cy.get() with CSS selectors in Cypress - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does cy.get() do in Cypress?

cy.get() finds elements on the page using CSS selectors. It lets you select elements to test or interact with.

beginner

How do you select an element with the class button-primary using cy.get()?

<p>Use <code>cy.get('.button-primary')</code>. The dot <code>.</code> means class in CSS selectors.</p>

beginner

How to select an element with the ID login-form using cy.get()?

Use cy.get('#login-form'). The hash # means ID in CSS selectors.

intermediate

What is the best practice for writing CSS selectors in cy.get()?

Use unique and stable selectors like IDs or data attributes (e.g., [data-cy='submit-btn']) to avoid flaky tests.

intermediate

How can you select a button element with text Submit using cy.get() and CSS selectors?

CSS selectors alone can't select by text. Use cy.contains('button', 'Submit') instead.

Which CSS selector would you use with cy.get() to select all elements with class item?

A .item

B #item

C item

D *item

The dot . selects elements by class name. So .item selects all elements with class item.

How do you select an element with ID header using cy.get()?

A #header

B header

C .header

D *header

The hash # selects elements by ID. So #header selects the element with ID header.

Which selector is best to avoid flaky tests in cy.get()?

A Random class names

B Tag names only

C Using text inside CSS selectors

D Data attributes like <code>[data-cy='btn']</code>

Data attributes are stable and unique, making tests less flaky.

Can cy.get() select elements by their visible text using CSS selectors alone?

A Yes, with <code>text()</code>

B Yes, with <code>:contains()</code>

C No, CSS selectors can't select by text

D Yes, with <code>cy.getText()</code>

CSS selectors do not support selecting elements by visible text. Use cy.contains() instead.

What does cy.get('button.submit-btn') select?

A All <code>button</code> elements

B All <code>button</code> elements with class <code>submit-btn</code>

C All <code>submit-btn</code> elements

D All elements with class <code>submit-btn</code>

This selector finds button elements that also have the class submit-btn.

Explain how cy.get() uses CSS selectors to find elements on a page. Include examples for class and ID selectors.

Think about how you pick elements in CSS styles.

Describe best practices for writing selectors in cy.get() to make tests reliable and easy to maintain.

Think about what makes a selector stable when the page changes.

Practice

1. What does cy.get() do in Cypress testing?

easy

A. Starts the Cypress test runner

B. Clicks on a button automatically

C. Runs JavaScript code inside the browser

D. Finds elements on the page using CSS selectors

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of cy.get()

   cy.get() is used to locate elements on the web page by using CSS selectors.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other Cypress commands

   Other commands like clicking or running code are separate; cy.get() only finds elements.

3. Final Answer:

   Finds elements on the page using CSS selectors -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   cy.get() = Finds elements [OK]

Hint: Remember: cy.get() locates elements by CSS selectors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking cy.get() clicks elements
• Confusing cy.get() with running scripts
• Assuming cy.get() starts tests

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to select an element with class btn-primary using cy.get()?

easy

A. cy.get('#btn-primary')

B. cy.get('btn-primary')

C. cy.get('.btn-primary')

D. cy.get('button .btn-primary')

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand CSS selector for class

   In CSS, a class selector uses a dot before the class name, so .btn-primary selects elements with that class.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   cy.get('#btn-primary') uses an ID selector (#), which is wrong here. cy.get('btn-primary') misses the dot, so it looks for a tag named 'btn-primary'. cy.get('button .btn-primary') incorrectly uses a descendant selector (space after button), selecting buttons containing .btn-primary elements.

3. Final Answer:

   cy.get('.btn-primary') -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Class selector = .classname [OK]

Hint: Use dot (.) before class names in CSS selectors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using # instead of . for classes
• Omitting the dot before class name
• Confusing tag selectors with class selectors

3. Given the HTML snippet:

<ul>
  <li class='item'>Apple</li>
  <li class='item'>Banana</li>
  <li class='item'>Cherry</li>
</ul>

What will cy.get('.item').should('have.length', 3) check?

medium

A. That there are exactly 3 elements with class 'item'

B. That the first element with class 'item' contains '3'

C. That the list has 3 child elements regardless of class

D. That the page has 3 lists

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand cy.get('.item')

   This selects all elements with the class 'item', which are the three <li> elements.

2. Step 2: Understand .should('have.length', 3)

   This asserts that the number of selected elements is exactly 3.

3. Final Answer:

   That there are exactly 3 elements with class 'item' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   cy.get('.item').length = 3 [OK]

Hint: '.should(have.length, n)' checks number of matched elements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it checks content inside elements
• Confusing child count with class count
• Assuming it checks number of lists

4. You wrote cy.get('button#submit').click() but the test fails with "Cannot find element" error. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The button does not have an ID 'submit'

B. The selector should be cy.get('#submit button')

C. You must use cy.find() instead of cy.get()

D. The click() command is not supported on buttons

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the selector button#submit

   This selector looks for a <button> element with ID 'submit'. If the button does not have this ID, it won't be found.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   The selector should be cy.get('#submit button') reverses the selector incorrectly. You must use cy.find() instead of cy.get() is wrong because cy.get() is correct for global selection. The click() command is not supported on buttons is false; click() works on buttons.

3. Final Answer:

   The button does not have an ID 'submit' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Selector must match element attributes [OK]

Hint: Verify element attributes match your selector exactly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong selector syntax
• Assuming click() doesn't work on buttons
• Confusing cy.get() with cy.find()

5. You want to select the second <li> element inside a <ul id='menu'>. Which cy.get() selector is correct?

hard

A. cy.get('ul#menu li[2]')

B. cy.get('#menu li:nth-child(2)')

C. cy.get('#menu li:eq(2)')

D. cy.get('ul#menu > li:nth-type(2)')

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand CSS nth-child selector

   li:nth-child(2) selects the second child <li> element inside its parent.

2. Step 2: Evaluate each option

   cy.get('ul#menu li[2]') uses invalid attribute selector. cy.get('#menu li:eq(2)') uses jQuery syntax not supported in CSS selectors. cy.get('ul#menu > li:nth-type(2)') uses invalid 'nth-type(2)' selector.

3. Final Answer:

   cy.get('#menu li:nth-child(2)') -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use nth-child(n) to select nth element [OK]

Hint: Use :nth-child(n) to pick the nth child element [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using jQuery :eq() in CSS selectors
• Using attribute selectors incorrectly
• Confusing nth-child with nth-of-type