User Actions

Overview

Harness AI Test Automation transforms testing with its intuitive interactive authoring experience. As you naturally interact with your application, the system intelligently captures each action and converts them into robust test steps, no coding required.

This document explores all available user actions that can be added using the "+ Add step" button during test creation, including clicks, text inputs, selections, navigation, keyboard interactions, and more specialized commands like waits and viewport adjustments.

Each action can be enhanced with assertions to validate expected behavior, parametrized for flexibility, and seamlessly integrated into CI/CD pipelines. Understanding these powerful actions will help you create comprehensive test coverage for your applications, whether you are building simple workflows or complex test scenarios.

Supported actions

API call

Sends HTTP requests to external APIs directly from your test. This action allows you to integrate with backend services, validate API responses, and use API data in your tests without leaving the test environment.

This is useful for setting up test data, verifying backend operations, or retrieving data that can be used in subsequent test steps.

Options

Option	Description
Method Type	HTTP method to use (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, etc.)
URL	The endpoint URL to send the request to
Headers	JSON object containing request headers
Body	JSON object containing the request body for POST/PUT/PATCH requests
Parameter name for Response body	Name of the parameter where the API response will be stored
Scope	Determines where the response parameter is stored: Run time, App, or Test Suite

Click

TIP

For a basic click, no additional configuration is required. It allows you to explicitly specify which element to click when multiple elements might match the selector, ensuring precision in complex UI interactions. Click on the element you want to select in the step.

Click on any place in the viewport to register a click command as a test step. No additional action required.

click

Advanced options

Navigation & Timing

• Wait for document ready - Pauses test execution until the document's ready state is reached, ensuring elements are available for interaction. Options include Yes, No, and App Default.

• Expected ready state - Specifies which document ready state to wait for, such as complete, interactive, loaded, or app.

• Wait for network requests - Delays test execution until all in-flight network requests complete. Options include Yes and No.

• Wait for document timeout (ms) - Maximum time in milliseconds to wait for the document to reach the ready state before timing out.

• Wait for network request timeout (ms) - Maximum time in milliseconds to wait for network requests to complete before continuing.

Parameterization

Text param - Allows you to use dynamic values in your click action by connecting it to parameters defined in your test. Parameters can be set at the test level or provided at runtime, making your tests more flexible and reusable.

You can use from the dropdown list or use the + Create Parameter button to create a new parameter.

Response Data Capture

• URL Pattern / Regular Expression - Defines which network requests to capture data from, using either a simple URL pattern or a regular expression to match specific endpoints

• Parameter name for Response body - The name of the parameter where the captured response data of the body will be stored for later use in your test

• Response Body Path (JSONPath) - Extracts specific data from a JSON response using JSONPath syntax, allowing you to capture only the values you need

• Scope: App, Test Suite, or Runtime - Determines where the captured parameter is stored and how widely it can be accessed across tests

Others

• Use Touch - Enables touch events simulation along with mouse clicks, useful when testing applications designed for mobile or touch interfaces

Copy and paste

Perform clipboard operations to copy and paste content between elements in your application.

Copy to clipboard

Copies text or content from a selected element to the clipboard. This action simulates the user's copy operation (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C) and can be used to capture text, values, or other content from the application for later use in your test.

Paste from clipboard

Pastes content from the clipboard into a selected element. This action simulates the user's paste operation (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) and can be used to insert previously copied text, values, or content into input fields, text areas, or other editable elements.

TIP For both actions, select the target element. For Copy, select the element containing the content you want to copy. For Paste, select the editable element (such as an input field or text area) where you want to paste. No additional configuration is required.

DB query

Executes a SQL query against a database and captures the results as parameters. This action allows you to integrate database interactions directly into your test flow, enabling data validation and dynamic test data generation.

This action requires proper database credentials and connection information. Ensure your database is accessible from the test environment.

NOTE You can use the database types of MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and MS SQL.

DB Query

Options

Option	Description
Database type	Select the type of database you are connecting to (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle)
Connection String	The connection string for your database in the appropriate format for the selected database type
Username	Database username with appropriate permissions to execute the query
Password	Password for the database user
Query	The SQL query to execute against the database. Can include SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements
Response Body Path (JSONPath)	Optional JSONPath expression to extract specific data from the query results
Result Parameter	Name of the parameter where the query results will be stored
Scope	App, Test Suite, or Runtime - Determines where the result parameter is stored and how widely it is accessible
Tunnel Name (optional)	Name of the SSH tunnel configuration if connecting to a database through a secure tunnel

Go to the DB Query guide for more information on the DB Query actions.

Double click

Executes a double-click action on a specific element. This action is particularly useful for actions that require double-clicking, such as opening files, selecting text, or activating certain interface elements that specifically respond to double-clicks.

Drag and drop

Performs a drag and drop operation by moving an element from one location to another. This action simulates the user clicking and holding an element, dragging it to a target location, and releasing it. It is useful for testing drag-and-drop interfaces, reordering lists, moving items between containers, or any UI that supports drag-and-drop interactions.

Drag and Drop

Options

Option	Description
Source Element	The element to be dragged. Click on the element in your application that you want to drag
Destination	Specifies how to determine the drop location. Options include To Element or To Position
To Element	When Destination is set to To Element, select the target element where you want to drop the source element
To Position	When Destination is set to To Position, specify the X and Y coordinates where the element should be dropped

File upload

Uploads a file to the selected input element on a webpage. Specify the absolute or relative path to the file you want to upload, and select the appropriate file input element in your application. The file input element where you want to upload the file. Click on the appropriate file input element in your application.

You can upload files from your local system or from your test resources directory. This will be hosted on a S3 bucket and the file path will be used in the test.

File Upload

Key press

Simulates a keyboard input action. Specify the key to press, for example, "Enter" or "Backspace". For key combinations, provide an array of keys like ["Control", "c"]. Explore all supported keys from here.

This action step requires selecting a target element on which to perform the key press operation.

keypress

Mouse over

Simulates hovering the mouse cursor over an element, activating hover states and triggering related events. This action is especially useful for testing dropdown menus, tooltips, and other elements that appear on hover.

You must select a specific target element for this action to work properly.

Mouse Over

Navigate

Navigate to a specific URL or relative path, allowing you to direct your test to different pages or websites. Supports both absolute URLs (starting with http:// or https://) and relative paths that will be appended to your environment's base URL.

Navigate

Advanced Options

• Navigation & Timing

• Parameterization

• Response Data Capture

• Wait for document ready - Pauses test execution until the document's ready state is reached, ensuring elements are available for interaction, you get options like Yes, No, and App Default.

• Expected ready state - Specifies which document ready state to wait for (complete, interactive, loaded, app)

• Wait for network requests - Delays test execution until all in-flight network requests complete, with option like Yes and No.

• Wait for document timeout (ms) - Maximum time in milliseconds to wait for the document to reach the ready state before timing out

• Wait for network request timeout (ms) - Maximum time in milliseconds to wait for network requests to complete before continuing

Reload

Add this action step to refresh the current page.

reload

Right click

Simulates a right-click mouse action on a specific element. This action is useful for testing context menus, alternative options, and other functionality that is triggered by right-clicking in your application.

Scroll within a scrollable region

Controls scrolling within a scrollable region or element of a page. This action allows you to navigate within overflowing content, long pages, or specific scrollable containers.

Scroll

Options

Option	Description
Top	Scrolls to the top of the scrollable region
Bottom	Scrolls to the bottom of the scrollable region
Co-ordinates	Scrolls to specific X,Y coordinates within the scrollable region
Target	Optional element to scroll into view. You can either select a specific target element or scroll without targeting an element

Select

Select a value from dropdown menus, select boxes, or other list interfaces. This action simulates a user choosing an option from a dropdown, allowing your test to interact with form selection elements. The system will capture both the display text and underlying value of the selected option.

Select

info

Click, Write, and Select are automatically detected by Harness AI Test Automation. Users need not have to select these commands from a list.

Set parameter

Creates dynamic variables for test execution. This action allows you to define parameters that can be used throughout your test, making your tests more flexible and data-driven.

Set Parameter

Options

Option	Description
Parameter name	Name of the parameter you want to create or update
Value	The value to assign to the parameter
Scope	Determines where the parameter is accessible: Run time: Available only during the current test run App: Available across all tests in the application Test Suite: Available within the current test suite

Set checkbox

Toggles a checkbox to the selected state. Use this action to check or uncheck form elements without simulating a click action. Determines whether to check or uncheck the element. Set to true to check the element or false to uncheck it. It works on the checkbox element you want to manipulate. Click on the appropriate element in your application.

set-checkbox

Set radio button

Selects a specific radio button from a group of options. Use this action to choose one option from a set of radio buttons without simulating a click action. This action sets the selected radio button to true while automatically setting all other radio buttons in the same group to false. It works on the radio button element you want to select. Click on the appropriate element in your application.

set-radio-button

Set parameter from target

Extracts a value from an element on the page and stores it as a parameter. This action is useful for capturing dynamic values from the UI such as generated IDs, displayed text, or attribute values that you need to use in subsequent test steps.

Set Parameter from Target

Options

Option	Description
Parameter name	Name of the parameter where the extracted value will be stored
Scope	Determines where the parameter is stored: Run time, App, or Test Suite
Please select a target	The element from which to extract the value. Click on the element in your application that contains the value you want to capture

Viewport

Adjusts the screen dimensions for testing responsive designs. Set the width and height of the screen to emulate different device sizes.

viewport

Wait for time

Creates a timed pause in test execution. Specify the duration in milliseconds to delay the test before proceeding to the next step. This is useful for waiting for animations to complete, giving time for background processes to finish, or creating deliberate pauses in your test flow.

Wait for Time

Write

Write text in any input field, text area, or editable element in your application. This action simulates a user typing content into a field, supporting both static text and dynamic parameters. It works with standard HTML inputs, WYSIWYG editors, rich text fields, and most other editable interfaces.

Can be parameterized directly using available parameters or by creating new ones by clicking on the {} button

write

tip

For a basic write action, specify the text you want to input and select the appropriate input field based on your selection.

Advanced Options

• Response Data Capture

• Others

• URL Pattern / Regular Expression - Defines which network requests to capture data from following the write action

• Parameter name for Response body - The name of the parameter where the captured response data will be stored

• Response Body Path (JSONPath) - Extracts specific data from a JSON response using JSONPath syntax

• Scope: App, Test Suite, or Runtime - Determines the scope and accessibility of the captured parameter