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To run Cypress tests as part of a Netlify build, install the netlify-plugin-cypress package as a project development dependency and configure it in the repository’s netlify.toml. Set its options by deploy context so you can decide whether tests run on production builds, branch deploys, and Deploy Previews. Alternatively, run Cypress in a separate CI pipeline and make the Netlify deploy depend on that job when tests must pass before publishing.
Choose where Cypress should run
There are two practical patterns. A Netlify Build Plugin runs Cypress within the Netlify build. A separate CI provider runs Cypress in its own job and can deploy the resulting site output through the Netlify CLI. Neither approach is established as universally faster, cheaper, or more reliable; choose based on which system should own test execution and deployment gating.
| Decision | Netlify Build Plugin | Separate CI pipeline |
|---|---|---|
| Where tests run | As part of the Netlify build through netlify-plugin-cypress. |
In a CI provider’s job, independently of the Netlify build. |
| Which deploys run tests | Configure plugin behavior for production, branch, and Deploy Preview contexts in netlify.toml. |
Choose which CI events or branches trigger the test job; make deployment depend on it if tests must gate publishing. |
| Server readiness | The app the tests visit must be running and accepting requests when Cypress starts. | Start the app and wait for it to become reachable before running Cypress. |
| Build parity | Use Netlify CLI locally with the matching deploy context and Node.js version to reproduce more of the build. | Run tests in the CI environment; use Netlify CLI if that pipeline also builds or deploys the site. |
Understand Netlify’s deploy contexts first
Netlify distinguishes production deploys, branch deploys, and Deploy Previews. Deploy Previews are associated with pull or merge requests; branch deploys are for configured branches and use a stable branch URL. Preview and branch deploy controls affect which builds occur. See Netlify’s deploy documentation for the current behavior and settings.
A plugin configuration can vary by context. Netlify’s documented Cypress example enables recording generally, then disables it for Deploy Previews. That is an example choice—not a universal default. In that example, production and branch deploy runs are recorded to Cypress Dashboard, while Deploy Preview runs are not.
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Run Cypress through a Netlify Build Plugin
1. Confirm the app and Cypress setup work
Before adding the plugin, make sure Cypress is configured for the project and that the application it tests can be started as part of the build workflow. The test command must not race ahead of server startup. Cypress warns that launching a server in the background and immediately running cypress run does not guarantee the server is ready. Its Continuous Integration documentation describes readiness-waiting approaches such as start-server-and-test and wait-on.
2. Install the plugin dependency
From the project directory, add the npm-published plugin as a development dependency using your package manager:
npm install --save-dev netlify-plugin-cypress
Netlify’s Build Plugin setup requires npm-published plugins to be included in the project dependencies as well as configured in the Netlify configuration file. See Netlify’s Build Plugins guide.
3. Configure contexts in netlify.toml
Put this example in the netlify.toml at the site’s base directory:
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[[plugins]]
package = "netlify-plugin-cypress"
[plugins.inputs]
record = true
[[context.deploy-preview.plugins]]
package = "netlify-plugin-cypress"
[context.deploy-preview.plugins.inputs]
record = false
This mirrors Netlify’s documented example: the general plugin entry enables recording, and the more specific Deploy Preview entry overrides that setting to disable it in previews. Confirm the available input names and setup requirements in the documentation for the version of netlify-plugin-cypress you install; plugin inputs can change by version. Netlify also notes that plugins installed through the UI run in all deploy contexts, so use file-based configuration when context-specific behavior is needed.
4. Push a change and inspect the deploy log
Push a commit or open a pull or merge request that triggers the relevant Netlify deploy. Inspect that deploy’s log to confirm the plugin ran in the context you intended. Deploy Previews are normally generated for pull or merge requests unless preview controls have been changed; branch deploys require branch deploy setup.
Run Cypress in a separate CI pipeline
Cypress documents CI setup as broadly similar to running Cypress locally. A basic project setup uses these commands:
npm install cypress --save-dev
npx cypress run
Those commands alone do not start your application or guarantee it is ready. Configure your CI job to start the server and wait until it responds before invoking Cypress. Cypress documents start-server-and-test and wait-on as options; the right choice depends on how your project starts and exposes the app.
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If the separate CI pipeline should control publishing, make the Netlify deploy job depend on successful tests. Netlify documents manual deploys of prebuilt output as a common pattern when using a separate CI tool. Decide explicitly whether a test failure blocks publishing or whether tests report independently.
Record Cypress results and protect secrets
The plugin’s record input controls whether its run is recorded to Cypress Dashboard in the documented example. Select recording behavior per deploy context to match how you use results and artifacts. Do not put a Dashboard recording key or other sensitive value in committed netlify.toml. Netlify cautions that configuration files are stored in the repository and recommends managing sensitive environment variables through the UI, CLI, or API. See Netlify’s environment variable documentation.
Verify the build locally with Netlify CLI
-
From the root of the linked repository, install and configure the Netlify CLI as appropriate for your project, then run
netlify build. This runs a local build including configured Build Plugins. -
To use Deploy Preview settings, run
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Use the same Node.js version locally as the version configured for the Netlify build. Netlify warns that version mismatches can produce errors.
See Netlify CLI documentation for setup and build command details.
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Cypress cannot visit the application
Likely cause: Cypress started before the server was accepting requests, or the configured URL does not match the app’s actual address. Fix: verify the app’s start command and target URL, then gate the test command on server readiness with a tool such as wait-on or start-server-and-test, rather than relying on an arbitrary short delay.
The plugin does not run in a deploy
Likely cause: the package is not installed as a project dependency, the configuration is not in the site’s base-directory netlify.toml, or the deployment context does not match the configuration you expected. Fix: check the dependency installation and file location, identify whether the deploy is production, a branch deploy, or a Deploy Preview, and inspect the deploy log.
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Recording is disabled or absent in a Deploy Preview
Likely cause: the context-specific example sets record = false for Deploy Previews. Fix: if you want previews recorded, change that context’s plugin input according to the installed plugin version’s documentation and provide any required secret safely as an environment variable.
A local build behaves differently from Netlify
Likely cause: the local build uses a different deploy context or Node.js version. Fix: reproduce the intended context with netlify build --context deploy-preview when appropriate, and match the configured Node.js version.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Netlify automatically run Cypress on every Deploy Preview?
No. Whether the plugin runs and records results depends on the project’s Build Plugin configuration and deploy context.
Can I use Cypress without a Netlify Build Plugin?
Yes. Run Cypress in a separate CI provider and configure the Netlify deploy to depend on that job if test success should gate publishing.
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