cy.url() assertions in Cypress - Build an Automation Script

Verify URL after login

Preconditions (2)

Step 1: Enter '[e-mail]' in the email input field with id 'email'

Step 2: Enter 'Password123!' in the password input field with id 'password'

Step 3: Click the login button with id 'loginBtn'

Step 4: Wait for navigation to complete

✅ Expected Result: The URL should include '/dashboard' after successful login

Automation Requirements - Cypress

Assertions Needed:

Assert that the URL includes '/dashboard' after login

Best Practices:

Use cy.get() with id selectors for stable element targeting

Use cy.url().should() for URL assertions

Use explicit waits by chaining commands instead of arbitrary waits

Keep tests isolated and independent

Automated Solution

Cypress

describe('Login Page URL Test', () => {
  it('should navigate to dashboard after login', () => {
    cy.visit('/login');
    cy.get('#email').type('[e-mail]');
    cy.get('#password').type('Password123!');
    cy.get('#loginBtn').click();
    cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard');
  });
});

This test starts by visiting the login page using cy.visit('/login').

It then types the email and password into their respective input fields using cy.get() with id selectors for reliability.

After clicking the login button, the test waits for the page to navigate by chaining the commands.

Finally, it asserts that the URL includes /dashboard using cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard'), which confirms successful navigation.

This approach avoids arbitrary waits and uses Cypress's built-in retry and wait mechanisms for stability.

Common Mistakes - 3 Pitfalls

Using cy.url() without assertion

Using arbitrary waits like cy.wait(5000) before asserting URL

Using complex or brittle selectors instead of stable id selectors

Bonus Challenge

Now add data-driven testing with 3 different sets of valid user credentials and verify the URL after login for each.

Show Hint

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