Creating Reliable Test Objects in Katalon Studio

This document explains best practices to create reliable test objects in Katalon Studio.

Scenario

You are creating automated tests using Katalon Studio’s recording and design features. This process involves capturing actions and objects from your application under test and organizing them for maintainable, stable test automation.

Purpose and Strategic Value

The purpose of these best practices is to ensure that recorded tests are robust, maintainable, and less prone to breakage due to changes in the application’s UI. By following these guidelines, teams can reduce test flakiness, streamline object management, and improve collaboration between testers and developers.

Key Takeaways

• Use stable locator strategies to minimize test failures.

• Organize the Object Repository for clarity and maintainability.

• Avoid actions that cause duplication or confusion in object management.

• Leverage custom attributes for more reliable object identification.

• Apply the correct update strategy when modifying recorded objects.

Prerequisites (What to Prepare)

• Access to Katalon Studio with Recorder/Spy tools enabled.

• Understanding of your application’s DOM structure.

• Agreement with the development team on custom attributes for testing (if applicable).

• A plan for organizing the Object Repository according to application modules.

Best Practices Steps

1. Locator Strategy:
   Analyze the DOM structure to avoid using default locator strategies that are fragile and likely to break with UI changes.

2. Prioritize Locators:
   When recording or spying, prioritize the default Xpath locators generated by Katalon, as these are generally more stable.

3. Custom Attributes:
   If your development team provides specific attributes for testing, ensure these are added to the Attributes list and used in object identification.

4. Object Repository Management:

   • Review and refine the Recorded Actions and Captured Objects lists.

   • Do not rename recorded folders or objects during the recording session to prevent duplication in the Object Repository.

5. Organization:
   Structure the Object Repository by creating folders that match the modules of your application for easier navigation and maintenance.

6. Updating Objects:

   • For minor changes, use the Merge strategy to update locators while keeping the original object name.

   • If no changes are needed, use the Uncheck strategy to avoid accidental merging or overwriting of objects.

Conclusion

Adhering to these best practices will help you create stable, maintainable automated tests in Katalon Studio, reducing maintenance effort and increasing test reliability as your application evolves.