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then

Enables you to work with the subject yielded from the previous command.

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Note: .then() assumes you are already familiar with core concepts such as closures.

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Note: Prefer .should() with callback over .then() for assertions as they are automatically rerun until no assertions throw within it but be aware of differences.

Syntax​

.then(callbackFn)
.then(options, callbackFn)

Usage​

Correct Usage

cy.get('.nav').then(($nav) => {}) // Yields .nav as first arg
cy.location().then((loc) => {}) // Yields location object as first arg

Arguments​

options (Object)

Pass in an options object to change the default behavior of .then().

OptionDefaultDescription
timeoutdefaultCommandTimeoutTime to wait for .then() to resolve before timing out

callbackFn (Function)

Pass a function that takes the previously yielded subject as its first argument.

Yields ​

.then() is modeled identically to the way Promises work in JavaScript. Whatever is returned from the callback function becomes the new subject and will flow into the next command (with the exception of undefined).

Additionally, the result of the last Cypress command in the callback function will be yielded as the new subject and flow into the next command if there is no return.

When undefined is returned by the callback function, the subject will not be modified and will instead carry over to the next command.

Just like Promises, you can return any compatible "thenable" (anything that has a .then() interface) and Cypress will wait for that to resolve before continuing forward through the chain of commands.

Examples​

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We have several more examples in our Core Concepts Guide which go into the various ways you can use .then() to store, compare, and debug values.

DOM element​

The button element is yielded​

cy.get('button').then(($btn) => {
  const cls = $btn.attr('class')

  cy.wrap($btn).click().should('not.have.class', cls)
})

The number is yielded from previous command​

cy.wrap(1)
  .then((num) => {
    cy.wrap(num).should('equal', 1) // true
  })
  .should('equal', 1) // true

Change subject​

The el subject is changed with another command​

cy.get('button')
  .then(($btn) => {
    const cls = $btn.attr('class')

    cy.wrap($btn).click().should('not.have.class', cls).find('i')
    // since there is no explicit return
    // the last Cypress command's yield is yielded
  })
  .should('have.class', 'spin') // assert on i element

The number subject is changed with another command​

cy.wrap(1).then((num) => {
  cy.wrap(num)).should('equal', 1) // true
  cy.wrap(2)
}).should('equal', 2) // true

The number subject is changed by returning​

cy.wrap(1)
  .then((num) => {
    cy.wrap(num).should('equal', 1) // true

    return 2
  })
  .should('equal', 2) // true

Returning undefined will not modify the yielded subject​

cy.get('form')
  .then(($form) => {
    console.log('form is:', $form)
    // undefined is returned here, but $form will be
    // yielded to allow for continued chaining
  })
  .find('input')
  .then(($input) => {
    // we have our $input element here since
    // our form element was yielded and we called
    // .find('input') on it
  })

Raw HTMLElements are wrapped with jQuery​

cy.get('div')
  .then(($div) => {
    return $div[0] // type => HTMLDivElement
  })
  .then(($div) => {
    $div // type => JQuery<HTMLDivElement>
  })

Promises​

Cypress waits for Promises to resolve before continuing

Example using Q​

cy.get('button')
  .click()
  .then(($button) => {
    const p = Q.defer()

    setTimeout(() => {
      p.resolve()
    }, 1000)

    return p.promise
  })

Example using bluebird​

cy.get('button')
  .click()
  .then(($button) => {
    return Promise.delay(1000)
  })

Example using jQuery deferred's​

cy.get('button')
  .click()
  .then(($button) => {
    const df = $.Deferred()

    setTimeout(() => {
      df.resolve()
    }, 1000)

    return df
  })

Notes​

Differences​

What's the difference between .then() and .should()/.and()?​

Using .then() allows you to use the yielded subject in a callback function and should be used when you need to manipulate some values or do some actions.

When using a callback function with .should() or .and(), on the other hand, there is special logic to rerun the callback function until no assertions throw within it. You should be careful of side affects in a .should() or .and() callback function that you would not want performed multiple times.

Rules​

Requirements ​

  • `.then()` requires being chained off a previous command.

Assertions ​

  • `.then()` will only run assertions you have chained once, and will not [retry](/guides/core-concepts/retry-ability).

Timeouts ​

  • `.then()` can time out waiting for a promise you've returned to resolve.

Command Log​

  • .then() does not log in the Command Log

History​

VersionChanges
0.14.0Added timeout option
< 0.3.3.then() command added

See also​