The Page Object Model (POM) is an architectural pattern for organizing automation test code, especially in UI testing. It suggests creating separate classes or objects to logically represent each page of the application, defining methods to interact with elements and perform actions on them.
Background: Previously, automation tests were written straightforwardly—interacting directly with element locators within the tests, leading to code duplication and maintenance challenges. With the introduction of POM, it became possible to encapsulate everything related to a specific page in a separate class, making automation tests easier to manage.
Problem: Without structuring tests in large projects, "messy" code quickly accumulates. Any change in the interface requires updates to numerous tests, resulting in high maintenance costs.
Solution: POM allows centralized management of actions and elements, reduces duplication, and simplifies scaling of the testing infrastructure. For instance, if you need to change the locator of a button, the adjustment is made only in one place—in the Page Object—rather than in all tests.
Key features:
Can you implement automation tests without the POM pattern?
Yes, but this approach will lead to code duplication, high maintenance costs, and inability to scale.
Is it necessary to create a separate Page Object for every element on the page?
No, a Page Object is created for logical pages that include related elements and actions; sometimes, for small recurring blocks, separate helper entities (like components) can be used.
Does POM solve all architectural issues of automation tests?
No, it helps structure the logic of working with interfaces but does not define the complete architecture of the testing framework—such as data handling, report generation, and application state management.
Automation tests were written without POM— all actions were directly coded in the test methods. As a result, a simple change of the button's id on one page required editing 35 tests, many of which became incorrect and others simply stopped executing.
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Cons:
In a new project, tests were built using POM: page classes were added, element interactions were encapsulated, and inheritance was used for common patterns.
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