Cucumber vs TestNG: What are the differences?

Cucumber and TestNG are both popular testing frameworks used in software development. While they serve the same purpose of facilitating automated testing, there are several key differences between the two. Let's explore these differences below:

1. Language: Cucumber is primarily used with the Gherkin language, which is a business-readable, domain-specific language designed to describe user behaviors in a plain-text format. On the other hand, TestNG supports a wide range of programming languages such as Java, Kotlin, and Groovy, providing developers with more flexibility in choosing the language they are comfortable with.

2. Test Structure: Cucumber follows a behavior-driven development (BDD) approach, where tests are written in a human-readable format with the help of feature files, scenarios, and step definitions. These methods make it easier to collaborate between the development and testing teams. TestNG, on the other hand, is primarily based on a unit testing framework and follows a more traditional approach, allowing developers to write tests in a programmatic manner.

3. Reporting: Cucumber provides detailed and easy-to-understand reports that are generated automatically after each test run. These reports include information about the features, scenarios, step definitions, and their execution status, making it easier to analyze the test results. TestNG also generates reports, but they are generally less detailed compared to Cucumber.

4. Parallel Execution: TestNG offers built-in support for parallel test execution, allowing developers to run tests concurrently across multiple threads or on different machines. This feature significantly reduces the overall test execution time, especially in larger projects with a large number of tests. Cucumber, on the other hand, does not have native support for parallel execution, although it can be achieved through custom implementation.

5. Integration with Other Tools: Cucumber integrates well with other tools and frameworks, such as Selenium, to enable end-to-end testing. Its language-agnostic nature allows it to be used with various programming languages and automation tools. TestNG also integrates well with popular tools like Maven, Jenkins, and Eclipse, offering a seamless workflow for test management and continuous integration.

6. Testing Approach: Cucumber focuses more on behavior-driven development, where tests are written in a format that non-technical stakeholders can understand. This approach promotes better collaboration between teams and ensures that the software meets the specific business requirements. TestNG, on the other hand, is suited for unit testing and follows a more traditional testing approach, where code is tested at a granular level to ensure its correctness.

In summary, Cucumber and TestNG differ in terms of the language they support, test structure, reporting capabilities, support for parallel execution, integration with other tools, and the testing approach they promote. Understanding these differences can help developers and testers choose the most suitable framework for their testing needs.