Cookie management in Selenium Java - Test Execution Trace

Test Overview

This test opens a website, adds a cookie, verifies the cookie is set, deletes the cookie, and confirms it is removed.

Test Code - JUnit 5 with Selenium WebDriver

Selenium Java

import org.openqa.selenium.Cookie;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.*;
import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;

public class CookieManagementTest {
    private WebDriver driver;

    @BeforeEach
    public void setUp() {
        driver = new ChromeDriver();
    }

    @AfterEach
    public void tearDown() {
        driver.quit();
    }

    @Test
    public void testAddAndDeleteCookie() {
        driver.get("https://example.com");

        Cookie cookie = new Cookie.Builder("testCookie", "testValue")
                .domain("example.com")
                .path("/")
                .build();

        driver.manage().addCookie(cookie);

        Cookie retrievedCookie = driver.manage().getCookieNamed("testCookie");
        assertNotNull(retrievedCookie, "Cookie should be present after adding");
        assertEquals("testValue", retrievedCookie.getValue(), "Cookie value should match");

        driver.manage().deleteCookieNamed("testCookie");

        Cookie deletedCookie = driver.manage().getCookieNamed("testCookie");
        assertNull(deletedCookie, "Cookie should be deleted and not present");
    }
}

Execution Trace - 8 Steps

Step	Action	System State	Assertion	Result
1	Test starts and Chrome browser opens	Browser window is open but no page loaded	—	PASS
2	Navigates to https://example.com	Example.com homepage is loaded in browser	—	PASS
3	Creates a cookie named 'testCookie' with value 'testValue' for domain example.com	Cookie object created in test code	—	PASS
4	Adds the cookie to the browser session	Browser now has cookie 'testCookie' set	—	PASS
5	Retrieves cookie named 'testCookie' from browser	Cookie 'testCookie' is found in browser cookies	Assert cookie is not null and value equals 'testValue'	PASS
6	Deletes cookie named 'testCookie' from browser	Cookie 'testCookie' removed from browser cookies	—	PASS
7	Attempts to retrieve cookie named 'testCookie' after deletion	No cookie named 'testCookie' found	Assert cookie is null (deleted)	PASS
8	Test ends and browser closes	Browser window closed	—	PASS

Failure Scenario

Failing Condition: Cookie 'testCookie' is not found after adding or still present after deletion

Execution Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the test verify after adding the cookie?

A The cookie exists and its value matches 'testValue'

B The cookie is deleted immediately

C The browser navigates to a new page

D The cookie domain is changed

Key Result

Always verify cookies after adding or deleting them by retrieving them explicitly to confirm the browser state matches expectations.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of managing cookies in Selenium tests?

easy

A. To change the browser's window size

B. To store and manipulate small pieces of data like user sessions

C. To locate elements on a web page

D. To execute JavaScript code on the page

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what cookies do

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

2. Step 2: Relate to Selenium's cookie management

   Selenium allows adding, retrieving, and deleting cookies to simulate user sessions during tests.

3. Final Answer:

   To store and manipulate small pieces of data like user sessions -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Cookies = user session data [OK]

Hint: Cookies store user info for session tests [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing cookies with browser window controls
• Thinking cookies locate page elements
• Assuming cookies run JavaScript

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a cookie in Selenium Java?

easy

A. driver.addCookie(new Cookie("name", "value"));

B. driver.addCookie("name", "value");

C. driver.manage().cookieAdd("name", "value");

D. driver.manage().addCookie(new Cookie("name", "value"));

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Selenium cookie API

   Cookies are added via driver.manage().addCookie() method with a Cookie object.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   driver.manage().addCookie(new Cookie("name", "value")); uses correct method and creates a new Cookie object properly.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.manage().addCookie(new Cookie("name", "value")); -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use driver.manage().addCookie(new Cookie()) [OK]

Hint: Use driver.manage().addCookie(new Cookie()) [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Calling addCookie directly on driver
• Using incorrect method names like cookieAdd
• Passing strings instead of Cookie objects

3. What will be the output of the following code snippet?

Cookie cookie = new Cookie("session", "abc123");
driver.manage().addCookie(cookie);
Cookie retrieved = driver.manage().getCookieNamed("session");
System.out.println(retrieved.getValue());

medium

A. abc123

B. session

C. null

D. Throws NoSuchElementException

Solution

1. Step 1: Add cookie named "session" with value "abc123"

   The code adds a cookie with name "session" and value "abc123" to the browser.

2. Step 2: Retrieve cookie by name and print its value

   driver.manage().getCookieNamed("session") returns the cookie object, and getValue() prints "abc123".

3. Final Answer:

   abc123 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   getCookieNamed("session").getValue() = abc123 [OK]

Hint: getCookieNamed returns cookie object; getValue prints value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting cookie name instead of value
• Assuming null if cookie not found (but it is added)
• Thinking exception is thrown when cookie exists

4. Identify the error in this Selenium Java code for deleting a cookie:

driver.manage().deleteCookie("session");

medium

A. deleteCookie requires cookie name as a String, so code is correct

B. deleteCookie method does not exist in Selenium

C. deleteCookie method requires a Cookie object, not a String

D. deleteCookie should be called on driver, not driver.manage()

Solution

1. Step 1: Check deleteCookie method signature

   deleteCookie expects a Cookie object, not a String name.

2. Step 2: Correct usage

   To delete by name, use deleteCookieNamed(String name) instead.

3. Final Answer:

   deleteCookie method requires a Cookie object, not a String -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   deleteCookie(Cookie) vs deleteCookieNamed(String) [OK]

Hint: Use deleteCookieNamed for String name, deleteCookie for Cookie object [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing String to deleteCookie instead of Cookie object
• Confusing deleteCookie and deleteCookieNamed methods
• Calling deleteCookie on wrong object

5. You want to test that after deleting a cookie named "user", it no longer exists. Which code snippet correctly verifies this?

hard

A. driver.manage().deleteCookieNamed("user");
assert driver.manage().getCookieNamed("user") == null;

B. driver.manage().deleteCookie(new Cookie("user", "value"));
assert driver.manage().getCookieNamed("user").getValue().equals("");

C. driver.manage().deleteCookieNamed("user");
assert driver.manage().getCookieNamed("user").getValue() == null;

D. driver.manage().deleteCookie(new Cookie("user", "value"));
assert driver.manage().getCookieNamed("user") != null;

Solution

1. Step 1: Delete cookie by name "user"

   Use deleteCookieNamed("user") to remove the cookie by its name.

2. Step 2: Verify cookie no longer exists

   getCookieNamed("user") returns null if cookie is deleted; assert null confirms deletion.

3. Final Answer:

   driver.manage().deleteCookieNamed("user"); assert driver.manage().getCookieNamed("user") == null; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Deleted cookie returns null [OK]

Hint: Deleted cookie returns null on getCookieNamed [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Checking getValue() on null cookie causing NullPointerException
• Using deleteCookie with Cookie object without correct value
• Asserting cookie still exists after deletion