How do I test an image alt value using capybara?

Question

I'm trying to define a step to test the value of alt text of an image using Capybara and CSS selectors.

I wrote one for input values based on the readme examples:

Then /^I should see a value of "([^\"]*)" within the "([^\"]*)" input$/ do |input_value, input_id|
  element_value = locate("input##{input_id}").value
  element_value.should == input_value
end

But I can't figure this one out...something like:

Then /^I should see the alttext "([^\"]*)"$/ do | alt_text |
  element_value = locate("img[alt]").value
end

Anyone know how I can locate the alt text value?

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered May 17 '10 at 16:09

Capybara uses xpath by default, so unless you changed that setting, that could be part of your problem. (You could use locate(:css, "img[alt]")).

I would write the tests using xpath to look something like this:

Then /^I should see the alt text "([^\"]*)"$/ do | alt_text |
    page.should have_xpath("//img[@alt=#{alt_text}]")
end

Then /^I should see a value of "([^\"])" within the "([^\"])" input$/ do |input_value, input_id|
    page.should have_xpath("//input[@id=#{input_id} and text()=#{input_value}]
end

Thanks Eliza - I did change the default setting as we mostly use the CSS selectors — kinet, May 18 '10 at 22:53

score 11 · Answer 2 · answered May 15 '10 at 06:27

11

I believe the value method returns the value of input fields and cannot be used to test an attribute.

Something like this might work instead:

page.should have_css("img[alt=the_alt_text_you_are_expecting]")

answered May 15 '10 at 06:27

triskweline

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score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 11 '11 at 01:55

6

another variation on the theme:

Then /^I should see the image alt "([^"]*)"$/ do |alt_text|
  page.should have_css('img', :alt => alt_text)
end

answered Jun 11 '11 at 01:55

Josh Crews

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1

Very simple, but this did not work for me. (RSpec 3.0 + Capybara 2.4) – Junichi Ito Dec 02 '14 at 03:13
1

This would return `invalid keys :alt` now. I am not sure if this ever worked? – lulalala May 17 '19 at 09:13

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Jun 14 '13 at 15:56

0

I'm not sure about the method you're using to find the image but this works for me:

expect(find_by_id("image-1")[:alt]).to have_content('tree')

Once you have the element the [:"tag"] will give you the value.

$thing = find_by_id("image-1")[:alt]

will set thing to the value if you have more complex tests.

edited Jun 14 '13 at 15:56

Robert

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answered Jun 14 '13 at 15:34

bobbdelsol

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How do I test an image alt value using capybara?

4 Answers4