Robot Framework is a popular open-source test automation framework that provides a flexible and extensible platform for creating test scripts. One of its powerful features is the ability to create custom keywords, which can make your test scripts more efficient and maintainable. In this article, we’ll explore the process of creating custom keywords in Robot Framework, and discuss some best practices for using them effectively. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, learning to create custom keywords can help you increase your productivity and achieve better results in your test automation projects.

What are keywords in Robot Framework?

Robot Framework is a keyword-driven test automation framework, which means that test cases are composed of a series of keywords that perform specific actions. Keywords are the building blocks of test cases, and they can be either built-in keywords or custom keywords.

Built-in keywords are pre-defined keywords that are provided by Robot Framework, such as “Click Element” or “Input Text”. Custom keywords, on the other hand, are user-defined keywords that are created to perform specific actions or combinations of actions that are not provided by built-in keywords.

Why create custom keywords?

Custom keywords can provide several benefits when it comes to test automation. First, they can make your test scripts more efficient by reducing the amount of duplicated code. Instead of repeating the same sequence of steps in multiple test cases, you can create a custom keyword that performs those steps and then call that keyword whenever you need to perform that action.

Custom keywords are an essential component of Robot Framework, and they offer a wide range of benefits to those who use them in their test automation projects. Here are some of the main reasons why you might want to create custom keywords:

1. Reusability: One of the main advantages of custom keywords is that they can be reused across multiple test cases. By creating a custom keyword that performs a specific action, you can easily reuse that keyword in different test cases that require the same action, without having to write the same code over and over again. This can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.
2. Maintainability: Custom keywords can also make your test automation scripts more maintainable. By encapsulating complex logic in a custom keyword, you can make your test cases more modular and easier to maintain. If you need to make changes to the logic, you only need to update the custom keyword, and all the test cases that use it will automatically be updated as well.
3. Readability: Custom keywords can also make your test cases more readable and easier to understand. By using descriptive names for your keywords, you can make it clear what actions are being performed in each step of your test case. This can be particularly helpful for new team members who are not yet familiar with the project.
4. Flexibility: Custom keywords can also make your test automation scripts more flexible. By using keyword arguments, you can create keywords that can perform different actions based on the arguments provided. This can help you create more versatile test cases that can adapt to different scenarios.

In summary, custom keywords offer a range of benefits that can help you create more efficient, maintainable, and flexible test automation scripts. By creating custom keywords that encapsulate complex logic and can be reused across multiple test cases, you can save time and effort while improving the readability and maintainability of your test cases.

How to create custom keywords

To create a custom keyword in Robot Framework, you first need to define the keyword in a test library. A test library is a collection of related keywords that can be imported into a test case.

There are several ways to create a test library in Robot Framework, including using Python or Java, or using the built-in Robot Framework library API. In this article, we’ll focus on using the Robot Framework library API, as it provides a simple and flexible way to create custom keywords.

To create a custom keyword using the Robot Framework library API, you first need to create a new Python module and define a class that inherits from the Robot Framework library base class. Here’s an example:

In this example, we’ve defined a new test library called “MyLibrary”. The library contains a single custom keyword called “my_custom_keyword”, which takes two arguments.

The keyword uses the Robot Framework logger to output a message to the test report, and then performs some actions using the arguments provided.

Once you’ve defined your custom keywords in a test library, you can import the library into your test cases and use the keywords just like any other built-in keyword.

Best practices for using custom keywords

Here are some best practices for using custom keywords in Robot Framework:

1. Use descriptive names: When creating custom keywords, use descriptive names that clearly describe the action the keyword performs. This will make your test cases more readable and help other team members understand what the test case does.
2. Keep keywords small and focused: Try to keep your custom keywords small and focused on a single action. This will make your test cases more modular and easier to maintain. If a keyword becomes too complex, consider breaking it down into smaller, more focused keywords.
3. Use arguments to make keywords more flexible: Use keyword arguments to make your custom keywords more flexible and reusable. By allowing the user to provide arguments, you can create a single keyword that can perform different actions based on the arguments provided.
4. Document your custom keywords: Document your custom keywords using Robot Framework’s documentation feature. This will make it easier for other team members to understand how to use the keyword and what it does.
5. Test your custom keywords: Test your custom keywords thoroughly to ensure they work as expected. Use the Robot Framework debug feature to step through the keyword and ensure it is performing the correct actions.

By following these best practices, you can create custom keywords that are efficient, maintainable, and reusable.

Conclusion

Creating custom keywords in Robot Framework is a powerful way to make your test automation scripts more efficient, maintainable, and flexible. By using descriptive names, keeping keywords small and focused, using arguments to make keywords more flexible, documenting your custom keywords, and testing them thoroughly, you can create custom keywords that provide significant benefits to your test automation projects.

With the ability to create custom keywords, Robot Framework provides a flexible and extensible platform for creating test automation scripts that can adapt to your changing needs. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, learning to create custom keywords is an essential skill that can help you increase your productivity and achieve better results in your test automation projects.