What are the best ways to handle an AngularJS application with protractor tests?

 Introduction: 

AngularJS is a popular JavaScript framework for building dynamic web applications. Protractor is an end-to-end testing framework that allows developers to write automated tests that simulate user interactions with an AngularJS application. However, handling an AngularJS application with Protractor tests can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. In this blog post, we'll discuss some of the best ways to handle an AngularJS application with Protractor tests.

1. Use the Page Object Model (POM) design pattern

The Page Object Model (POM) design pattern is a popular design pattern used to organize and manage automated tests. It involves creating a separate class for each page of the application and encapsulating the elements and actions on that page. This makes it easier to write and maintain your tests, as changes to the application can be isolated to a single class.

Here's an example of how to implement the POM design pattern in Protractor:

// homePage.js

class HomePage {

  constructor() {

    this.searchInput = element(by.css('#search-input'));

    this.searchButton = element(by.css('#search-button'));

  }

  

  search(query) {

    this.searchInput.sendKeys(query);

    this.searchButton.click();

  }

}

// homePage.spec.js

const HomePage = require('./homePage');

describe('Home page', () => {

  const homePage = new HomePage();

  

  beforeEach(() => {

    browser.get('http://localhost:3000/');

  });

  

  it('should search for a product', () => {

    homePage.search('protractor');

    

    expect(browser.getCurrentUrl()).toContain('/search?q=protractor');

  });

});

2. Use async/await

Async/await is a feature in JavaScript that allows you to write asynchronous code that looks and behaves like synchronous code. This makes it easier to write and read your Protractor tests, as you don't need to deal with callback functions or promises.

Here's an example of how to use async/await in Protractor:

// homePage.js

class HomePage {

  constructor() {

    this.searchInput = element(by.css('#search-input'));

    this.searchButton = element(by.css('#search-button'));

  }

  

  async search(query) {

    await this.searchInput.sendKeys(query);

    await this.searchButton.click();

  }

}

// homePage.spec.js

const HomePage = require('./homePage');

describe('Home page', () => {

  const homePage = new HomePage();

  

  beforeEach(async () => {

    await browser.get('http://localhost:3000/');

  });

  

  it('should search for a product', async () => {

    await homePage.search('protractor');

    

    expect(await browser.getCurrentUrl()).toContain('/search?q=protractor');

  });

});

3. Use browser.waitForAngular()

Protractor is designed to work with AngularJS applications, so it automatically waits for Angular to finish rendering before executing your tests. However, in some cases, you may need to wait for specific elements to appear on the page. You can use browser.waitForAngular() to wait for Angular to finish rendering, and then use other Protractor methods to interact with the elements on the page.

Here's an example of how to use browser.waitForAngular() in Protractor:

// homePage.js

class HomePage {

  constructor() {

    this.searchInput = element(by.css('#search-input'));

    this.searchButton = element(by.css('#search-button'));

    this.searchResults = element.all(by.css('.search-result'));

  }

  

  async search(query) {

    await this.searchInput.sendKeys(query);

    await this.searchButton.click();

    await browser.waitForAngular();

  }

  

  async getSearchResults() {

    await browser.waitForAngular

Conclusion:

In conclusion, handling an AngularJS application with Protractor tests can be challenging, but there are several best practices you can follow to make it easier. Using the Page Object Model (POM) design pattern, async/await, and browser.waitForAngular() can help you write and maintain more efficient and reliable tests. Additionally, it's essential to stay up-to-date with the latest updates and changes to both AngularJS and Protractor, as this can affect how your tests behave. By following these best practices, you can write more effective automated tests and ensure the quality of your AngularJS application.