cy.url() assertions in Cypress - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ assertion

intermediate

Check if URL contains a specific path segment

You want to verify that the current page URL contains the segment /dashboard. Which assertion correctly checks this using cy.url()?

A cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard')

B cy.url().should('have', '/dashboard')

C cy.url().should('contain', '/dashboard')

D cy.url().should('equal', '/dashboard')

💡 Hint

Think about the correct assertion keyword to check if a string is part of the URL.

The should('include', '/dashboard') assertion checks if the URL string contains the substring /dashboard. The contain alias is not supported by Cypress assertions, have is invalid here, and equal checks for exact match, which is not what we want.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Verify URL equals expected full URL

You want to assert that the current URL exactly matches https://example.com/login. Which option is correct?

A cy.url().should('match', 'https://example.com/login')

B cy.url().should('eq', 'https://example.com/login')

C cy.url().should('equals', 'https://example.com/login')

D cy.url().should('equal', 'https://example.com/login')

💡 Hint

Look for the exact assertion keyword Cypress supports for equality.

The correct assertion to check exact equality is should('equal', expectedUrl). The alias eq is not supported by Cypress assertions, equals is invalid, and match expects a regex, not a string.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

What is the test result of this URL assertion?

Given the current URL is https://example.com/profile/settings, what will be the result of this test code?

Cypress

cy.url().should('include', '/profile').and('include', '/settings')

A Test fails because 'and' cannot chain assertions

B Test passes because both substrings are in the URL

C Test fails because 'include' only works once per assertion

D Test passes but only checks the first substring

💡 Hint

Think about how chaining assertions with 'and' works in Cypress.

The and command chains multiple assertions on the same subject. Both include checks pass because the URL contains both /profile and /settings. So the test passes.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the error in this URL assertion code

This test code is intended to check if the URL starts with https://example.com/shop. What is wrong with it?

Cypress

cy.url().should('startWith', 'https://example.com/shop')

A The assertion keyword 'startWith' is invalid in Cypress

B The URL must be wrapped in a regex for this to work

C The method 'should' cannot be used with 'startWith'

D The URL must be converted to lowercase first

💡 Hint

Check Cypress documentation for valid assertion keywords.

Cypress does not support startWith as an assertion keyword. To check if a string starts with a substring, you can use should('match', /^https:\/\/example\.com\/shop/) with a regex.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Best practice for asserting dynamic URL parameters

You want to assert that the current URL contains the path /product and a query parameter id with any value. Which approach is best to write a reliable test?

A Use <code>cy.url().should('equal', '/product?id=123')</code> with a fixed id value

B Use <code>cy.url().should('include', '/product?id=')</code> to check the substring

C Use <code>cy.url().should('match', /\/product\?id=\w+/)</code> to match the pattern with regex

D Use <code>cy.url().should('contain', '/product').and('contain', 'id=')</code> to check both parts separately

💡 Hint

Think about how to handle dynamic values in URLs during assertions.

Using a regex with should('match', regex) allows checking the URL pattern including dynamic query parameters reliably. Checking substrings separately may pass false positives, and exact equality with a fixed id fails if the id changes.

Practice

1. What does cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard') check in a Cypress test?

easy

A. It checks if the current URL contains '/dashboard' anywhere in it.

B. It verifies the URL exactly equals '/dashboard'.

C. It asserts the URL starts with '/dashboard'.

D. It confirms the URL ends with '/dashboard'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the 'include' assertion

   The 'include' assertion checks if the given string is part of the actual URL anywhere.

2. Step 2: Apply to the example

   Using 'include' with '/dashboard' means the URL must contain '/dashboard' anywhere, not necessarily exactly or at start/end.

3. Final Answer:

   It checks if the current URL contains '/dashboard' anywhere in it. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard') = contains '/dashboard' [OK]

Hint: Remember 'include' means substring anywhere in URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing 'include' with exact match
• Thinking 'include' checks start or end only
• Using 'eq' when 'include' is needed

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to assert the URL exactly equals 'https://example.com/home' in Cypress?

easy

A. cy.url().should('contain', 'https://example.com/home')

B. cy.url().should('include', 'https://example.com/home')

C. cy.url().should('match', 'https://example.com/home')

D. cy.url().should('eq', 'https://example.com/home')

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify exact match assertion

   The 'eq' assertion checks if the actual URL exactly equals the given string.

2. Step 2: Match syntax to requirement

   Using cy.url().should('eq', 'https://example.com/home') asserts the URL is exactly that string.

3. Final Answer:

   cy.url().should('eq', 'https://example.com/home') -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Exact URL match uses 'eq' [OK]

Hint: Use 'eq' for exact URL match, not 'include' or 'match' [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'include' instead of 'eq' for exact match
• Using 'match' without regex
• Using 'contain' which is not a valid Cypress assertion

3. Given the code snippet:

cy.visit('/login')
cy.url().should('match', /\/login$/)

What will the assertion check?

medium

A. The URL contains '/login' anywhere.

B. The URL ends with '/login'.

C. The URL exactly equals '/login'.

D. The URL starts with '/login'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the 'match' assertion with regex

   The 'match' assertion checks if the URL matches the given regular expression.

2. Step 2: Analyze the regex /\/login$/

   The regex ends with '$' which means the URL must end with '/login'.

3. Final Answer:

   The URL ends with '/login'. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Regex with $ means URL ends with pattern [OK]

Hint: Regex ending with $ means URL ends with that string [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking 'match' checks substring anywhere without regex
• Confusing regex anchors like ^ and $
• Assuming 'match' equals exact string match

4. Identify the error in this Cypress assertion:

cy.url().should('equals', 'https://example.com/home')

medium

A. 'equals' is not a valid assertion keyword in Cypress.

B. The URL string is missing a trailing slash.

C. The method 'should' cannot be used with 'url'.

D. The URL must be checked with 'include' instead of 'equals'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check valid assertion keywords for cy.url()

   Cypress supports 'eq', 'include', 'match', but not 'equals'.

2. Step 2: Identify the invalid keyword usage

   Using 'equals' causes a syntax error because it's not recognized by Cypress.

3. Final Answer:

   'equals' is not a valid assertion keyword in Cypress. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use 'eq' for exact match, not 'equals' [OK]

Hint: Use 'eq' not 'equals' for exact URL check [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'equals' instead of 'eq'
• Confusing assertion keywords
• Assuming 'should' can't be chained with 'url'

5. You want to verify that after login, the URL contains '/dashboard' but may have query parameters like '?user=123'. Which assertion is best to use?

hard

A. cy.url().should('eq', 'https://example.com/dashboard')

B. cy.url().should('contain', '/dashboard?user=123')

C. cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard')

D. cy.url().should('match', /^https:\/\/example\.com\/dashboard\?user=\d+$/)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the URL with query parameters

   The URL may have extra parts after '/dashboard', so exact match ('eq') won't work.

2. Step 2: Choose assertion allowing partial match

   'include' checks if '/dashboard' is anywhere in the URL, ignoring query parameters.

3. Final Answer:

   cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard') -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use 'include' to ignore query parameters [OK]

Hint: Use 'include' to ignore query parameters in URL check [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'eq' which fails with query parameters
• Trying complex regex without need
• Using invalid 'contain' assertion