Skipping and focusing tests (.skip, .only) in Cypress

Introduction

Sometimes you want to run only some tests or skip others to save time or focus on a problem. Cypress lets you do this easily.

You want to skip a test that is broken temporarily.

You want to run only one test to debug it quickly.

You want to skip a group of tests that are not relevant now.

You want to focus on a specific test case during development.

You want to avoid running slow tests while working on fast feedback.

Syntax

Cypress

it.skip('test name', () => { ... })
it.only('test name', () => { ... })
describe.skip('group name', () => { ... })
describe.only('group name', () => { ... })

.skip tells Cypress to ignore that test or group.

.only tells Cypress to run only that test or group and skip others.

Examples

This test will be skipped and not run.

Cypress

it.skip('does not run this test', () => {
  cy.visit('/home')
  cy.contains('Welcome')
})

Only this test will run, all others will be skipped.

Cypress

it.only('runs only this test', () => {
  cy.visit('/login')
  cy.get('input').type('user')
})

All tests inside this group will be skipped.

Cypress

describe.skip('skip this group', () => {
  it('test 1', () => {})
  it('test 2', () => {})
})

Only tests inside this group will run.

Cypress

describe.only('run only this group', () => {
  it('test 1', () => {})
  it('test 2', () => {})
})

Sample Program

This suite has three tests. The second test is skipped. The third test is focused with .only, so only it runs.

Cypress

describe('My Test Suite', () => {
  it('test 1 runs normally', () => {
    cy.wrap(true).should('be.true')
  })

  it.skip('test 2 is skipped', () => {
    cy.wrap(false).should('be.true')
  })

  it.only('test 3 runs only this test', () => {
    cy.wrap(5).should('equal', 5)
  })
})

Important Notes

Using .only anywhere will cause Cypress to run only those tests or groups marked with it.

Be careful to remove .only before final test runs to avoid missing tests.

.skip is useful to temporarily disable flaky or incomplete tests.

Summary

.skip skips tests or groups so they don't run.

.only runs only the marked tests or groups, skipping all others.

These help focus testing and save time during development.

Practice

1. What does the .skip method do in Cypress testing?

easy

A. It skips the marked test or group so it does not run.

B. It runs only the marked test or group and skips others.

C. It marks the test as failed automatically.

D. It retries the test multiple times before failing.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of .skip

   The .skip method is used to tell Cypress to ignore a test or group during execution.

2. Step 2: Compare with other methods

   Unlike .only, which runs only the marked tests, .skip prevents the marked tests from running.

3. Final Answer:

   It skips the marked test or group so it does not run. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   .skip = skip test [OK]

Hint: Remember: skip means ignore this test [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing .skip with .only
• Thinking .skip runs the test
• Assuming .skip marks test as failed

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to run only one test in Cypress?

easy

A. it.skip('test name', () => { /* test code */ })

B. describe.only('group name', () => { /* tests */ })

C. it.only('test name', () => { /* test code */ })

D. describe.skip('group name', () => { /* tests */ })

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the method to run only one test

   The it.only syntax runs only the marked test and skips all others.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   it.skip skips a test, describe.only runs only a group, and describe.skip skips a group.

3. Final Answer:

   it.only('test name', () => { /* test code */ }) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   it.only runs only one test [OK]

Hint: Use it.only to run just one test [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using describe.only to run a single test
• Confusing skip and only syntax
• Forgetting parentheses in function

3. Given the code below, which tests will run?

describe('Group A', () => {
  it('Test 1', () => { /* code */ })
  it.only('Test 2', () => { /* code */ })
  it('Test 3', () => { /* code */ })
})
describe.only('Group B', () => {
  it('Test 4', () => { /* code */ })
  it('Test 5', () => { /* code */ })
})

medium

A. All tests in both groups run.

B. All tests in Group A run except Test 2.

C. Only Test 2 runs, Group B tests are skipped.

D. Only all tests in Group B run.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand describe.only effect

   The describe.only('Group B') means only Group B runs; Group A is skipped.

2. Step 2: Understand it.only inside Group A

   Even though it.only('Test 2') is inside Group A, Group A is skipped entirely because of describe.only on Group B.

3. Step 3: Determine which tests run

   All tests inside Group B run (Test 4 and Test 5). Test 2 does not run because Group A is skipped.

4. Final Answer:

   Only all tests in Group B run. -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   describe.only overrides it.only [OK]

Hint: describe.only runs only that group, ignoring it.only inside others [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it.only inside skipped describe runs
• Ignoring describe.only effect
• Assuming all tests run

4. You have this Cypress test code:

describe.skip('Group X', () => {
  it.only('Test A', () => { /* code */ })
  it('Test B', () => { /* code */ })
})
describe('Group Y', () => {
  it('Test C', () => { /* code */ })
})

What is the problem with this code?

medium

A. Test C will run but Group X tests will be skipped.

B. Test A will run but Test B and Test C will be skipped.

C. Test A will run but Group Y tests will be skipped.

D. No tests will run because the entire Group X is skipped.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze describe.skip effect on Group X

   The entire Group X is skipped, so none of its tests run, including it.only.

2. Step 2: Analyze Group Y tests

   Group Y is not skipped, so its test (Test C) runs normally.

3. Final Answer:

   Test C will run but Group X tests will be skipped. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   describe.skip skips whole group, ignoring it.only [OK]

Hint: describe.skip disables all tests inside, even it.only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming it.only overrides describe.skip
• Thinking some tests in skipped group run
• Confusing which group is skipped

5. You want to run only a specific test inside a group but also skip another test in the same group. Which is the correct way to do this?

describe('My Tests', () => {
  it('Test 1', () => { /* code */ })
  it('Test 2', () => { /* code */ })
  it('Test 3', () => { /* code */ })
})

Options: A) Add .only to Test 2 and .skip to Test 3. B) Add .skip to Test 1 and .only to Test 3. C) Add .only to Test 1 and .skip to Test 2. D) Add .skip to Test 2 and .skip to Test 3.

hard

A. Add .skip to Test 1 and .only to Test 3.

B. Add .only to Test 2 and .skip to Test 3.

C. Add .only to Test 1 and .skip to Test 2.

D. Add .skip to Test 2 and .skip to Test 3.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand .only and .skip usage

   Using .only on a test runs only that test, skipping all others unless they also have .only. Using .skip skips that test.

2. Step 2: Apply to given tests

   To run only Test 2 and skip Test 3, add .only to Test 2 and .skip to Test 3. Test 1 will be skipped automatically because of .only.

3. Final Answer:

   Add .only to Test 2 and .skip to Test 3. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   .only runs test, .skip skips test [OK]

Hint: Use .only on test to run, .skip on test to ignore [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding .only to multiple tests without need
• Skipping tests that .only already excludes
• Confusing which test to skip or run