How to check if an element exists or not using Cypress?
Published: 2023-09-04 08:10:27

Cypress is a tool that helps web developers and testers to make sure their websites work properly. it can check if a certain part of the website exists. This is helpful because it helps to catch problems before users do. Element presence is one of the first things you should test with Cypress in your project. In this article, we will look at how to test if an element exists or not. Also, if it exists, how do you check whether it is visible or not?.

## What are Cypress Elements?

-  Elements in web applications refer to individual HTML elements that make up a web page’s structure and content.

- Examples of elements include buttons, text boxes, links, and images, each with their own attributes like id, class, and style.

- These attributes can be used to interact with CSS or JavaScript selectors.

-  Elements are important because they define a page’s structure and behavior.

-  By selecting and interacting with elements, you can create automated tests to ensure that the web application behaves as expected for all users.

- In Cypress, elements are the HTML elements of your website that you wish to interact with or test.

- To interact with or test these elements, simply select them using a selector similar to CSS.

## Why Element Existence Matters in Cypress?
A website is like a puzzle with interactive pieces such as buttons and forms. Testing involves ensuring that these pieces are in the correct place and functioning properly. Checking if an element exists is important because different parts of a website can change based on user actions.

For instance, a “Submit” button may appear after filling out a form, so it’s necessary to check if it showed up. This helps identify issues before users encounter them, allowing for smoother experiences.

How to Verify the existence of an element using Cypress?
Cypress provides several methods to verify the existence of elements on a webpage. Let’s dive into each approach and understand how to implement them effectively.

**1. cy.get() Method**

The cy.get() method in Cypress is used to select and retrieve elements on the page based on various selectors such as class names, IDs, attributes, and more. To verify if an element exists, developers can use the should() command along with the cy.get() method.

Using the .should(‘exist’) assertion with cy.get() ensures that the selected element is present on the page.

image2
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/lcw2no77cb3w3hn53l56.png)


**2. cy.contains() Method**

The cy.contains() method is used to find an element based on its text content. This method can also be utilized to check if an element with specific text exists on the page.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/16dztvg7iwxo8uuraoqm.png)

**3. cy.find() Method**

The cy.find() method is useful when dealing with nested elements within a parent element. It allows you to search for elements within the context of another element, ensuring more focused searches.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/kgvj7i44w3a8m2sdt11l.png)


**4. cy.get().should() with Custom Assertions**

Cypress enables developers to create custom assertions using the cy.should() method. This is particularly useful when you want to implement more specific checks beyond just element existence.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/fxqp1zk0i4bsukde3axl.png)

5. Using .should() with Timeout

Sometimes, elements might load asynchronously or with a slight delay. In such cases, you can use the .should() assertion with a timeout to ensure that Cypress waits for the element to appear.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/mrg6twxbgchqxtjp8o31.png)

## Conditional Testing with Cypress:
Conditional testing in Cypress is the act of integrating conditional logic into your test scripts to make decisions and perform actions based on specific conditions or outcomes during the test execution. This method enables you to design more flexible and adaptable tests that can handle various scenarios and respond accordingly. Cypress offers a range of commands and APIs that you can utilize to achieve effective conditional testing. The following is an illustration of how Cypress can be used for conditional testing.

Example -1


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0va9t8ztnmbw4wxkmatx.png)

In this example, the test script visits a webpage and performs conditional testing on an element’s existence as well as the title of the page. Depending on whether the conditions are met or not, the script logs corresponding messages to the Cypress test runner’s output.

Cypress provides a fluent and intuitive syntax for performing conditional testing within your test scripts. You can use assertions, promises, and regular JavaScript logic to build complex conditions and actions based on the results of those conditions.

Conditional testing in Cypress, similar to other testing frameworks, helps you create more versatile and effective tests that can adapt to different scenarios, making your testing process more robust and reliable.

Example 2:


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/kvhfcix5pq7msknbqrjm.png)

In this code snippet, Cypress first ensures the existence of the button element using .should(‘exist’). It then retrieves the element using .then(), and the subsequent conditional check determines whether the button exists. If the condition is met, indicating the button’s presence, Cypress clicks the button using cy.wrap(button).click(). If the condition fails, the else block facilitates the execution of an alternative action.

## Real-World Applications of Element Existence Checks:

Let’s think about some everyday situations where checking element existence is super helpful:

**1. Form Success Message**

After users submit a form, a success message might appear. Using Cypress, you can check if that message shows up, making sure users know their form was submitted successfully.

**2. Menu Navigation**

You have a dropdown menu that appears when users hover over a button. You want to confirm that the menu appears when users do that hover action.

**3. Responsive Design**

Different elements might appear or disappear on mobile versus desktop versions of your site. You can use Cypress to ensure that these elements show up or hide as intended.

**4. User Access Control**

Certain buttons or links might only be visible to certain types of users. Cypress helps you verify that these elements are shown to the right people.

### Conclusion:

Web testing is no longer a difficult and time-consuming task, thanks to tools like Cypress. The “if element exists” capability encapsulates the essence of conditional testing, enabling developers and testers to craft tests that closely mimic real user interactions. This functionality not only simplifies testing but also encourages a more thoughtful approach to application behavior. By leveraging Cypress’s intuitive commands and powerful assertions, developers can streamline their test suites, reduce redundancy, and build more robust web applications. So, embrace the power of Cypress and embark on a journey to elevate the quality of your web development projects.