Skip to main content

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) and Gherkin Syntax

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) is an approach in software development that focuses on the collaboration between developers, QA engineers, and non-technical or business participants. It aims to create a clear understanding of software behavior through discussions with stakeholders, building on the principles of Test-Driven Development (TDD) by writing test cases in natural language.

Key Principles of BDD​

  • Start with the business goals: Define the behavior of an application from the perspective of its stakeholders.
  • Define behaviors using simple, domain-specific language: This fosters a shared understanding among developers, testers, and business analysts.
  • Create examples to clarify understanding: Use concrete examples to ensure everyone has the same understanding of what success looks like.

Gherkin Syntax​

Gherkin is a domain-specific language used to write structured tests in a way that is understandable by all stakeholders. It employs a simple, key-value pair-based syntax with special keywords:

  • Feature: Describes the feature being implemented and its benefit.
  • Scenario: Outlines a specific situation or user interaction with the feature.
  • Given: Sets the initial context or state of the system.
  • When: Describes the action or event that occurs.
  • Then: Specifies the expected outcome after the action/event.
  • And, But: Adds additional context or outcomes for clarity.

Example​

Feature: User login

  Scenario: Successful login with valid credentials
    Given the user is on the login page
    When the user enters valid credentials
    Then the user is redirected to the homepage
    And a welcome message is displayed
Every Bit of Support Helps!

If you have enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a coffee ☕ to help me keep writing!