Solving Flaky Tests with Karate’s Simple Web Browser Automation Framework

Every software testing professional who has worked with test automation has likely encountered flaky tests in the test automation suite. You know the scenario: your tests pass perfectly on your local machine but fail randomly in the CI pipeline, only to pass again when rerun without any code changes. These inconsistent tests, commonly known as “flaky tests,” have become one of the most challenging aspects of maintaining reliable test automation suites. In the growing world of web browser automation, dealing with flakiness is frustrating. This is where Karate Labs offers an approach designed to simplify automation and reduce test instability.

The Trouble with Flaky Tests

Flaky tests pass or fail randomly, even when the application code hasn’t changed. They’re like flaky teammates who can’t be counted on to provide the same response twice.

These tests bog down development cycles, clutter test reports, making harder to find real bugs. Developers waste hours rerunning tests just to watch them pass in their automation suite. If left unchecked, flaky tests soon accumulate and devalue automation. They’re an annoyance, not a security blanket

Characteristics of Flaky Tests

Flaky tests often share some common traits that signal the test is not stable enough to be trusted:

➢     They fail on CI but pass locally

➢     They fail on one browser but pass on another

➢     They pass when rerun without fixing anything

➢     They are highly sensitive to page loading times

Decoding Flaky Tests: Origins and Symptoms

To handle flaky tests, we must understand what causes them. Below are common reasons:

How to Spot and Fix Flaky Tests

➢     Add retry logic only where absolutely needed

➢     Avoid relying on hard-coded waits

➢     Use reliable locators that adapt to page changes

➢     Reduce test dependence on external systems

➢     Run tests in parallel to spot concurrency issues

➢     Combine API checks with UI flows for stability

Karate Labs: Making Web Browser Automation Simple and Stable

Karate Labs is known for its strength in API testing. Building on that foundation, we have grown into a powerful framework for web browser automation. Our design focuses on stability and productivity for testers.

Here’s how we address flaky tests:

1.     Simple Syntax

We provide an easy-to-read language that avoids complexity. Testers do not need to understand advanced programming concepts like callbacks or async/await.

2.     Smart Waiting Mechanism

Built-in waiting for elements reduces timing failures. Instead of adding manual waits, Karate Labs automatically waits until elements are ready.

3.     Cross-Browser Support

With support for Chrome, Edge, and Safari, testers can switch browsers by changing configuration settings. No separate framework setup is needed.

4.     Parallel Execution

We support running tests in parallel across Docker or cloud grids. This improves execution speed and highlights concurrency issues earlier.

5.     Hybrid Testing

Teams can mix API and UI tests in the same script. For example, log in through an API call before moving to a UI test flow. This reduces reliance on fragile UI steps.

6.     Reporting and Assertions

Karate Labs includes detailed HTML reports with built-in assertions, tags and environment switching. These reports improve visibility into test runs.

Karate Labs Features at a Glance

Karate Labs in Action

●      Navigation Testing: A simple script that opens GitHub and runs a search on Google.

●      Wait and Assert: A test that waits for page navigation, checks if an element is ready, and validates results in a table.

●      Comprehensive Test Flow: A modular script that combines multiple Karate features, including navigation, locators, and reporting.

This is how we reduce flakiness by handling the hard parts of web browser automation behind the scenes.

Conclusion

Flaky tests remain one of the toughest challenges in software testing. They waste time, reduce confidence and slow down delivery pipelines. By using Karate Labs, you can gain a stable web browser automation framework designed to cut down on flakiness. This gives you intelligent waits, multi-browser support and cross-testing. Its clean syntax and built-in features let testers focus on real quality, not wrestling with flaky tests.  If your automation suite struggles with flaky tests, get connected with Karate Labs for a simple path forward.