Step Definitions Deep Dive — Expressions, Data Tables, DocStrings

// {string} — captures a quoted string
@When("the user enters username {string}")
public void enterUsername(String username) { }
// Matches: the user enters username "testuser"

// {int} — captures a whole number
@Then("the cart should contain {int} items")
public void cartContains(int count) { }
// Matches: the cart should contain 5 items

// {double} — captures a decimal number
@Then("the total should be {double}")
public void totalIs(double amount) { }
// Matches: the total should be 99.99

// {word} — captures a single word (no quotes)
@When("the user clicks the {word} button")
public void clickButton(String buttonName) { }
// Matches: the user clicks the login button
// Matches: the user clicks the submit button

// Regex equivalent of {string}
@When("^the user enters username \\"([^\\"]*)\\"$")
public void enterUsername(String username) { }

// Regex equivalent of {int}
@Then("^the cart should contain (\\d+) items$")
public void cartContains(int count) { }

  Scenario: Fill checkout form
    When the user fills in the shipping details:
      | firstName | John         |
      | lastName  | Doe          |
      | email     | john@doe.com |
      | address   | 123 Main St  |
      | city      | Mumbai       |
      | zipCode   | 400001       |

import io.cucumber.datatable.DataTable;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.List;

// Key-value pairs (2 columns)
@When("the user fills in the shipping details:")
public void fillShippingDetails(DataTable dataTable) {
    Map<String, String> data = dataTable.asMap(
        String.class, String.class);
    driver.findElement(By.id("first-name"))
        .sendKeys(data.get("firstName"));
    driver.findElement(By.id("last-name"))
        .sendKeys(data.get("lastName"));
    driver.findElement(By.id("email"))
        .sendKeys(data.get("email"));
}

// Multiple rows with headers (list of maps)
// Feature:
// When the user adds these products:
//   | product    | quantity |
//   | Laptop     | 1        |
//   | T-Shirt    | 3        |

@When("the user adds these products:")
public void addProducts(DataTable dataTable) {
    List<Map<String, String>> items = dataTable.asMaps(
        String.class, String.class);
    for (Map<String, String> item : items) {
        String product = item.get("product");
        String qty = item.get("quantity");
        // add each product to cart
    }
}

  Scenario: Verify welcome message
    Then the page should display:
      """
      Welcome to AutoPractice Banking.
      Your account is active.
      """

@Then("the page should display:")
public void pageDisplays(String expectedText) {
    String actual = driver.findElement(
        By.id("welcome-block")).getText();
    Assert.assertEquals(actual.trim(), expectedText.trim());
}