In this article, we will see the robot framework and we will cover standard libraries and underlying functions and going forward we will also cover test cases, keywords, variables and finally organizing the test cases.
Robot Framework OverviewRobot Framework is a widely used open-source automation framework designed for:
It follows a keyword-driven testing approach, making it user-friendly and suitable for both technical and non-technical users. The framework is highly extensible through libraries, which can be implemented in either Python or Java.
1. Acceptance TestingAcceptance Testing is a technique used to validate whether the system meets business requirements and is ready for delivery. The goal is to evaluate the capability of the system from the perspective of the end user.
ATDD is an advanced development methodology that emphasizes collaboration between customer, developers and testers.
The process involves writing acceptance tests before the implementation of functionality. These tests are based on business requirements and serve as a shared understanding of what needs to be developed.
Key Benefits:
RPA is a technology that automates repetitive and rule-based tasks, often performed by humans, using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
RPA tools can mimic human interactions with software systems, significantly reducing manual effort and increasing efficiency.
Use Cases Include:
Robot Framework uses a simple, table-based format for writing test data, which makes editing and maintaining tests straightforward. When the framework is started, it parses this test data, executes the specified tasks and generates detailed output.
The core framework itself is independent of the system under test. It does not contain built-in knowledge of the target application. Instead, it relies on external libraries to handle communication and interaction with the system. These libraries can be custom-built or imported and they may use application interfaces directly or employ low-level tools like drivers (e.g., Selenium) to perform actions.
Key Aspects:After execution, Robot Framework produces:
These outputs help in understanding test execution flow, failures and overall results, making the framework powerful for automation and reporting.
Architecture of Robot Framework InstallationStep 1: Python Installation
Check if Python is installed on your system.
python --version
pip --version
Step 2: Install Robot Framework
The suggested route to install the robot framework on Python is to use pip. We can use the undermentioned command to install the framework.
pip install robotframework
Step 3: Verifying Installation
After the well-turned installation, we should be able to see both interpreter and robot framework versions using the --version option.
robot --version
rebot --version
Step 4: Check robot framework is installed properly
Standard Libraries in robot frameworkpip show robotframework
There are a bunch of standard libraries in the robot framework. Let's discuss one by one
There are mainly four built-in tools that are used in robot framework that are:
The test cases in the robot framework are allowed to write in simple English language rather than automated test cases. It follows a Keyword Test driven approach that resonates with natural language in terms of action rather than expectations. Test cases are created from available keywords in test case table and keywords can be imported from test library or resource file or we can also create a keywords table for test case file.
Testcases Workflow TestsThe first column in a test case table has the test names and the test case starts with something in the column and is continuous with the next test case name or the end of the table.
Higher-level TestsThe second column usually contains a keyword name and the exception to this rule is to set variables with keyword written values.
Data-Driven TestsData-driven testing allows test data to be isolated without mimicking workflows. The [template] setting in the robot framework sets the test case for a data-driven test.
KeywordsTest cases in Robot Framework are created with keywords coming from two sources.
Robot test cases are created in test case files, but we can organize them in directories that make up the test suite hierarchy. A collection of test cases is called a test suite. Each file containing test cases also forms a test suite. It is possible to organize test cases into a hierarchy by using directories, all of which form a higher-level test suite that derives their names from directory names.
Creating First Robot TestStep 1: Check robot framework is installed
Step 2: Go to the project Eclipse > Robot project >New Test Suite
A simple test of the robot:
*** Test Cases ***
MyFirstTest
Log Hello World!!!
To run our Test Case, simply right click on the screen and select Run tests: 'MyFirstTest' and the console will open
As we can see all the details about the test and we can see the output, log and report by following the given address link
Here we can clearly see the project report, it gives the time of the report creation. It gives some summary information about the test like Status, Start Time, End Time, Elapsed Time and Log File.
And we visit the Log File by clicking on the link given:
Here, we can see the statistics and also check the pass/fail/skip number of test cases. We can check the test execution log and test suite status.
Advantages of Robot FrameworkThe Robot Framework is an open-source test automation framework for acceptance testing and acceptance test-driven development. The test cases in the robot framework are based on keywords written in a tabular format, which makes it clear and readable and reveals true information about the intent of the test case. For example, to open a browser, the keyword used is "open browser".
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