API Reference
This document provides a complete reference for all browser.electron.* methods and exported utility functions provided by the service.
Table of Contents
- Utility Functions
- Execution Methods
- Mocking Methods
- Mock Object Methods
- Mock Object Properties
- Electron Class Mock
Utility Functions
These functions are exported directly from the package and can be used independently of the WDIO test runner.
createElectronCapabilities()
Creates an Electron capabilities object for use with startWdioSession() or in WDIO configuration. Builds the correct capability structure including goog:chromeOptions and wdio:electronServiceOptions.
Signature:
import { createElectronCapabilities } from '@wdio/electron-service';
createElectronCapabilities(options: ElectronServiceOptions): ElectronStandaloneCapability
Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
options | ElectronServiceOptions | Service options. Must include at least appBinaryPath or appEntryPoint. |
Common fields:
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
appBinaryPath | string | Path to the compiled Electron app binary |
appEntryPoint | string | Path to the unpackaged app entry point (e.g., main.js) |
appArgs | string[] | Command-line arguments passed to the app |
captureMainProcessLogs | boolean | Enable main process log capture |
captureRendererLogs | boolean | Enable renderer process log capture |
logDir | string | Directory for standalone mode logs |
See Configuration for the full list of ElectronServiceOptions fields.
Returns:
ElectronStandaloneCapability - A single capabilities object
Throws:
| Error | Condition |
|---|---|
Error | If neither appBinaryPath nor appEntryPoint is provided |
Example:
import { startWdioSession, createElectronCapabilities } from '@wdio/electron-service';
const caps = createElectronCapabilities({
appBinaryPath: './dist/mac/MyApp.app/Contents/MacOS/MyApp',
appArgs: ['--disable-gpu', '--headless'],
captureMainProcessLogs: true,
logDir: './test-logs',
});
const browser = await startWdioSession([caps]);
See Also:
getElectronBinaryPath()
Resolves the path to the Electron binary for a given app directory. Uses the same detection logic as the service (reading package.json, checking Electron Forge/Builder configs) without starting a session.
Signature:
import { getElectronBinaryPath } from '@wdio/electron-service';
getElectronBinaryPath(appDir: string): Promise<string>
Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
appDir | string | Path to the Electron app directory (must contain a package.json) |
Returns:
Promise<string> - The resolved path to the Electron binary
Throws:
| Error | Condition |
|---|---|
Error | If no package.json is found in appDir |
Error | If the binary path cannot be resolved |
Example:
import { getElectronBinaryPath } from '@wdio/electron-service';
const binaryPath = await getElectronBinaryPath('/path/to/my-electron-app');
console.log(binaryPath);
// e.g. '/path/to/my-electron-app/dist/mac-arm64/MyApp.app/Contents/MacOS/MyApp'
See Also:
startWdioSession()
Starts a WebdriverIO session in standalone mode (without the WDIO test runner). Performs the same launcher setup the runner does — binary detection, capability mutation, log writer initialization — and returns a browser instance.
Signature:
import { startWdioSession } from '@wdio/electron-service';
startWdioSession(
capabilities: ElectronServiceCapabilities,
globalOptions?: ElectronServiceGlobalOptions,
): Promise<WebdriverIO.Browser>
Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
capabilities | ElectronServiceCapabilities | An array of standalone capability objects (typically one, built with createElectronCapabilities()), or a multiremote capabilities object. |
globalOptions | ElectronServiceGlobalOptions | Optional. Service-level options applied to all capabilities (e.g., rootDir). |
Returns:
Promise<WebdriverIO.Browser> - The browser instance, with browser.electron.* available.
Example:
import { startWdioSession, cleanupWdioSession, createElectronCapabilities } from '@wdio/electron-service';
const caps = createElectronCapabilities({
appBinaryPath: '/path/to/MyApp',
captureMainProcessLogs: true,
logDir: './logs',
});
const browser = await startWdioSession([caps]);
try {
const name = await browser.electron.execute((electron) => electron.app.getName());
console.log(name);
} finally {
await cleanupWdioSession(browser);
}
See Also:
cleanupWdioSession()
Tears down a standalone session started with startWdioSession(). Calls browser.deleteSession() and runs the launcher's onComplete cleanup so the Electron process and any spawned drivers are released.
Signature:
import { cleanupWdioSession } from '@wdio/electron-service';
cleanupWdioSession(browser: WebdriverIO.Browser): Promise<void>
Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
browser | WebdriverIO.Browser | The browser instance returned from startWdioSession(). |
Returns:
Promise<void>
See Also:
Execution Methods
execute()
Executes arbitrary JavaScript code in the Electron main process context.
Signature:
browser.electron.execute<T>(
script: (electron, ...args) => T | Promise<T>,
...args: any[]
): Promise<T>
Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
script | (electron, ...args) => T | Promise<T> | Function to execute in main process. First arg is always the electron module. |
...args | any[] | Additional arguments passed to the script function |
Returns:
Promise<T> - Resolves with the return value of the script
Example:
// Simple execution
const appName = await browser.electron.execute((electron) => {
return electron.app.getName();
});
// With parameters
const result = await browser.electron.execute(
(electron, param1, param2) => {
return param1 + param2;
},
5,
10
);
// With async code
const fileIcon = await browser.electron.execute(async (electron) => {
return await electron.app.getFileIcon('/path/to/file');
});
See Also:
triggerDeeplink()
Triggers a deeplink to the Electron application for testing protocol handlers.
On Windows and Linux, this automatically appends the test instance's userData directory to ensure the deeplink reaches the correct instance. On macOS, it works transparently without modification.
Signature:
browser.electron.triggerDeeplink(url: string): Promise<void>
Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
url | string | The deeplink URL to trigger (e.g., 'myapp://open?path=/test'). Must use a custom protocol scheme (not http/https/file). |
Returns:
Promise<void> - Resolves when the deeplink has been triggered.
Throws:
| Error | Condition |
|---|---|
Error | If appBinaryPath is not configured (Windows/Linux only) |
Error | If the URL is invalid or malformed |
Error | If the URL uses http/https/file protocols |
Error | If the platform is unsupported |
Error | If the command to trigger the deeplink fails |
Example:
// Basic usage
await browser.electron.triggerDeeplink('myapp://open?file=test.txt');
// With complex parameters
await browser.electron.triggerDeeplink('myapp://action?id=123&type=user&tags[]=a&tags[]=b');
// In a test with verification
it('should handle deeplinks', async () => {
await browser.electron.triggerDeeplink('myapp://navigate?to=/settings');
await browser.waitUntil(async () => {
const currentPath = await browser.electron.execute(() => {
return globalThis.currentPath;
});
return currentPath === '/settings';
}, {
timeout: 5000,
timeoutMsg: 'App did not process the deeplink'
});
});
Platform-Specific Behavior:
- Windows: Cannot use
appEntryPoint(must use packaged binary). Automatically appendsuserDataparameter to URL. - macOS: Works with both packaged binaries and script-based apps. No URL modification.
- Linux: Cannot use
appEntryPoint(must use packaged binary). Automatically appendsuserDataparameter to URL.
See Also: