Testing Truths Series – Article #2 – The data-cy Ultimate Guide: The Test Selector Pattern Cypress Should Have Taught You

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Sohail Mohammed

🧪 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 — 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 #𝟮
(A series where I share practical strategies to make testing simpler, faster & more reliable)

Have you ever had UI changes silently break your perfectly working Cypress tests?

One 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 can change that: 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢-* attributes for test selectors.

Instead of targeting fragile classes or nested DOM elements, use stable data-cy selectors:
✅ Makes tests resilient to UI changes
✅ Simplifies test maintenance
✅ Speeds up debugging

In Article #2 of my Testing Truths series, I’ve written a complete guide to help you adopt this approach.

📖 Read it here → The data-cy Ultimate Guide — The Test Selector Pattern Cypress Should Have Taught You

The data-cy Ultimate Guide: The Test Selector Pattern Cypress Should Have Taught You | by Sohail Mohammed | Sep, 2025 | JavaScript in Plain English

Why this one HTML attribute is the difference between junior and senior test engineers (and why it’s not even from Cypress).

javascript.plainenglish.io

💬 How are you managing your test selectors today?
🔁 Save this if you want fewer flaky tests in your life.

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Sohail Mohammed

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Sohail Mohammed | Sciencx (2025-09-18T17:27:07+00:00) Testing Truths Series – Article #2 – The data-cy Ultimate Guide: The Test Selector Pattern Cypress Should Have Taught You. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/18/testing-truths-series-article-2-the-data-cy-ultimate-guide-the-test-selector-pattern-cypress-should-have-taught-you/

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" » Testing Truths Series – Article #2 – The data-cy Ultimate Guide: The Test Selector Pattern Cypress Should Have Taught You." Sohail Mohammed | Sciencx - Thursday September 18, 2025, https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/18/testing-truths-series-article-2-the-data-cy-ultimate-guide-the-test-selector-pattern-cypress-should-have-taught-you/

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Sohail Mohammed | Sciencx Thursday September 18, 2025 » Testing Truths Series – Article #2 – The data-cy Ultimate Guide: The Test Selector Pattern Cypress Should Have Taught You., viewed ,<https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/18/testing-truths-series-article-2-the-data-cy-ultimate-guide-the-test-selector-pattern-cypress-should-have-taught-you/>

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" » Testing Truths Series – Article #2 – The data-cy Ultimate Guide: The Test Selector Pattern Cypress Should Have Taught You." Sohail Mohammed | Sciencx - Accessed . https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/18/testing-truths-series-article-2-the-data-cy-ultimate-guide-the-test-selector-pattern-cypress-should-have-taught-you/

IEEE

" » Testing Truths Series – Article #2 – The data-cy Ultimate Guide: The Test Selector Pattern Cypress Should Have Taught You." Sohail Mohammed | Sciencx [Online]. Available: https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/18/testing-truths-series-article-2-the-data-cy-ultimate-guide-the-test-selector-pattern-cypress-should-have-taught-you/. [Accessed: ]

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» Testing Truths Series – Article #2 – The data-cy Ultimate Guide: The Test Selector Pattern Cypress Should Have Taught You | Sohail Mohammed | Sciencx | https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/18/testing-truths-series-article-2-the-data-cy-ultimate-guide-the-test-selector-pattern-cypress-should-have-taught-you/ |

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