User Acceptance Testing Checklist- 6 Essential Elements To Consider

User Acceptance Testing Checklist – 6 Factors to Consider

Hello there, I hope you are doing well! Welcome back to another interesting blog.&nbsp;



I was watching one of the NAS daily videos with my five-year-old recently. It was about a few Japanese facts. People are incredibly humble and kind. They also appear to emphasize respect for others. This piqued my curiosity to study Japanese culture further. 



Then I got to know about a book called “<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/40534545" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life</a>&#8216;. Reading that book was one of the life-changing experiences of my life. Yes, I enjoyed reading that book and suggested to a few of my friends and family members to read this book too.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/QhJcuOPd5KHlcaQkaCfPyUndgKOae7iTbvjq84_GZtq2TqlozlbBsMFtwWj_1Qlj-xW1ztHl6vjwFW1v5iZm8TgAinnVjq8mdOuDVsy3ElPZ5ehoWKzm_14JlgtS8kFFWEVS2dLNl4Bt1Zw-ruwL3O0" alt="" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



However, my research on Japanese concepts continued. I discovered a wealth of fascinating facts and knowledge about Japanese culture. Finally, it appears that they have much to teach us.



Let&#8217;s study some Japanese phrases and the thoughts behind them in this blog. Also, how is this beneficial to software testers, and why should we have a good understanding of it.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_Are_Japanese_Concepts">1 What Are Japanese Concepts?</a></li><li><a href="#Japanese_Concepts_for_Software_Testers">2 Japanese Concepts for Software Testers:</a></li><li><a href="#To_conclude">3 To conclude:</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-are-japanese-concepts">What Are Japanese Concepts?</h2>



Japanese culture has had a long history of emphasizing excellence and appreciation of detail. Japanese concepts are ideas, values, and beliefs that are important in Japanese culture. Some examples include respect for elders, the importance of hard work, and the idea of harmony between people and nature. 



These concepts help to shape the way people in Japan live their lives. Many of the concepts and philosophies developed in Japan, such as Kaizen and Kanban, have become popular in the software industry. But to my surprise, there are many more overlooked concepts that will enrich your life and help you be a better software tester.



<h2 id="japanese-concepts-for-software-testers">Japanese Concepts for Software Testers:</h2>



Software Testers play an essential role in ensuring the quality of software applications. Let’s see in detail the Japanese concepts which can help us to elevate the testing process:



<p id="kaizen-it-s-an-approach-to-continuously-improve-processes-products-and-services-on-small-incremental-levels-a-philosophy-of-continuous-improvement-focused-on-small-incremental-adjustments-over-time-to-improve-quality">1. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaizen</a>: It’s an approach to continuously improve processes, products, and services on small incremental levels. A philosophy of continuous improvement focused on small incremental adjustments over time to improve quality.&nbsp;



In the world of software testing, Kaizen is an important concept that testers should be familiar with. Kaizen, which literally translates to “change for the better”,&nbsp; emphasizes small incremental changes over drastic reform, which can help ensure that any changes made are manageable and effective. Kaizen requires that everyone involved in a project take responsibility for their actions and ensure that processes are continually improved.&nbsp;



It is a flexible system that allows for changes to be implemented quickly and efficiently, as problems are identified and solutions are put forward. This makes it the ideal methodology for software testing, as testers need to be able to quickly identify and debug any issues that arise during Test execution.



2. Kanban: Kanban is a popular method for managing tasks and processes. It is a system that utilizes visual cards to track progress and prioritize tasks. The cards are placed on a board and visually represent tasks to be done. A process commonly used among software testers, emphasizes doing only the necessary tasks in order to reach the goal. Using visual signals to identify and stimulate process improvement during software testing &#8211; a Kanban system describes, visualizes, and manages the production process.&nbsp;



Here’s an example of how kanban works: Say you’re working on a marketing project for a client. As part of the project, you need to arrange social media posts, develop content, design sales brochures, and book webinars. You use sticky notes and put them on a Kanban board. The labels on the notes will be: “To-Do”, “In Progress” and “Done”.&nbsp;



You start by labeling the first note “To-Do”. You need to arrange the social media posts so you write “Arrange Social Media Posts”. You then write the other tasks on other notes and label them “To-Do” as well. As you begin working on the tasks, you move them to the “In Progress” label. Once they are done, you move them to the “Done” label.&nbsp;



The Kanban board lets you easily see which tasks you have done, which tasks are in progress, and which tasks still need to be done. By visually tracking tasks, it allows you to focus on the tasks that still need to be done.&nbsp;



 In the world of software testing, there are a variety of concepts and principles that are essential to know in order to do one’s job effectively. Kanban is a powerful tool that can help software testers stay organized and efficient, leading to better results. Kanban works by breaking down tasks and resources into distinct stages, allowing software testers to easily identify bottlenecks and plan ahead for upcoming work.



3. Genchi Genbutsu: It’s a Japanese phrase meaning &#8220;go and see&#8221; that encourages software testers to observe and learn about the end-user experience. A notion that promotes traveling to the real location to obtain knowledge to make a more informed decision. Going to the source to gain a deeper understanding of a process, product, or anything related by directly observing and questioning.&nbsp;



 It is a core part of the Toyota Production System (TPS) and is a central principle of the company&#8217;s philosophy. The lean manufacturing philosophy behind Genchi Genbutsu is that management should be thorough in their investigations, always going to the source of any customer or production issue to not just physically observe but also learn the underlying causes. For example, a customer is complaining about the application&#8217;s slowness. They try to replicate the user scenario (location, OS/device, user profile) and try to understand more about the root cause. Armed with this data, the project team will then be in a much stronger position to diagnose the issue and prevent it from happening in the future.



4. Shikata Ga Nai:&nbsp; &#8220;Shikata ga nai,&#8221; or &#8220;Sho ga nai,&#8221; is a Japanese phrase that means “it cannot be helped” or “it is what it is” and nothing can be done about it, accepting that there are certain situations and circumstances that are out of our control. It’s the art of letting it go. Sometimes after strenuous effort, things won’t work the way we wanted them to. For example, if you have worked hard for a production release, and something goes wrong in production, there are multiple reasons for that &#8211; not just insufficient test coverage. So, start work on the bugs and test the fixes. Also, make sure to add those scenarios to the regression test case suite. In a nutshell, instead of thinking about it, work on the action items and just let it go.



5. Kata: Kata is a Japanese word that means &#8220;form&#8221; or &#8220;pattern&#8221;. It is often used to describe specific sequences of exercises used to teach martial arts techniques, such as Shotokan karate. A structured sequence of steps and actions used to practice and teach a skill. Every event will follow a specific pattern and we should implement this skill while studying the application behavior or debugging a defect. Getting to know the pattern can help you gain a deeper understanding of the application behavior.



6. Jidoka: Jidoka is an automated quality control technique pioneered by Sakichi Toyoda of the Toyota Corporation in the early 20th century. It is used to identify and correct defects in a process or product before it is sent to a customer. Jidoka teaches machines and people to detect problems and take appropriate action. Automation with a Human Touch that focuses on preventing defects versus a quick discovery and repair. For example, A manufacturer of widgets is using a jidoka system in their production process. Every time a widget is made, its form and function are assessed. If the widget fails these tests, the machine will shut down and alert a human operator. The operator can then investigate the issue and correct it before any further widgets are produced. This ensures that each widget meets quality standards and prevents bad widgets from being shipped to customers. Similarly, we develop the product prototype and then we develop in sprints, which can help us to ensure that we are on track with the product features.



7. Jishuken: A competitive method of testing in which two tester teams are pitted against one another to improve and refine ideas or processes. Jishuken is a Japanese management style focusing on self-improvement and small, steady improvements in the form of Kaizen. It utilizes a team-based approach to problem-solving, incorporating small incremental changes in improvement processes. Jishuken revolves around a process of continuous improvement and self-reflection, conducted within a team and supported by leaders, to identify areas of improvement and develop strategies to address the issues identified. The concept puts forth the idea that a team can accomplish more when each individual gives up his own opinion to reach a common goal.



8. Muda: Muda is a Japanese business term for “waste”. It is derived from the Lean manufacturing production system and refers to any activity that does not directly add value to the product or service. A concept used for process testing and efficiency; identifying and eliminating unnecessary steps in order to improve the overall process. Waste or any activity that doesn’t add value to the product or service. In the entire Software Testing life cycle, we have to identify the waste and try to eliminate it. This saves a lot of our time and effort.&nbsp;



9. Poka-Yoke: Poka-Yoke is an approach to mistake-proofing (inadvertent error prevention) processes, products, and services to ensure the end user gets the expected and correct outcome the first time. The purpose of Poka-Yoke is to develop processes to reduce defects by avoiding or correcting (designed to show alerts or warning messages to the user) mistakes in the early design and development phases.&nbsp;



 This technique is mostly used in manufacturing industries but now this effective technique is also adapted to software development processes as well. We focus more on <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-does-testsigma-support-the-shift-left-approach/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shift left</a> defects and back-end testing to reduce the effort, cost, and time. One simple example could include placing a sticky warning label right next to a hazard sign to draw attention to it, or having a different color key for each type of tool so an operator can easily identify the correct key. In Software Testing, we can implement this and focus more on error-prevention techniques in the early phases of testing.



10. Hansei: The Japanese concept of Hansei is a process of reflection and self-criticism used to improve one’s self. The term translates to “self-reflection” and refers to a reflective process that focuses on challenging one’s own beliefs and opening up to alternatives. Through Hansei, individuals can gain insight into how to solve their present challenges and identify areas of improvement. A concept of personal reflection after completing a task meant to improve future projects. Our retrospective meetings are a great example of the Hansei.



11. Ishikawa Diagram: An Ishikawa diagram, also known as a fishbone, cause-and-effect diagram, or Carter diagram, is a business tool used to identify, analyze, and prevent errors and defects in a process. The Ishikawa diagram is a graphical representation of various causes for an event that can help identify and categorize potential causes. It&#8217;s an organized way to look at an event, breaking down the individual components that cause it.



For example, a software project that is facing delays might look something like this:



Head of Fish (Problem Statement): Delays in Software Project



Bones:



&#8211; People: Unskilled staff, incompatible skills with the task, lack of coordination



&#8211; Process/Systems: Poor planning, resource mismanagement, lack of documentation



&#8211; Materials: Inadequate budget, poor quality



&#8211; Environment: Poor environment, External dependencies



Once the potential causes have been identified, the team can organize and prioritize potential solutions. This helps the team to quickly and efficiently identify the root cause of the problem and take the necessary steps to remedy it.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Rk_reaRBFcPAuSmQ6BAokY9fdzN-UxCABJTfLPjIF0mNRLyY6cDVzwv0yactfSOkfettedCr92mfOLCnqndXgLpGgNL5L0dFQKishX5iR3lQiSZSH3N7_ftpe3XHCner2Gktod0eYRjwZMZjIyjPJVk" alt="Fish bone diagram" width="800" height="400"/></figure></div>



 <h2 id="to-conclude">To conclude:</h2>



Isn’t it way too interesting? I enjoyed learning about these Japanese concepts and found that in a way we are already using many of them in our processes and daily work. Not only technical, but sometimes we need to rethink our whole way of doing things. It’s a holistic process of mind, body, and soul.&nbsp;



I strongly believe everyone has something to teach us and we can learn from everyone. Same way, we can learn from people with different cultural backgrounds and that’s why inclusive teams are the best-performing ones.&nbsp;



Hope you enjoyed reading this blog. The list is so big, so stay tuned for the next blog to know more about a few other interesting concepts. please let us know what your favorite Japanese concept is and what makes you feel so.&nbsp;



PC:<a href="http://Freepik.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Freepik.com</a>



Read more similar blogs by <a href="mailto:bpricilla@gmail.com">Pricilla Bilavendran</a>:



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-be-an-open-minded-tester/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How To Be An Open-Minded Tester?</a>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-test-engineer-stress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Is there a way for software test engineers to manage stress in this culture of hustle?</a>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/a-testers-gambit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Tester’s Gambit</a>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-be-an-open-minded-tester/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How To Be An Open-Minded Tester?</a>&nbsp;

Achieving Zen in Software Testing A Journey Through Japanese Concepts

Achieving Zen in Software Testing: A Journey Through Japanese Concepts

Most Commonly Asked API Testing Interview Questions

Cypress vs Selenium- Which Framework is Best Fit for You?

How To Use Desired Capabilities in Selenium WebDriver and Appium

Test automation distinguishes itself by making a difference via reducing expenses, boosting productivity, and lowering error rates. No development team, I&#8217;m sure, will reject the efficiency that a solid automation suite can establish during a typical development process. The most significant of these traits is that test automation is a collaborative and time-consuming effort. Silo tests frequently fail to produce the desired outcomes, especially when many teams are working together to create impact.&nbsp;



In order to keep the machine running smoothly, collaboration is essential oil. This article focuses on the six crucial principles, software test automation teams should talk about before beginning to automate the tests &nbsp;Creating consensus and outlining common rules aids teams in creating and maintaining cleaner and efficient code.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-37.png" alt="6 test automation principles" class="wp-image-27469" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



1. System state&nbsp;



While building the test automation suite, one important principle is “system state”. System state makes the foundational aspect and has direct influence on the success or failure of test suite. Considering the application design into the account teams have to consider the state in which the application presents better. Not to forget the costs involved in maintaining the environment. Test environments are set up in various ways&nbsp;



i. Long Living test environment &#8211; These are the test environments, once set up will continue to run except few maintenance shutdowns. Usually, enterprise applications are backed with such test environments due to the complexity of the business functions and speghetti system configuration. Most often we also see legacy applications running on long living test environments.&nbsp;



ii. Hybrid test environments &#8211; These are the test environments where part of the system configuration is up and running all the time, whereas some part can be triggered on-demand. These type of test environments are the most complex to work with due to the partial existence, not many teams prefer the system set up this way.&nbsp;



iii. On-demand Test environments&#8211; These are the test environments which can be set up anytime and dismantled after the use. Most often cloud applications harness this advantage.&nbsp;



In each of these test environment the behavior of test data, authroization, authentication and external integrations vary at various levels. Test teams have to&nbsp; take into application architecture into account before designing the E2E tests. While long living test environments are blessed with an advantage of maintaining and managing the system status, the On-demand environments have advantage of prestine test environment avoiding any stale test data.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-39.png" alt="test environments" class="wp-image-27473" width="600" height="400"/><figcaption>On-demand Test environments</figcaption></figure></div>



2. Authentication&nbsp;



The most fundamental test that any automation suite may have is user authentication into an application. However, the majority of applications operate behind cookies. When a user logs into an application, the application is supported by pertinent cookies to function around the user. The high level of personal experience that e-commerce websites want to deliver necessitates that these applications operate behind cookies.&nbsp;



There are 2 ways to distribute these cookies.&nbsp;



1. Create the appearance of a typical user action and log in to the application using the user credentials.&nbsp;



2. After starting the program, insert these cookies into the active browser session to acquire access to it before the window loads.&nbsp;



Before creating the test suits, test teams should agree on the execution strategy, especially in multi-scrum/scaled agile teams. Depending on how the system is accessed, various <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing strategies</a> are used. When tests are created to use embedded cookies, extra caution must be taken to check the cookies each time the session reloads; otherwise, the tests will continue to regularly fail.&nbsp;



According to the test requirements of the team, the test suite is frequently repeated and run in a variety of environments, including development, testing, staging, demo, and production. In these circumstances, the test suit unquestionably requires clarification regarding how authentication will be handled.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-38.png" alt="Authentication " class="wp-image-27471" width="600" height="400"/><figcaption>Authentication </figcaption></figure></div>



3. Authorisation&nbsp;



One of the key concepts in any B2B or B2C application is access management. Authorization for user layers is a widely used notion in business solutions. Before developing the test automation suit, this is one of the most vital aspects that needs to be addressed. Concepts related to identity and access management should be handled as early in the phase as possible given they directly affect the test design.&nbsp;



Below are a few open questions to consider&nbsp;



Should you create several users with various levels of access? or alter the authorisations on the fly while running the test?&nbsp;



Should you create a new user each time the test is triggered? or can we have long living user credentials?&nbsp;



How do you prefer to compare modifications made by users with varying levels of authorisation?&nbsp;



What levels must be included in the process of test automation? Should we conduct vertical testing or handle each tier separately? What user combinations can never be generated?&nbsp;



Test data dependancy for user levels&nbsp;



4. Test data bed



Preparing the test bed before the test execution is very important. Most tests should be supported with relevant Test data for successful execution. Theoretically most data should be flexible and should be achieved through parameterization. However, in real world execution not all tests can be run on flexible protocol due to various parameters.&nbsp;



A shared understanding of the constants used for the test execution should be established. Test framework should also be supported with separate file with collection of hard data. Application URL, User credentials, search terms, forms etc are classic examples where we see hard data being seeded.&nbsp;



5. Test Layering&nbsp;



Load a Frontend, perform an action wait for the operation to take place triggering changed UI state. Applying assertion on the changed UI state is what by and large is defined as test automation. Personally, I believe this is not how tests should be automated. By restricting the checks only to the old v/s new UI state you are barely scratching the surface of the test goal.&nbsp;



Establish a clear test design guideline for all CRUD operations performed and layers that needs to be verified to call it a successful tests. For example: When a user is prompted to fill the form and on click of save button the form details will be saved in backend DB. The tests should include the verification of the calls made to the backend, type of data transferred, checking the headers for security, verifying the response call, verifying the response schema and finally validating the data rendering on the UI makes a complete test flow for respective feature.&nbsp;



Let us not forget, achieving such test design needs good hold technically. Most often test teams lose their track over a period of time when new team members join and automation is handed over with less care.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-40.png" alt="Test Layering " class="wp-image-27475" width="600" height="400"/><figcaption>Performance Checks</figcaption></figure></div>



6. Frequency of test execution&nbsp;



&nbsp;A team of active developers generate more PRs in a day compared to conservative development team. The main goal behind <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automating tests</a> is to free up test engineers time for more critical tasks and also to achieve flexibility in executing the tests wherever required without having to worry about environments where the tests are triggered.&nbsp;



A team with higher PR traffic cannot afford to wait until all tests get executed to receive the early feedback. As this becomes the bottleneck in the <a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/devops/what-cicd-pipeline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI pipeline</a> as agents get busy building the code for a long. Thus, as a team, the last principle of software test automation is to decide on the type and frequency of tests to be performed during the code build, during the nightly executions etc.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-41.png" alt="Frequency of test execution" class="wp-image-27477" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Read more articles written by Sowmya Sridharamurthy:



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/the-unpleasant-phenomenon-in-agile-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Unpleasant Phenomenon In Agile Testing</a>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/api-testing-basics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing basics for beginners</a>

6 elemental principles to be discussed before initiating test automation

6 Elemental Principles of Automation: Why They Matter?

5 SQL Injection Testing Methods and Why to Automate Your Test

API vs UI Testing Which One Should You Pick

API vs UI Testing: Which One Should You Pick

14 Top Test Automation Frameworks in 2023

14 Top Test Automation Frameworks in this Year

An application has different Web Elements like buttons, text boxes, checkboxes, menus, sliders, and more. While testing using Selenium, you can simulate certain scenarios by automating low-level interactions with the WebElement(s) in the DOM, such as keypresses and mouse button operations (such as click, double click, and right-click). One such action is Mouse hover over a web element.&nbsp;



Moving the cursor over an element in a graphical user interface (GUI) without clicking is called hovering. In web design, hovering is frequently used to show more details or options related to an element. For instance, a submenu displaying more options may emerge when you hover over a menu item.&nbsp;



In this blog, we&#8217;d see how to perform mouse hover actions in Selenium WebDriver.



Let’s get started!



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Mouse_Hover_Action">1 What is a Mouse Hover Action?</a></li><li><a href="#Importance_of_Mouse_Hover_Actions_in_GUI_Testing">2 Importance of Mouse Hover Actions in GUI Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Understanding_the_Actions_Class_in_Selenium">3 Understanding the Actions Class in Selenium</a><ul><li><a href="#Overview_of_the_Actions_Class">3.1 Overview of the Actions Class</a></li><li><a href="#Methods_and_Properties_of_the_Actions_Class">3.2 Methods and Properties of the Actions Class</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#How_to_implement_Mouse_Hover_in_Selenium_using_the_Actions_Class">4 How to implement Mouse Hover in Selenium using the Actions Class?</a></li><li><a href="#How_can_I_position_the_mouse_cursor_at_an_offset_element">5 How can I position the mouse cursor at an offset element?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">6 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">7 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#nbspHow_to_mouse_hover_and_click_in_selenium">7.1 &nbsp;How to mouse hover and click in selenium?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_get_hover_text_in_Selenium">7.2 How to get hover text in Selenium?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_perform_mouse_actions_in_selenium">7.3 How to perform mouse actions in selenium?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-a-mouse-hover-action">What is a Mouse Hover Action?</h2>



In <a href="https://www.selenium.dev/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Selenium</a>, you can simulate a mouse hover action to test an element&#8217;s behavior when it has hovered over. This involves using the Actions class to create a new Actions object and then using the moveToElement method to move the mouse cursor over the element. The perform method is then used to execute the mouse hover action.



<h2 id="h-importance-of-mouse-hover-actions-in-gui-testing">Importance of Mouse Hover Actions in GUI Testing</h2>



This type of interaction is common in many web applications and is used to display additional information or options associated with an element.&nbsp;



By testing the behavior of elements during mouse hover actions, you can verify that the application&#8217;s GUI is functioning as intended and that the user experience is consistent and intuitive. This is particularly important for applications that rely heavily on hover-based interactions, such as those with complex navigation menus or dynamic product displays.



Automating mouse hover actions in Selenium also helps to catch subtle bugs and design issues that may not be immediately apparent. For example, if the submenu appears in the wrong location or does not display the expected options, these issues can be identified and addressed before the application is released.



<h2 id="h-understanding-the-actions-class-in-selenium">Understanding the Actions Class in Selenium</h2>



<h3 id="h-overview-of-the-actions-class">Overview of the Actions Class</h3>



The Actions class in Selenium is a class used to simulate user interactions with a web page. It provides a way to perform advanced mouse and keyboard interactions, such as moving the mouse over an element, clicking and holding an element, and dragging and dropping elements. The Actions class is part of the org.openqa.selenium.interactions package in Selenium and can be used with the WebDriver API.



The Actions class has several methods and properties that allow you to simulate a wide range of user interactions. For example, the click method can be used to simulate a mouse click, the moveToElement method can be used to move the mouse over an element, and the keyDown method can be used to simulate a key press.



To use the Actions class, you must first create a new Actions object and then chain together the desired actions using the methods provided by the class. Once you have defined the actions you want to perform, you can use the perform method to execute the actions.



In summary, the Actions class in Selenium provides a powerful and flexible way to simulate advanced user interactions with a web page. It is an essential tool for performing mouse hover actions and other types of interactions in <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/selenium-based-automated-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Selenium testing</a>.



<h3 id="h-methods-and-properties-of-the-actions-class">Methods and Properties of the Actions Class</h3>



The Actions class in Selenium has several methods and properties that can be used to simulate user interactions with a web page. Some of the most commonly used methods and properties are listed below:



Methods:



<ul><li>click: Simulates a mouse click on an element.</li><li>clickAndHold: Clicks and holds down the mouse button on an element.</li><li>doubleClick: Performs a double-click on an element.</li><li>keyDown: Simulates pressing a key on the keyboard.</li><li>keyUp: Simulates releasing a key on the keyboard.</li><li>moveToElement: Moves the mouse cursor over an element.</li><li>release: Releases the mouse button.</li><li>sendKeys: Simulates typing text on the keyboard.</li><li>perform: Executes the defined actions.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-how-to-implement-mouse-hover-in-selenium-using-the-actions-class">How to implement Mouse Hover in Selenium using the Actions Class?</h2>



In Selenium, the Actions class can be used to perform mouse hover actions. Here&#8217;s how you can perform a mouse hover using the Actions class in Selenium:



Syntax:



moveToElement​(WebElement element)&nbsp;– Move the mouse to the middle of the element (i.e. element) which is passed to the method



Step by Step explanation



1. Set the chrome driver path



System.setProperty(&#8220;webdriver.chrome.driver&#8221;, &#8220;/path/to/chromedriver&#8221;);



2. Instantiate the browser driver



WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();



3. Launch the browser and website



driver.get(&#8220;https://www.example.com&#8221;);
WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.id(&#8220;locatorvalue&#8221;));



4. Create an instance of an Actions class



Actions actions = new Actions(driver);



5. Perform the Mouse hover action



actions.moveToElement(element).build().perform();



Code Snippet:&nbsp;



package demo;

import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebElement;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.interactions.Actions;

public class MouseHover {
 public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
 // Set the path of the ChromeDriver
 System.setProperty(&#8220;webdriver.chrome.driver&#8221;, &#8220;.\\chromedriver.exe&#8221;);

 // Instantiate the Chrome driver
 WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

 // Launch a website
 driver.get(&#8220;https://testsigma.com/&#8221;);
 driver.manage().window().maximize();
 // Identify the element to be hovered
 WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.xpath(&#8220;//a[text()=&#8217;Resources&#8217;]&#8221;));

 // Instantiate the Actions class
 Actions actions = new Actions(driver);

 // Perform the mouse hover action
 actions.moveToElement(element).build().perform();
 
 // close the browser
 driver.close();
 }
}



<h2 id="h-how-can-i-position-the-mouse-cursor-at-an-offset-element">How can I position the mouse cursor at an offset element?</h2>



In Selenium, the Actions class can be used to move the mouse cursor to a specific offset relative to an element. Here&#8217;s how you can perform this action using the Actions class in Selenium:



Syntax:



moveToElement​(WebElement, X, Y)&nbsp;– Move to an offset (x_Offset and y_Offset) from the WebElement’s in canter viewpoint.



Code Snippet:



package demo;
import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebElement;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.interactions.Actions;

public class MouseHoverByOffset {
 public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
 //Set the path of the Chromedriver path
 System.setProperty(&#8220;webdriver.chrome.driver&#8221;, &#8220;C:\\Users\\sgokhru\\Downloads\\chromedriver_win32\\chromedriver.exe&#8221;);

 //Instantiate the Chrome driver
 WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

 //Launch the website
 driver.get(&#8220;https://testsigma.com/&#8221;);
 driver.manage().window().maximize();

 //Identify the element to be hovered
 WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.xpath(&#8220;//a[text()=&#8217;Resources&#8217;]&#8221;));

 //Instantiate of the Actions class
 Actions actions = new Actions(driver);

 // Perform the mouse hover action
 actions.moveToElement(element, 10, 20).build().perform();
 Thread.sleep(3000);
 //close the browser
 driver.close();
 }
}



In this example, the Chrome driver is being used, so the path to the chromedriver executable must be set. The element_id is the id of the element on the page to which you want to move the mouse cursor. The Actions class is used to simulate mouse events, and the moveToElement method is used to move the mouse to a specific offset relative to the specified element. 



The first argument to the moveToElement method is the element, and the second and third arguments are the x and y offsets, respectively. The build method is used to compile the actions into a single step, and the perform method is used to execute the actions.



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<h2 id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



In conclusion, mouse hover is a commonly used interaction in web applications and can be easily simulated using the Actions class in Selenium. The Actions class provides a way to simulate mouse and keyboard events in the browser, and the moveToElement method can be used to perform mouse hover actions. You can also move the mouse cursor to a specific offset relative to an element by using the moveToElement method with x and y offset arguments.



It&#8217;s important to note that mouse hover actions can be used to uncover hidden elements or drop-down menus and can be useful in navigating and <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-web-application-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing web applications</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="h-how-to-mouse-hover-and-click-in-selenium">&nbsp;How to mouse hover and click in selenium?</h3>



You can perform a mouse hover and click action in Selenium using the following steps in Java:



<ul><li>Locate the element: First, you need to locate the element you want to perform the mouse hover and click action on. You can locate the element using its id, class name, xpath, or any other method supported by Selenium.</li> <li>Import the Actions class: In order to perform mouse actions, you need to import the Actions class from the org.openqa.selenium.interactions.Actions package.</li> <li>Create an instance of Actions: After importing the Actions class, create an instance of Actions and pass the web driver instance as the parameter.</li> <li>Mouse hover: Use the moveToElement method of the Actions class to move the mouse cursor over the element you want to hover.</li> <li>Click: To perform the click action, use the click method of the Actions class.</li></ul>



Syntax :



WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.id(&#8220;element-id&#8221;));
 Actions actions = new Actions(driver);
 actions.moveToElement(element).perform();
 actions.click(element).perform();



 <h3 id="h-how-to-get-hover-text-in-selenium">How to get hover text in Selenium?</h3>



In Selenium, you can get the text displayed on an element when you hover over element by using the following steps in Java:



<ul><li>Locate the element: First, you need to locate the element you want to get the hover text from. You can locate the element using its id, class name, xpath, or any other method supported by Selenium.</li> <li>Import the Actions class: In order to perform mouse actions, you need to import the Actions class from the org.openqa.selenium.interactions.Actions package.</li> <li>Create an instance of Actions: After importing the Actions class, create an instance of Actions and pass the web driver instance as the parameter.</li> <li>Mouse hover: Use the moveToElement method of the Actions class to move the mouse cursor over the element you want to hover.</li> <li>Get the hover text: To get the hover text, you can use the getAttribute method of the WebElement class and pass the title as the argument. The title attribute contains the text displayed when you hover over the element.</li></ul>



Syntax:



WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.id(&#8220;element-id&#8221;));
 Actions actions = new Actions(driver);
 actions.moveToElement(element).perform();
 String hoverText = element.getAttribute(&#8220;title&#8221;);
 System.out.println(&#8220;Hover text: &#8221; + hoverText);



 <h3 id="h-how-to-perform-mouse-actions-in-selenium">How to perform mouse actions in selenium?</h3>



In Selenium, you can perform mouse actions (such as hover, click, right-click, double-click, etc.) in Java by using the Actions class. Here&#8217;s how you can do it:



<ul><li>Import the Actions class: Import the Actions class from the org.openqa.selenium.interactions.Actions package.</li> <li>Create an instance of Actions: Create an instance of Actions and pass the web driver instance as the parameter.</li> <li>Locate the element: Locate the element you want to perform the mouse action on.</li> <li>Perform the mouse action: Use the appropriate method of the Actions class to perform the mouse action. For example, to perform a mouse hover, use the moveToElement method. To click an element, use the click method. To right-click an element, use the contextClick method. To double-click, an element, use the doubleClick method.</li> <li>Build and perform the action: After performing the mouse action, you need to call the build method of the Actions class and then call the perform method to execute the action.</li></ul>



Here&#8217;s an example that demonstrates how to perform a double click in Selenium:



Syntax:



WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.id(&#8220;element-id&#8221;));
 Actions actions = new Actions(driver);
actions.doubleClick(element ).perform();

How to perform Mouse Hover Action in Selenium

As the software development industry continues to evolve and become increasingly complex, organizations must find new ways to streamline their testing processes. Low-code test automation comes into play here. These platforms provide an efficient and cost-effective solution to test automation, empowering engineering teams to create and execute test scripts without extensive programming knowledge. In this post, we will explore the low-code test automation landscape , including the latest trends and challenges.&nbsp;



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#The_State_of_Low_Code_Test_Automation">1 The State of Low Code Test Automation</a><ul><li><a href="#Trends_in_Low_Code_Test_Automation">1.1 Trends in Low Code Test Automation</a><ul><li><a href="#AI_and_Machine_Learning">1.1.1 AI and Machine Learning</a></li><li><a href="#Cloud_Based_Testing">1.1.2 Cloud Based Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Integration_with_CICD_Tools">1.1.3 Integration with CI/CD Tools</a></li><li><a href="#API_Testing">1.1.4 API Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Database_Testing">1.1.5 Database Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Non-Functional_Automation_Testingnbsp">1.1.6 Non-Functional Automation Testing&nbsp;</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Challenges_in_Low_Code_Test_Automation">1.2 Challenges in Low Code Test Automation</a><ul><li><a href="#Limited_Customization">1.2.1 Limited Customization</a></li><li><a href="#Integration_with_Legacy_Systems">1.2.2 Integration with Legacy Systems</a></li><li><a href="#Security_Concerns">1.2.3 Security Concerns</a></li><li><a href="#Performance_at_Scale">1.2.4 Performance at Scale</a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">2 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Suggested_Readings">3 Suggested Readings</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-the-state-of-low-code-test-automation">The State of Low Code Test Automation</h2>



In a <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/customer-service-support/insights/modernizing-quality-assurance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">poll conducted</a> by Gartner, 88% of leaders say their quality assurance practices are ineffective. Bridging the gap, adopters of low-code/no-code test automation solutions have witnessed a 3X-7X reduction in development &amp; deployment time, a 3X-5X reduction in development costs, and a 30%-35% increase in ROI. Low-code test automation has come a long way in the past few years, with many platforms now offering advanced features and capabilities. These platforms enable quality teams to quickly build and execute <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated tests</a> with minimal coding, helping improve the speed and accuracy of software testing.



One of the major advantages of low-code test automation is its ease of use. These platforms provide a user-friendly interface that allows even non-technical team members to create and execute tests. This means that teams can automate their testing processes without relying on dedicated automation engineers, freeing up valuable resources and reducing the time and cost associated with testing.



Low-code test automation also provides greater flexibility in testing scenarios, with teams able to create and execute tests across a range of devices, browsers, and operating systems. This makes it easier to identify and resolve issues before they impact end-users, ultimately improving the overall quality of the software.



<h3 id="trends-in-low-code-test-automation">Trends in Low Code Test Automation</h3>



As the low-code test automation landscape continues to evolve, several emerging trends are worth paying attention to. Here are some of the most significant trends to keep an eye on:



<h4 id="ai-and-machine-learning">AI and Machine Learning</h4>



According to<a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/conferences/apac/data-analytics-india/featured-topics/data-science-machine-learning-and-artificial-intelligence?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=EVT_IN_2023_BII11_CPC_SEM1_DSA&amp;utm_adgroup=141794023863&amp;utm_term=&amp;ad=632902336019&amp;matchtype=&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAgaGgBhC8ARIsAAAyLfHquZwu-erNa6Lb1z-vQwC-rwYERD6hHaRJ1TB2jlrI11IBbB5w1sMaApg2EALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Gartner research</a>, companies that use AI engineering methods to create and manage flexible AI systems will perform better than their competitors in deploying AI models faster and more efficiently by at least 25%. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are increasingly being integrated into low-code test automation platforms, enabling teams to create more intelligent and sophisticated tests. AI and ML can help identify patterns and trends in testing data, allowing teams to make more informed decisions about where to focus their testing efforts.&nbsp;



AI and ML can also help identify missed opportunities in testing and uncover parts of your software that the automation suites have not touched. You will see tools get better at identifying incremental changes to your software and auto-transform test cases to reflect the new nature of your product&nbsp;



<h4 id="cloud-based-testing">Cloud Based Testing</h4>



With the rise of cloud computing, it is no surprise that <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cloud-based-testing-a-testers-perspective/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cloud based testing</a> is becoming increasingly popular. By 2025, 70% of organisations will be running functional tests in the cloud. A majority of the low-code test automation platforms are increasingly offering cloud-based testing options, allowing teams to execute tests across a range of environments without the need for extensive infrastructure.



<h4 id="integration-with-ci-cd-tools">Integration with <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ci-cd-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD Tools</a></h4>



Continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) have become essential for modern software development, and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/the-era-of-low-code-no-code-platforms-what-you-should-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">low code test automation platforms</a> are starting to integrate with these tools. These integrations enable quality teams to automate their testing processes as part of the CI/CD pipeline, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of errors.



<h4 id="api-testing">API Testing</h4>



Testing needs will dictate functional testing flows are integrated with API Testing for each release cycle to increase test coverage for various use-case and scenarios. Low-code <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-api-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated API testing</a> will provide an accessible, efficient, and cost-effective testing solution for APIs, enabling a wider range of team members to participate in testing and providing a more comprehensive testing process and increasing the overall test coverage.



<h4 id="database-testing">Database Testing</h4>



Quality teams are increasingly being given ownership of the data quality of their systems. Teams will need to cover data validation, and accuracy and ensure no unknown changes to database systems are made over development and release cycles.



Low-code Database testing tools will enable a broader range of team members to participate in testing, including testers, business analysts, and product managers. This can result in faster testing and better test coverage, as more team members can provide feedback on the system.



<h4 id="non-functional-automation-testing">Non-Functional Automation Testing&nbsp;</h4>



As systems and software scale, non-functional tests like accessibility, performance, load, stress and security testing will take the centre stage. It will become mission-critical to ensure business continuity, handle spikes and increased traffic and repel security attacks using plug-and-play low code automation systems for every release cycle.



<h3 id="challenges-in-low-code-test-automation">Challenges in Low Code Test Automation</h3>



While low code test automation offers many benefits, there are also some challenges that organizations need to be aware of. Here are some of the key challenges to consider:



<h4 id="limited-customization">Limited Customization</h4>



Low-code test automation platforms may have limitations when it comes to customization, which could be an issue for teams with more complex testing needs. Organisations should carefully evaluate the capabilities of a low code test automation platform to ensure it meets their specific requirements.



Thankfully, Testsigma is open-source and available for anyone to customize. Testgima cloud allows customers to create and plug in their custom actions via add-ons.



<h4 id="integration-with-legacy-systems">Integration with Legacy Systems</h4>



Organizations with <a href="https://www.door3.com/modernizing-legacy-systems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">legacy systems</a> may find it difficult to integrate a low-code test automation platform, as these systems may need to be compatible with newer technologies. This could limit the effectiveness of the platform and make it more difficult to achieve the desired level of automation. Organizations will have to invest in kicking off small POCs to ensure they move with the world to a low-code setup very soon.



<h4 id="security-concerns">Security Concerns</h4>



As with any technology, there are always security concerns when it comes to low-code test automation. Organizations need to ensure that the platform they choose is secure and that any sensitive data is properly protected.



<h4 id="performance-at-scale">Performance at Scale</h4>



As larger enterprises start moving towards low and <a href="https://www.appypie.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">no-code platform</a> solutions, they will need large scalable and performant systems that support the speed and agility they need. Frameworks will have to compete with an organization&#8217;s internal frameworks and allow organizations to extend these solutions to their unique needs.



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



According to Gartner,&nbsp; by 2025 70% of organizations will be adopting some form of low-code technologies; Low-code test automation offers a range of benefits for organizations looking to streamline their testing processes. With the latest trends in AI and machine learning, cloud-based testing, and integration with CI/CD tools, low-code test automation is becoming an attractive toolkit in the shift-Left arsenal



<h2 id="suggested-readings">Suggested Readings</h2>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/why-automated-testing-advantages-of-automated-testing/">Benefits of Automation Testing</a>&nbsp;



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/roi-test-automation/">How to Calculate ROI Test Automation And What You Need?</a>&nbsp;



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/top-automated-testing-practices-to-follow/">Automated Testing Best Practices: 9 Ways to Ensure Efficient Testing</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/scope-and-impact-of-ai-in-automation-testing/">Scope of Automation Testing: How AI Plays an Important Role?</a>&nbsp;

Low Code Test Automation Trends to Look Out for

When automating a web application, we occasionally run across the NoSuchElementException exception, which is thrown when the element being interacted with cannot be located.



The main reason for this error is that the element that has to be interacted with is present on the page but takes some time to load and show up for the user. You can see how this could become a significant problem during automation and cause our scripts to fail. Here is when Selenium Java&#8217;s Thread.sleep() function comes into action. 



Let&#8217;s first learn the fundamentals of the Thread.sleep() Selenium sleep function before we look at how to use it effectively.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Overview_of_Threadsleep">1 Overview of Thread.sleep()?</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Wait_Commands_in_Selenium_Java">2 Types of Wait Commands in Selenium Java.</a></li><li><a href="#How_does_Threadsleep_work">3 How does Thread.sleep() work?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Do_We_Use_Threadsleep_in_Selenium">4 Why Do We Use Thread.sleep() in Selenium?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_use_Threadsleep_in_Selenium_test_automation">5 How to use Thread.sleep() in Selenium test automation?</a></li><li><a href="#Alternatives_to_Threadsleep">6 Alternatives to Thread.sleep().</a></li><li><a href="#Limitation_of_Threadsleep">7 Limitation of Thread.sleep().</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">8 Conclusion</a><ul><li><a href="#A_new_approach_to_Test_Automation">8.1 A new approach to Test Automation</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">9 Frequently Asked Questions:</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_alternative_for_thread_sleep_in_Selenium">9.1 What is the alternative for thread sleep in Selenium?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-overview-of-thread-sleep">Overview of Thread.sleep()?</h2>



Thread.sleep is a <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/selenium-wait-for-page-to-load/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wait command in Selenium</a>&nbsp; that instructs the program to suspend the execution for a certain condition or a specific amount of time.



Here are some reasons why wait commands are necessary in Selenium.



<ul><li>Page loading: Web pages can take varying amounts of time to load depending on network speed, server response time, and other factors. If you try to interact with elements on the page before the page has fully loaded, your script may fail.</li> <li>Dynamic content: Many modern web pages use dynamic content that is loaded asynchronously, meaning that it can take time for certain elements to become available. If you try to interact with these elements before they are available, your script may fail.</li> <li>Latency: Network latency can cause delays in the time it takes for elements on a page to become available. If you don&#8217;t use wait commands, your script may fail if it attempts to interact with elements before they are fully loaded.</li> <li>Animations: Some web pages use animations or other visual effects that can cause delays in the loading of elements or the timing of events on the page. If you don&#8217;t use wait commands, your script may fail if it attempts to interact with elements during these animations.</li></ul>



<h2 id="types-of-wait-commands-in-selenium-java">Types of Wait Commands in Selenium Java.</h2>



There are three types of wait commands in Selenium Java:



<ul><li>Implicit Wait: Implicit waits are used to set a default waiting time for the web driver to search for an element if it is not immediately available. It is applied to the driver instance globally and is set using the driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait() method. Once set, the implicit wait will remain in effect for the entire lifetime of the WebDriver object, and it will wait for the specified time before throwing a NoSuchElementException. This is useful when you have to perform several operations on a web page that may load or change over time.</li> <li>Explicit Wait: Explicit waits are used to wait for a specific condition to occur before proceeding further in the script. You can define a custom wait condition using the ExpectedConditions class provided by Selenium. The explicit wait is triggered when you use the WebDriverWait class and specify a maximum wait time using the until method. It checks for the presence, visibility, or any other condition of a web element before proceeding. If the condition is not met within the specified time, it throws a TimeoutException.</li> <li>Fluent Wait: Fluent waits are used to define more complex waiting strategies that involve polling for an element repeatedly until a specific condition is met. It can be used to wait for an element to become clickable, and visible, or to wait for a certain amount of time. It is created using the Wait interface and is used to define the maximum wait time, the polling interval, and the condition to wait for. The fluent wait is more flexible than the implicit and explicit waits and allows you to define a custom condition and polling interval, making it useful for waiting for elements that may load or change over time.</li></ul>



Using these wait commands can help to ensure that your Selenium scripts are more stable and reliable by allowing the script to wait for the web page to load or for specific elements to become available before proceeding further.



<h2 id="how-does-thread-sleep-work">How does Thread.sleep() work?</h2>



Thread.sleep() is a method in Java that pauses the current thread for a specified amount of time, allowing other threads to execute. When you call Thread.sleep(), the current thread enters a blocked state for the duration of the sleep period. During this time, the thread doesn&#8217;t execute any code and doesn&#8217;t consume any CPU resources.



Here&#8217;s how Thread.sleep() works:



<ol><li>When you call Thread.sleep(), the current thread enters a blocked state, which means it&#8217;s waiting for a certain amount of time to elapse.</li> <li>The thread scheduler removes the blocked thread from the list of threads that are ready to execute and puts it in a waiting state.</li> <li>While the thread is in a waiting state, the CPU is free to execute other threads that are ready to run.</li> <li>After the specified time has elapsed, the thread scheduler moves the blocked thread back to the list of threads that are ready to execute.</li> <li>The blocked thread is now ready to execute again, and the CPU can execute it along with other ready threads.</li></ol>



It&#8217;s important to note that the actual amount of time that a thread is blocked by Thread.sleep() may be longer or shorter than the specified sleep period. This is because the thread scheduler doesn&#8217;t guarantee precise timing of thread execution, and there may be other factors that affect the thread&#8217;s ability to execute, such as CPU load or other system resources.



<h2 id="why-do-we-use-thread-sleep-in-selenium">Why Do We Use Thread.sleep() in Selenium?</h2>



In Selenium sleep, Thread.sleep() is used to add a delay between operations or to wait for an element to appear on the page. This delay can be useful in a variety of scenarios, such as:



<ul><li>Waiting for page loading: Sometimes, the web page can take a while to load, and you need to wait for it to finish loading before performing any operations on it. In this case, Thread.sleep() can be used to add a delay to allow the page to finish loading.</li> <li>Waiting for element visibility: In some cases, you may need to wait for an element to become visible on the page before you can interact with it. Thread.sleep() can be used to wait for the element to appear on the page.</li> <li>Waiting for element interaction: Sometimes, you need to wait for an element to be interactable before you can click on it or perform any other operation on it. In this case, Thread.sleep() can be used to add a delay to allow the element to become interactable.</li></ul>



<h2 id="how-to-use-thread-sleep-in-selenium-test-automation">How to use Thread.sleep() in Selenium test automation?</h2>



To use the Thread.sleep() method in Java, you need to have a Java program with at least one thread. The Thread.sleep() method is used to pause the execution of a thread for a specified amount of time.



Snippet Code:



<styled-code>
import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import org.testng.Assert;
import org.testng.annotations.Test;

public class Sample {
	@Test
	public void TestSigmaLogin() {
		System.setProperty(&#8220;webdriver.chrome.driver&#8221;, &#8220;path of driver&#8221;);

		WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver(); // instantiate the browser
		driver.manage().window().maximize(); // maximize the browser
		driver.get(&#8220;https://app.testsigma.com/ui&#8221;); // opening the application
		Thread.sleep(3000); //It will wait for 3sec.
											 
		driver.findElement(By.id(&#8220;loginUsername&#8221;)).sendKeys(&#8220;xxxxxx@abc.com&#8221;);			 driver.findElement(By.name(&#8220;password&#8221;)).sendKeys(&#8220;xxxxxxx&#8221;); 
		driver.findElement(By.xpath(&#8220;//button[text()=&#8217;SIGN IN&#8217;]&#8221;)).click();
											
		String actualURL = &#8220;https://app.testsigma.com/home&#8221;;
		String expectedURL = driver.getCurrentUrl(); // It will fetch the current URL
		Assert.assertEquals(expectedURL, actualURL); 
		driver.close(); // It will close the current browser.
	}
}
</styled-code>



<h2 id="alternatives-to-thread-sleep">Alternatives to Thread.sleep().</h2>



<ol><li>Implicit waits: Implicit waits are used to tell Selenium to wait for a certain amount of time before throwing a &#8220;NoSuchElementException&#8221;. Implicit waits are set once and will be in effect for the entire duration of your test script.</li></ol>



Syntax:



<styled-code>
driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(10, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
</styled-code>



This code will set the implicit wait time to 10 seconds. If the element is not found within 10 seconds, a&nbsp; &nbsp; &#8220;NoSuchElementException&#8221; will be thrown.



 <ol start="2"><li>Explicit waits: Explicit waits are used to tell Selenium to wait for a certain condition to occur before moving on to the next step in your script. You can specify the maximum amount of time to wait, and the condition that must be met.</li></ol>



Syntax:



<styled-code>
WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, 10);
WebElement element = wait.until(ExpectedConditions.elementToBeClickable(By.id(&#8220;someid&#8221;)));
</styled-code>



This code will wait up to 10 seconds for the element with the ID &#8220;someid&#8221; to be clickable. Once the element is clickable, it will be returned and you can interact with it.



 <ol start="3"><li>Fluent waits: Fluent waits are similar to explicit waits, but they allow you to chain together multiple conditions that must be met before moving on to the next step in your script.</li></ol>



Syntax:



<styled-code>
Wait<WebDriver> wait = new FluentWait<WebDriver>(driver)
 .withTimeout(Duration.ofSeconds(10))
 .pollingEvery(Duration.ofSeconds(1))
 .ignoring(NoSuchElementException.class);

WebElement element = wait.until(new Function<WebDriver, WebElement>() {
 public WebElement apply(WebDriver driver) {
 return driver.findElement(By.id(&#8220;someid&#8221;));
 }
});
</styled-code>



 <h2 id="limitation-of-thread-sleep">Limitation of Thread.sleep().</h2>



There are several limitations of using Thread.sleep() in your code:



<ul><li>Fixed wait time: When you use Thread.sleep(), you are specifying a fixed wait time, which means your code will wait for that exact amount of time before moving on to the next step, regardless of whether the operation it is waiting for has actually finished. This can cause your code to waste time waiting for something that has already been completed, or to move on before an operation has finished.</li> <li>Inaccurate timing: The Thread.sleep() method can be inaccurate, as the time it waits can be affected by external factors such as the performance of the machine running the code or other processes that are running at the same time.</li> <li>Hard to maintain: When you use Thread.sleep(), it can be difficult to maintain your code over time, as you may need to adjust the wait times based on changes to your application or system performance. This can make your code harder to read and understand.</li> <li>Potential for race conditions: Using Thread.sleep() can also create potential race conditions in your code, where one thread is waiting for a certain amount of time while another thread is attempting to perform an operation that the first thread is waiting for. This can cause unexpected behavior and bugs in your code.</li></ul>



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



Waits play a significant role in<a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> test automation</a>. The Cost of maintenance becomes a challenge without using correct waiting techniques. In the above article, we have advantages and disadvantages for Thread.sleep().



Thread.sleep() has its own limitation. Waits like implicit and explicit waits are more precise and maintainable than Thread.sleep(), as they allow you to specify the maximum amount of time to wait, and the condition that must be met.



Waits like implicit and explicit waits are more precise and maintainable than Thread.sleep(), as they allow you to specify the maximum amount of time to wait, and the condition that must be met



<h3 id="a-new-approach-to-test-automation">A new approach to Test Automation</h3>



While Selenium is an open source and free tool for automating your cross browser tests, it also requires coding expertise. There might be times when you need a tool that would let you do all you do in Selenium, without the need of any coding experience. At such times you can use Testsigma, a no-code test automation tool that is open source too. With Testsigma, You can automate your tests for web, mobile, APIs and desktops from the same place. Not only that, you can start <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/what-types-of-test-cases-should-be-automated-for-efficient-cross-browser-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automating your test cases</a> with Testsigma, from day 1.



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 <h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions:</h2>



<h3 id="what-is-the-alternative-for-thread-sleep-in-selenium">What is the alternative for thread sleep in Selenium?</h3>



In Selenium, there are several alternatives to using Thread.sleep() to pause the execution of your test script for a specific amount of time:



<ol><li>Implicit Wait</li><li>Explicit Wait</li><li>Fluent Wait.</li></ol>

Role of Thread.sleep() in Selenium Webdriver