HTML report generation in Selenium Python - Test Execution Trace

Test Overview

This test opens a web page, checks the page title, and generates a test report showing the test result.

Test Code - unittest

Selenium Python

import unittest
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.service import Service
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options

class TestPageTitle(unittest.TestCase):
    @classmethod
    def setUpClass(cls):
        options = Options()
        options.add_argument('--headless')
        cls.driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=Service(), options=options)

    def test_title(self):
        self.driver.get('https://example.com')
        title = self.driver.title
        self.assertEqual(title, 'Example Domain')

    @classmethod
    def tearDownClass(cls):
        cls.driver.quit()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main(testRunner=unittest.TextTestRunner(verbosity=2))

Execution Trace - 7 Steps

Step	Action	System State	Assertion	Result
1	Test starts: unittest framework initializes test suite	Test runner ready, ChromeDriver configured with headless option	—	PASS
2	Browser opens: Chrome browser starts in headless mode	Chrome browser running without UI	—	PASS
3	Navigates: Browser navigates to 'https://example.com'	Page 'Example Domain' loaded	—	PASS
4	Finds element: Selenium reads the page title	Page title is 'Example Domain'	Check if page title equals 'Example Domain'	PASS
5	Assertion checks: unittest asserts title equality	Assertion passes as titles match	assertEqual('Example Domain', 'Example Domain')	PASS
6	Browser closes: ChromeDriver quits	Browser closed, resources freed	—	PASS
7	Test report generated by unittest TextTestRunner	Test report shows test passed with details	—	PASS

Failure Scenario

Failing Condition: Page title does not match expected 'Example Domain'

Execution Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the test verify on the web page?

A The page title matches 'Example Domain'

B The page contains a button with id 'submit'

C The page URL contains 'test'

D The page background color is blue

Key Result

Always verify key page elements like the title to confirm correct page load before proceeding with further tests. Generating reports helps track test results clearly.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of generating an HTML report in Selenium Python testing?

easy

A. To avoid writing assertions

B. To speed up test execution

C. To make test results easy to read and share

D. To write test cases faster

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of HTML reports

   HTML reports present test results in a clear, visual format that anyone can read.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Speeding tests, writing tests faster, or avoiding assertions are unrelated to HTML reports.

3. Final Answer:

   To make test results easy to read and share -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   HTML reports = clear, shareable results [OK]

Hint: HTML reports show results clearly for sharing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking HTML reports speed up tests
• Confusing report generation with test writing
• Believing reports remove need for assertions

2. Which Python package is commonly used with unittest to generate HTML reports in Selenium tests?

easy

A. pytest-html

B. unittest-html

C. selenium-html

D. HtmlTestRunner

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the package for unittest HTML reports

   HtmlTestRunner is designed to work with unittest for HTML report generation.

2. Step 2: Eliminate other options

   pytest-html is for pytest, selenium-html and unittest-html are not standard packages.

3. Final Answer:

   HtmlTestRunner -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   unittest + HtmlTestRunner = HTML reports [OK]

Hint: HtmlTestRunner works with unittest for HTML reports [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing pytest-html for unittest tests
• Assuming selenium-html is a real package
• Confusing unittest-html as official

3. Given this code snippet using HtmlTestRunner, what folder will the HTML report be saved in?

import unittest
import HtmlTestRunner

class TestExample(unittest.TestCase):
    def test_pass(self):
        self.assertTrue(True)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main(testRunner=HtmlTestRunner.HTMLTestRunner(output='reports'))

medium

A. Current directory

B. reports folder

C. HtmlTestRunner folder

D. No folder, prints to console only

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the output parameter in HTMLTestRunner

   The output='reports' argument tells HtmlTestRunner to save reports in the 'reports' folder.

2. Step 2: Understand default behavior

   Without output specified, reports save in current directory, but here 'reports' is explicit.

3. Final Answer:

   reports folder -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   output='reports' means save in reports folder [OK]

Hint: output='foldername' sets report save location [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming reports save in current directory by default
• Thinking HtmlTestRunner creates its own folder
• Believing reports print only to console

4. What is wrong with this code snippet for generating an HTML report using HtmlTestRunner?

import unittest
import HtmlTestRunner

class TestExample(unittest.TestCase):
    def test_fail(self):
        self.assertEqual(1, 2)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main(testRunner=HtmlTestRunner.HTMLTestRunner(output=''))

medium

A. Empty output string causes report not to save

B. assertEqual syntax is incorrect

C. Missing import for HtmlTestRunner

D. Test class must inherit from HtmlTestRunner

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the output parameter usage

   Setting output='' means no folder is specified, which can cause HtmlTestRunner to fail saving reports properly.

2. Step 2: Verify other parts

   assertEqual syntax is correct, HtmlTestRunner is imported, and test class inheritance is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   Empty output string causes report not to save -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   output='' disables report folder, causing save issues [OK]

Hint: Provide a valid folder name in output to save reports [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking assertEqual(1, 2) is syntax error
• Believing test class must inherit HtmlTestRunner
• Ignoring output parameter effect

5. You want to generate an HTML report that shows detailed pass/fail results and saves in a folder named 'test_reports'. Which code snippet correctly sets this up using HtmlTestRunner with unittest?

hard

A. unittest.main(testRunner=HtmlTestRunner.HTMLTestRunner(output='test_reports'))

B. unittest.main(testRunner=HtmlTestRunner.HTMLTestRunner(report='test_reports'))

C. unittest.main(testRunner=HtmlTestRunner.HTMLTestRunner(folder='test_reports'))

D. unittest.main(testRunner=HtmlTestRunner.HTMLTestRunner(path='test_reports'))

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct parameter for output folder

   HtmlTestRunner uses 'output' parameter to specify the folder for saving reports.

2. Step 2: Check other parameter names

   'report', 'folder', and 'path' are not valid parameters for HtmlTestRunner's HTMLTestRunner class.

3. Final Answer:

   unittest.main(testRunner=HtmlTestRunner.HTMLTestRunner(output='test_reports')) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use output='foldername' to save reports correctly [OK]

Hint: Use output='foldername' to set report save location [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong parameter names like report or folder
• Not specifying output folder at all
• Confusing HtmlTestRunner options with other packages