AUTOMATION TESTING Flashcards
How do you ensure automated tests are reliable and maintainable?” This question came up recently, and I thought I’d share how I approach it — especially when working with tools like Playwright and Cypress:
✅ 1. Use a solid structure (POM or custom abstractions)
Design patterns like Page Object Model help keep the code clean and reusable. It separates locators and logic from the tests themselves — making updates much easier when the UI changes.
🧭 2. Choose stable locators
Whether in Playwright or Cypress, I always avoid fragile selectors like complex XPaths or dynamic IDs. Instead, I use data-* attributes or test IDs that don’t change with styling or layout updates.
⏱️ 3. Smart wait strategies > static waits
Flaky tests often come down to timing issues. I lean on Playwright’s auto-waiting or Cypress’s built-in retry mechanism, and add explicit waits where needed (like waitForSelector, should(‘be.visible’), etc.).
🔁 4. Keep tests independent
Each test should stand on its own — no reliance on the result of a previous test. That way, one failure doesn’t trigger a domino effect in your pipeline.
🔧 5. CI integration & test data management
I make sure tests run in CI (GitHub Actions / Azure DevOps), and that test data is controlled — whether using API calls, fixtures, or DB scripts for setup and cleanup.
🧹 6. Regular cleanup & review
Flaky or outdated tests get quarantined, cleaned up, or removed. Automation is only valuable if it’s trustworthy.
These principles have helped me build automation that doesn’t just pass today — but stays strong as the product evolves.
