Cypress Timeout Error: Understanding and Overcoming Cypress Delays

Hari Mahesh

Cypress is a popular end-to-end testing framework for web applications that allows developers to write and run tests in a real browser environment. When running Cypress tests, you may encounter timeout errors when Cypress cannot complete a specific action or assertion within a specified time limit. Timeout errors are crucial for maintaining test stability and preventing tests from running indefinitely.

In this explanation, we’ll dive into the details of Cypress timeout errors, including what causes them, how to handle them, and how to troubleshoot common issues.

Timeout Types in Cypress

Cypress has various timeouts that control different aspects of test execution. The main timeout types you’ll encounter are:

• Command Timeout (defaultCommandTimeout): This timeout controls how long Cypress will wait for a single command to complete. A command that takes longer than this timeout will result in a timeout error. You can configure this timeout in your Cypress configuration file (cypress.json) or using Cypress.config().
• Request Timeout (requestTimeout): This timeout specifies how long Cypress will wait for a network request to complete. If a request takes longer than this, a timeout error is triggered. Configure this timeout globally in your Cypress configuration.
• Page Load Timeout (pageLoadTimeout): This timeout controls how long Cypress will wait for a page to load; if it doesn’t, it can lead to a timeout error. Like the command timeout, you can configure this timeout globally in your Cypress configuration.
• Response Timeout (responseTimeout): This timeout is specific to individual network requests and can be configured per request using the cy.request() method. It controls how long Cypress waits for a particular request to complete.

Why do Cypress Timeout Errors happen?

Cypress timeout errors can happen due to several reasons, as below:

• Slow Network or Server: If your web application relies on network requests that are slow to respond or your server is under heavy load, Cypress commands waiting for these requests may time out.
• Element Visibility and Interaction: Delays can occur when Cypress waits for elements to become visible or interactable. These delays are widespread when animations or transitions are involved.
• Long-Running Commands: Some Cypress commands may take longer to execute, such as waiting for an element or a request to complete, causing timeout errors.
• Flaky Tests: Timeout errors can occur due to flaky test failures caused by timing issues or the non-deterministic behavior of these tests.
• Asynchronous Code: Cypress commands are asynchronous, and not correctly handling them can lead to timing issues.
• Network Delays: Delays in network requests, such as API calls, can cause commands to time out.
• Heavy Page Loading: Some pages may have extensive content or complex interactions that slow test execution.

How to Debug Cypress Timeout Errors?

Debugging Cypress timeout errors and identifying the root cause is crucial for application success. Here are some debugging techniques to help you:

• Inspect Error Messages: Cypress provides detailed error messages, often including information about which command or assertion triggered the timeout error. Review these messages to pinpoint the issue.
• Log Information: Use cy.log() statements in your test code to log information about what’s happening during test execution. These logs can help you understand the sequence of events leading up to the timeout.
• Inspect Test Environment: Utilize Cypress’s debugging capabilities to inspect the test environment during test execution. The Cypress GUI and DevTools can help you see what’s happening in the browser, including network requests and DOM changes.
• Check Application Performance: Ensure that your web application is performing well. Slow applications are more likely to trigger timeout errors. You can use tools like Lighthouse or WebPageTest to assess your app’s performance.

Tips to Avoid Cypress Timeout Errors

• Use Cypress’s Built-in Waiting Commands: Cypress provides commands like cy.get().should(), cy.contains().should(), and cy.wait() to wait for specific conditions to be met. See an example below:

  // Wait for an element with class "my-element" to become visible
  cy.get('.my-element').should('be.visible');

• Increase Default Command Timeout: You can increase the default command timeout in your Cypress configuration file (cypress.json) or programmatically in your test files using Cypress.config()

  // In cypress.json
  {
  "defaultCommandTimeout": 10000 // Set to 10 seconds (10000 milliseconds)
  }

• Retry Mechanism: Cypress has built-in retry mechanisms for certain commands. You can configure the number of retries with the retries option:

  cy.get('.my-element', { retries: 3 }); // Retry this command up to 3 times

• Custom Wait Functions: Create custom Cypress commands or utility functions to encapsulate waiting logic. You can then use cy.waitForElement('.my-element') in your tests. Here’s an example:

  Cypress.Commands.add('waitForElement', (selector) => {
    cy.get(selector).should('exist');
  });

• Parallel Testing: Running Cypress tests in parallel can distribute the load and potentially reduce execution time; use the below code to do so:

  npx cypress run --parallel

Handling TimeOut Errors Efficiently

Cypress is not considered a new-generation automation tool and is almost dead among modern web frameworks. Modern automation tools, like testRigor, utilize AI-powered algorithms to prevent timeout errors. Let’s see how testRigor tackles timeout errors efficiently and quickly.

• Custom Element Selector: testRigor doesn’t rely on unstable locators like XPath or CSS selectors; it utilizes AI to identify elements. Therefore, you only need to provide either the element’s name or its position as below:

  click "cart" 
  click on button "Delete" below "Section Name" to the right of "label"

• Inbuilt Waits: You don’t need to set any implicit wait for page loads with testRigor; its intelligent features manage that automatically for you. It captures whether the page is fully loaded and only then executes the next test step. This approach helps in avoiding most timeout errors related to page loads.
• Parallel Execution: With testRigor, users can execute test scripts concurrently across different browsers or platforms, minimizing timeout errors.

Read here how testRigor can be a perfect alternative for Cypress.

Summing Up

It’s always a wise decision to opt for an automation testing tool that is at the forefront and aligns with the latest technology trends. testRigor is an absolute choice in this regard, as it optimizes test scripts through self-healing and simplifies test script creation through its codeless approach. To get started, you can sign up for a free trial here.