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Navigate Between Multiple URLs Using Parameters

When working with Harness AI Test Automation (AIT), you can efficiently navigate between multiple URLs by storing them in parameters. This powerful workaround allows you to maintain context across different pages and create sophisticated multi-page test workflows.

This guide shows you how to use parameters and custom scripts to store and navigate between different URLs during your test execution, enabling seamless multi-page testing scenarios.

How It Works​

AI Test Automation focuses on the currently active tab, making it streamlined and efficient. To navigate between different pages in your test workflow, you can leverage parameters to store URLs. This approach gives you:

  • Full control over navigation flow
  • Ability to return to any previously visited page
  • Clean, maintainable test scripts
  • Flexibility to build complex multi-page scenarios

The solution is simple: capture the current URL before navigating away, store it in a parameter, and use that parameter to navigate back when needed.

Step 1: Store the Current URL in a Parameter​

Before navigating to a new URL, you need to capture the current page's URL and store it in a parameter.

Use a Custom Script Action​

  1. In your test workflow, add a Custom Script action
  2. Use the following JavaScript code to capture the current URL:
window.location.href
  1. Configure the action to store the result in a parameter (e.g., ORIGINAL_URL)

This captures the full URL of the current page and saves it for later use.

Example Configuration​

  • Action Type: Custom Script
  • Script: window.location.href
  • Result Parameter: ORIGINAL_URL
Why use window.location.href?

window.location.href is a JavaScript property that returns the complete URL of the current page, including the protocol, domain, path, and query parameters. This ensures you can navigate back to the exact same page state.

Step 2: Navigate to a New URL​

After storing the original URL, you can now navigate to a different page. You have two options:

Option 1: Use the Navigate To action

  1. Add a Navigate To user action
  2. Enter the new URL you want to visit

For example:

https://example.com/new-page

Option 2: Use natural language test authoring

Simply describe the navigation in natural language, and AI Test Automation will handle it:

Go to the checkout page
Click on the "Products" link in the navigation menu

Whichever method you choose, once you're on the new page, the original page is no longer accessible. However, you have its URL stored in the ORIGINAL_URL parameter for later use.

Step 3: Navigate Back Using the Stored Parameter​

When you need to return to the original URL, use the Navigate To action again, but this time reference the parameter you created earlier.

  1. Add another Navigate To user action
  2. Use the parameter syntax to reference the stored URL:
${ORIGINAL_URL}

Harness AIT will automatically substitute the parameter value with the actual URL you stored earlier, taking you back to the original page.