21 May 2024 Leave a comment Tech-Help
When automating mobile app testing using Appium, it’s essential to ensure that your test scripts wait for specific activities or elements to appear before proceeding. This guide provides practical solutions to efficiently wait for activities during your Appium tests.
Using WebDriverWait for Waiting on Elements
The most reliable method to wait for a specific activity is to wait for a particular element associated with that activity to become interactable. Here’s how you can achieve this using the WebDriverWait class:
WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, 30);
wait.until(ExpectedConditions.elementToBeClickable(By
.xpath("//android.widget.Button[contains(@text, 'Log In')]")));You can also wait for the presence of an element with a specific resource ID:
WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, 30);
wait.until(ExpectedConditions.presenceOfElementLocated(By
.xpath("//android.widget.TextView[contains(@resource-id, 'action_bar_title')]")));Polling for Current Activity
Another method is to poll the current activity at regular intervals. This approach involves periodically checking the current activity until it matches the desired one:
public void waitForActivity(String desiredActivity, int wait) throws InterruptedException {
int counter = 0;
do {
Thread.sleep(1000);
counter++;
} while(driver.currentActivity().contains(desiredActivity) && (counter<=wait));
log("Activity appeared :" + driver.currentActivity(), true);
}Implicit Waits
Implicit waits are another way to make your driver wait for a specific amount of time before throwing an exception if an element is not found. While this method is simpler, it is generally less recommended for waiting for specific activities:
driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(20, TimeUnit.SECONDS);Choosing the Right Approach
While implicit waits can be useful, explicit waits using WebDriverWait are generally more reliable and provide better control over the waiting conditions. Choose the method that best suits your specific test case requirements.
Enhancing Test Stability and Speed with Repeato
For those looking to streamline their testing process, consider using Repeato, a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android. Unlike traditional tools such as Appium, Repeato leverages computer vision and AI to create, run, and maintain automated tests quickly and efficiently.
Repeato offers faster test creation and execution, making it an excellent choice for teams looking to enhance their testing workflows and improve overall test stability. For more information, check out our Getting Started Guide and see how Repeato can transform your testing process.
