Creating a Cucumber Test


Cucumber is a tool that executes plain-text functional descriptions as automated tests. The language that Cucumber understands is called Gherkin, which is a business-readable, domain-specific language that describes the software’s behavior without detailing how that behavior is implemented. This line-oriented language uses indentation to define structure. Line endings terminate statements (e.g., steps). Either spaces or tabs may be used for indentation (but spaces are more portable). Most lines start with a keyword.

For more information on the Cucumber Basics, please consult the Wiki and Tutorials at: http://cucumber.io


Click the Create Issue at the top of the screen to open the Create Issue dialog box / page.


Gherkin Tests are divided in two Scenario Types:

  •  Scenario: a set of instructions exclusively composed of constant values, which, when executed by a tool, will only give a static result (e.g., 2 + 3 = 5)
  •  Scenario Outline: a generic set of instructions containing variables, which, when executed by a tool, will prompt varied results according to the specified input.

The Scenario Types are inferred from the Scenario specification, i.e., the behavior to be reproduced by the Cucumber tool in entered in the Steps field.



Export to Cucumber

Cucumber Tests in Jira can be exported to feature files ready to be executed in Cucumber. The generated feature files follow the rules defined in Export Cucumber Features and take into account the context of the Jira Test issue.

This action will prompt a FeatureBundle zip file containing a single Cucumber feature file for every Requirement associated with the target Test, to be generated and downloaded. 

To export a Cucumber Test issue to feature files, 

Step 1: Open the Cucumber Test issue view page. 

Step 2: Select ... > Export to Cucumber. The file will be downloaded to the browser.