Cookie management in Cypress - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this Cypress test snippet?

Consider the following Cypress test code that sets a cookie and then checks its value. What will be the assertion result?

Cypress

cy.setCookie('session_id', 'abc123')
  .getCookie('session_id')
  .should('have.property', 'value', 'abc123')

A Test passes because the cookie value matches 'abc123'.

B Test passes but the cookie value is undefined.

C Test fails because 'should' cannot check cookie properties.

D Test fails because 'getCookie' is not a valid Cypress command.

💡 Hint

Remember that Cypress commands like setCookie and getCookie work asynchronously and can be chained.

The code sets a cookie named 'session_id' with value 'abc123'. Then it retrieves the cookie and asserts that its 'value' property equals 'abc123'. However, 'getCookie' is not a valid Cypress command; the correct command is 'cy.getCookie'.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Which assertion correctly verifies a cookie named 'user' exists in Cypress?

You want to check if a cookie named 'user' exists after login. Which assertion is correct?

A cy.getCookie('user').should('exist')

B cy.getCookie('user').should('have.property', 'name', 'user')

C cy.getCookie('user').should('have.value', 'user')

D cy.getCookie('user').should('contain', 'user')

💡 Hint

Check the properties of the cookie object returned by getCookie.

The cookie object has properties like 'name' and 'value'. To verify the cookie named 'user' exists, check that the 'name' property equals 'user'.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this Cypress test fail to clear cookies?

This test tries to clear cookies but fails. Identify the reason.

Cypress

cy.clearCookies('session_id')
cy.getCookie('session_id').should('not.exist')

A getCookie cannot be chained after clearCookies.

B The cookie name 'session_id' is invalid.

C clearCookies does not accept arguments; it clears all cookies only.

D should('not.exist') is not a valid assertion for cookies.

💡 Hint

Check the Cypress documentation for clearCookies usage.

The clearCookies command clears all cookies and does not accept any arguments. Passing a cookie name causes the command to ignore the argument and not clear specific cookies.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

What is the best practice for managing cookies in Cypress tests to avoid flaky tests?

Which practice helps ensure cookie-related tests are reliable and isolated?

A Clear all cookies before each test to start fresh.

B Set cookies only once before all tests run.

C Avoid clearing cookies to speed up tests.

D Manually delete cookies using browser DevTools during tests.

💡 Hint

Think about test isolation and repeatability.

Clearing cookies before each test ensures no leftover data affects test results, making tests independent and reliable.

❓ framework

expert

Which Cypress command sequence correctly sets a cookie, reloads the page, and verifies the cookie persists?

Select the correct code snippet that sets a cookie named 'token' with value 'xyz', reloads the page, and asserts the cookie still exists with the correct value.

A

cy.setCookie('token', 'xyz')
cy.reload()
cy.getCookie('token').should('have.property', 'value', 'xyz')

B

cy.setCookie('token', 'xyz')
cy.reload()
cy.getCookie('token').should('equal', 'xyz')

C

cy.setCookie('token', 'xyz')
  .reload()
  .getCookie('token')
  .should('have.property', 'value', 'xyz')

D

cy.setCookie('token', 'xyz')
  .reload()
  .getCookie('token')
  .should('equal', 'xyz')

💡 Hint

Remember Cypress commands are asynchronous and chaining vs separate calls matters.

Option A correctly sets the cookie, reloads the page, then gets the cookie and asserts its 'value' property equals 'xyz'. The commands are properly sequenced without chaining incompatible commands.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of managing cookies in Cypress tests?

easy

A. To speed up the browser rendering process

B. To change the website's HTML structure

C. To store and verify small pieces of information like user sessions

D. To create new browser tabs automatically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what cookies do

   Cookies store small data like user sessions or preferences to remember users.

2. Step 2: Relate to Cypress testing

   Cypress manages cookies to test if the site remembers users or settings correctly.

3. Final Answer:

   To store and verify small pieces of information like user sessions -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Cookies store info = A [OK]

Hint: Cookies store user info; Cypress tests that info [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking cookies change page layout
• Confusing cookies with browser tabs
• Assuming cookies speed up rendering

2. Which Cypress command correctly sets a cookie named session_id with value abc123?

easy

A. cy.setCookie('session_id', 'abc123')

B. cy.cookieSet('session_id', 'abc123')

C. cy.set('session_id', 'abc123')

D. cy.createCookie('session_id', 'abc123')

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Cypress cookie setting syntax

   The correct command to set a cookie is cy.setCookie(name, value).

2. Step 2: Match the command with options

   Only cy.setCookie('session_id', 'abc123') uses cy.setCookie with correct parameters.

3. Final Answer:

   cy.setCookie('session_id', 'abc123') -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use cy.setCookie() to set cookies [OK]

Hint: Use cy.setCookie(name, value) to set cookies [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong command names like cookieSet or createCookie
• Confusing cy.set with cy.setCookie
• Missing quotes around cookie name or value

3. What will be the output of this Cypress code snippet?

cy.setCookie('token', 'xyz789')
cy.getCookie('token').should('have.property', 'value', 'xyz789')

medium

A. Test passes because cookie 'token' has value 'xyz789'

B. Test fails because cookie 'token' is not set

C. Syntax error due to wrong command usage

D. Test passes but cookie value is empty string

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze cookie setting

   The code sets a cookie named 'token' with value 'xyz789' using cy.setCookie.

2. Step 2: Analyze assertion

   The code gets the cookie 'token' and asserts its value property equals 'xyz789'. This matches the set value.

3. Final Answer:

   Test passes because cookie 'token' has value 'xyz789' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Set cookie then assert value = Pass [OK]

Hint: Set cookie then assert value matches to pass test [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming getCookie returns undefined if setCookie was called
• Confusing property name in assertion
• Thinking syntax is incorrect

4. Identify the error in this Cypress code that tries to clear all cookies:

cy.clearCookie()

medium

A. clearCookie clears all cookies without arguments, so no error

B. clearCookie requires a cookie name argument to clear a specific cookie

C. clearCookie is not a valid Cypress command

D. clearCookie must be called with an array of cookie names

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand clearCookie usage

   cy.clearCookie() requires a cookie name string to clear one cookie.

2. Step 2: How to clear all cookies

   To clear all cookies, use cy.clearCookies() (note plural) without arguments.

3. Final Answer:

   clearCookie requires a cookie name argument to clear a specific cookie -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   clearCookie needs name; clearCookies clears all [OK]

Hint: Use clearCookies() to clear all, clearCookie(name) for one [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling clearCookie() without name to clear all
• Confusing clearCookie with clearCookies
• Assuming clearCookie accepts multiple names

5. You want to test that a user stays logged in after a page reload by preserving the auth_token cookie. Which Cypress approach correctly achieves this?

hard

A. Use cy.reload(preserveCookies: true) to keep cookies

B. Use cy.preserveCookie('auth_token') before reload

C. Use cy.clearCookies() before reload to reset cookies

D. Use cy.getCookie('auth_token').then(cookie => { cy.setCookie(cookie.name, cookie.value) }) after reload

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand cookie preservation

   Cypress clears cookies on reload by default, so to keep a cookie, you must reset it after reload.

2. Step 2: Analyze options

   Use cy.getCookie('auth_token').then(cookie => { cy.setCookie(cookie.name, cookie.value) }) after reload manually gets and sets the cookie again after reload, which preserves it correctly. Use cy.preserveCookie('auth_token') before reload is invalid syntax. Use cy.clearCookies() before reload to reset cookies clears cookies, which removes the token. Use cy.reload({ preserveCookies: true }) to keep cookies is not a valid reload option in Cypress.

3. Final Answer:

   Use cy.getCookie('auth_token').then(cookie => { cy.setCookie(cookie.name, cookie.value) }) after reload -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Manually reset cookie after reload to preserve [OK]

Hint: Manually reset cookie after reload to keep it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming reload keeps cookies automatically
• Using non-existent preserveCookie command
• Clearing cookies before reload by mistake