Screenshot capture (cy.screenshot) in Cypress - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does cy.screenshot() do in Cypress?

It takes a screenshot of the current state of the application under test and saves it as an image file.

beginner

How can you name a screenshot file in Cypress?

You can pass a string as an argument to cy.screenshot('filename') to name the screenshot file.

beginner

What is the default folder where Cypress saves screenshots?

Cypress saves screenshots by default in the cypress/screenshots folder inside your project directory.

intermediate

How do you capture a screenshot of a specific element using Cypress?

Use cy.get('selector').screenshot() to capture a screenshot of only the selected element.

intermediate

What option can you use with cy.screenshot() to capture the full page?

Use cy.screenshot({ capture: 'fullPage' }) to capture the entire page, not just the visible viewport.

What is the correct way to take a screenshot named 'login-page' in Cypress?

A cy.screenshot('login-page')

B cy.takeScreenshot('login-page')

C cy.captureScreenshot('login-page')

D cy.saveScreenshot('login-page')

The correct Cypress command to take a screenshot with a custom name is cy.screenshot('filename').

Where does Cypress save screenshots by default?

A cypress/images

B screenshots/

C cypress/screenshots

D images/screenshots

Cypress saves screenshots in the cypress/screenshots folder by default.

How do you capture a screenshot of only a button with id 'submit'?

A cy.capture('#submit')

B cy.screenshot('#submit')

C cy.screenshotElement('#submit')

D cy.get('#submit').screenshot()

Use cy.get('#submit').screenshot() to capture only the button element.

Which option captures the full page screenshot?

A cy.screenshot({ capture: 'fullPage' })

B cy.screenshot({ full: true })

C cy.screenshot({ page: 'all' })

D cy.screenshot({ viewport: 'full' })

The correct option is { capture: 'fullPage' } to capture the entire page.

What happens if you call cy.screenshot() without arguments?

A Saves screenshot to desktop

B Takes a screenshot with an auto-generated name

C Does nothing

D Throws an error

Cypress takes a screenshot with a default auto-generated name if no argument is provided.

Explain how to take a screenshot of a specific element and save it with a custom name in Cypress.

Think about chaining commands and naming screenshots.

Describe the difference between a viewport screenshot and a full page screenshot in Cypress.

Consider what part of the page is visible vs entire content.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of using cy.screenshot() in Cypress tests?

easy

A. To capture a picture of the app's current state during a test

B. To pause the test execution

C. To clear the browser cache

D. To simulate user clicks

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the function of cy.screenshot()

   This command takes a screenshot of the app at the moment it is called during the test.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Options B, C, and D describe actions unrelated to capturing images.

3. Final Answer:

   To capture a picture of the app's current state during a test -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Screenshot = Capture app image [OK]

Hint: Screenshots = pictures of app state during tests [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing screenshot with pausing tests
• Thinking it clears cache
• Assuming it simulates clicks

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to take a screenshot with a custom file name in Cypress?

easy

A. cy.screenshot = 'homepage'

B. cy.screenshot: 'homepage'

C. cy.screenshot('homepage')

D. cy.screenshot['homepage']

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct method call syntax

   In Cypress, methods are called with parentheses and arguments inside, like cy.screenshot('filename').

2. Step 2: Check each option's syntax

   cy.screenshot('homepage') uses correct function call syntax. Options A, C, and D use invalid JavaScript syntax for method calls.

3. Final Answer:

   cy.screenshot('homepage') -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Method call uses parentheses [OK]

Hint: Use parentheses to pass file name in cy.screenshot() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using assignment (=) instead of function call
• Using colon (:) instead of parentheses
• Using brackets [] incorrectly

3. Consider this Cypress code snippet:

cy.get('button.submit').click();
cy.screenshot('after-click');

What will happen when this test runs?

medium

A. The test fails because cy.screenshot needs no arguments.

B. The test clicks the submit button but does not take any screenshot.

C. The test takes a screenshot before clicking the button.

D. The test clicks the submit button and saves a screenshot named 'after-click'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the code sequence

   The code first clicks the button with class 'submit', then calls cy.screenshot('after-click') to take a screenshot with that name.

2. Step 2: Understand the effect of cy.screenshot()

   The screenshot is taken after the click, so the file will be named 'after-click'.

3. Final Answer:

   The test clicks the submit button and saves a screenshot named 'after-click'. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Click then screenshot with name [OK]

Hint: Commands run in order; screenshot after click saves named image [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking screenshot happens before click
• Believing screenshot requires no arguments
• Assuming no screenshot is taken

4. You wrote this code:

cy.screenshot('login-page', { capture: 'viewport' });

But the screenshot file is not saved. What is the likely problem?

medium

A. The capture option value is incorrect; it should be 'runner'.

B. The capture option 'viewport' is valid; the problem is elsewhere.

C. The cy.screenshot command must be chained after cy.get().

D. The file name must not have a dash ('-').

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the capture option values

   Cypress supports 'viewport', 'runner', and 'fullPage' as valid values for capture. 'viewport' is valid.

2. Step 2: Review other options

   File names can include dashes. cy.screenshot does not require chaining after cy.get(). So these are not issues.

3. Final Answer:

   The capture option 'viewport' is valid; the problem is elsewhere. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Valid options mean issue is not in syntax [OK]

Hint: Check option values; 'viewport' is valid for capture [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming 'viewport' is invalid
• Thinking file names cannot have dashes
• Believing chaining is mandatory

5. You want to take a screenshot only of a specific element with class .profile-pic and save it as 'profile.png'. Which code snippet correctly does this?

hard

A. cy.get('.profile-pic').screenshot('profile');

B. cy.screenshot('.profile-pic', { capture: 'element', fileName: 'profile.png' });

C. cy.get('.profile-pic').screenshot('profile.png.png');

D. cy.screenshot('profile.png', { element: '.profile-pic' });

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand element screenshot syntax

   To screenshot a specific element, first select it with cy.get(), then call .screenshot() on that element. The argument is the file name without extension.

2. Step 2: Evaluate each option

   cy.get('.profile-pic').screenshot('profile.png.png'); uses file name with extension, which is incorrect; Cypress adds extension automatically. cy.screenshot('.profile-pic', { capture: 'element', fileName: 'profile.png' }); uses invalid syntax; cy.screenshot does not accept selector as first argument. cy.get('.profile-pic').screenshot('profile'); correctly selects element and calls .screenshot('profile'). cy.screenshot('profile.png', { element: '.profile-pic' }); uses invalid options.

3. Final Answer:

   cy.get('.profile-pic').screenshot('profile'); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Element screenshot = get element then .screenshot(name) [OK]

Hint: Select element first, then call .screenshot with name (no extension) [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing file extension in screenshot name
• Calling cy.screenshot with selector argument
• Using invalid options for element capture