Blocking Ad Traffic In Nightwatch JS

As online advertising becomes more prevalent, it can have a significant impact on the performance and reliability of automated test scripts. Nightwatch.js is an automated testing framework that supports various testing operations. In this tutorial, we will discuss how to block ad traffic within Nightwatch.js automated test scripts to ensure a more stable testing environment.

Step 1: Install the Ad-Blocker Package

The first step is to install the ad-blocker package. We can use the "nightwatch-block-ads" package, which is an ad-blocker for Nightwatch.js tests. To install the package, run the following command in the terminal:

npm install nightwatch-block-ads

Step 2: Add the Ad-Blocker to the Nightwatch Configuration File

The next step is to add the ad-blocker to the Nightwatch configuration file. Open the configuration file (usually "nightwatch.json" or "nightwatch.conf.js") and add the following code:

"globals": {
  "blockAds": require('nightwatch-block-ads').command,
},

This code defines a global function called "blockAds" that we will use to block ads within our tests.

Step 3: Create a Test That Blocks Ads

Now we can create a test that uses the "blockAds" function to block ads. In this example, we will use Google as an example site to block ads. Here is the code for the test:

module.exports = {
  'Block Ads on Google': function(browser) {
    browser
      .url('https://www.google.com')
      .waitForElementVisible('body', 1000)
      .blockAds()
      .setValue('input[name="q"]', 'test')
      .submitForm('form[name="f"]')
      .waitForElementVisible('#search', 1000)
      .assert.containsText('#search', 'test')
      .end();
  }
};

This test opens Google, blocks ads using the "blockAds" function, performs a search, and checks that the search results contain the word "test".

Step 4: Run the Test

To run the test, open the terminal and navigate to the project directory. Then run the following command:

nightwatch tests/google-ads.js

This command runs the test and blocks ads on Google. If the test passes, it means that ads were successfully blocked, and the test ran without interference from ads.

Blocking ad traffic within Nightwatch.js automated test scripts is an essential step to ensure the reliability and stability of our testing environment. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily install and use an ad-blocker in your tests, which can help reduce the risk of false positives and ensure that your tests run smoothly.