify the syntax error cause

   Using button without quotes causes a syntax error because it's treated as a variable.

3. Final Answer:

   The selector button should be a string: 'button'. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Selector must be string in cy.contains() [OK]

Hint: Always quote selectors in cy.contains() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting quotes around selector
• Thinking click() can't be chained
• Assuming text case matters in cy.contains()

5. You want to verify that a page contains a link with text 'Learn More' inside a <nav> element. Which Cypress command is best?

hard

A. cy.get('nav').contains('a', 'Learn More').should('exist')

B. cy.contains('nav a', 'Learn More').click()

C. cy.contains('Learn More').should('be.visible')

D. cy.get('a').contains('nav', 'Learn More')

Solution

1. Step 1: Narrow search inside <nav> for link text

   Use cy.get('nav') to select the nav element first.

2. Step 2: Use contains() with selector 'a' and text 'Learn More'

   Calling .contains('a', 'Learn More') inside nav finds the link with that text.

3. Step 3: Assert existence with should('exist')

   This confirms the link is present inside nav.

4. Final Answer:

   cy.get('nav').contains('a', 'Learn More').should('exist') -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Use get() then contains() to scope text search [OK]

Hint: Use cy.get() then contains() to scope text search [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using contains() without scoping to nav
• Trying to chain contains() incorrectly
• Assuming contains() alone checks element existence