UI tests

Hub › iOS › Advanced › UI tests

Goal

Add an XCUITest target that launches the app, signs in, taps a favorite, and navigates to the detail screen. Tests run on the simulator and verify user-visible behavior.

Prerequisites

• Unit tests

Create the UI test target

In Xcode: File → New → Target → UI Testing Bundle. Name it ListAppUITests.

XCUITest launches your app and drives it through the Accessibility hierarchy. Every button, label, and cell must have an accessibility identifier for tests to find them.

Add accessibility identifiers

Update your views with .accessibilityIdentifier:

// In the List row:
Button(item.isFavorite ? "★" : "☆") {
    vm.toggleFavorite(item)
}
.accessibilityIdentifier(item.isFavorite ? "favorite-on" : "favorite-off")

// In SignInView:
SignInWithAppleButton(...)
    .accessibilityIdentifier("sign-in-button")

// Sign out button:
Button("Sign Out") { TokenManager.shared.signOut() }
    .accessibilityIdentifier("sign-out-button")

UI tests

Create ListAppUITests.swift:

import XCTest

final class ListAppUITests: XCTestCase {
    var app: XCUIApplication!

    override func setUp() {
        continueAfterFailure = false
        app = XCUIApplication()
        app.launch()
    }

    func testSignInPromptAppears() {
        // The sign-in sheet should appear on first launch
        let signInButton = app.buttons["sign-in-button"]
        XCTAssertTrue(signInButton.waitForExistence(timeout: 5))
    }

    func testListLoadsAfterSignIn() {
        // Dismiss the sign-in sheet (simulate signed-in state)
        let signInButton = app.buttons["sign-in-button"]
        if signInButton.exists {
            signInButton.tap()
        }

        // Wait for the list to populate
        let list = app.collectionViews.firstMatch
        XCTAssertTrue(list.waitForExistence(timeout: 10))
        XCTAssertGreaterThan(list.cells.count, 0)
    }

    func testToggleFavorite() {
        // Sign in
        let signInButton = app.buttons["sign-in-button"]
        if signInButton.exists { signInButton.tap() }

        let list = app.collectionViews.firstMatch
        XCTAssertTrue(list.waitForExistence(timeout: 10))

        // Tap the first favorite button
        let favOff = app.buttons["favorite-off"]
        if favOff.exists {
            favOff.tap()
            let favOn = app.buttons["favorite-on"]
            XCTAssertTrue(favOn.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
        }
    }

    func testSignOut() {
        // Sign in first
        app.buttons["sign-in-button"].tapIfExists()

        // Tap sign out
        let signOut = app.buttons["sign-out-button"]
        XCTAssertTrue(signOut.waitForExistence(timeout: 5))
        signOut.tap()

        // Sign-in prompt reappears
        XCTAssertTrue(app.buttons["sign-in-button"].waitForExistence(timeout: 3))
    }
}

extension XCUIElement {
    /// Tap the element if it exists and is hittable, within a short timeout.
    func tapIfExists(timeout: TimeInterval = 3) {
        if waitForExistence(timeout: timeout) && isHittable {
            tap()
        }
    }
}

Run UI tests

xcodebuild test \
  -scheme ListApp \
  -sdk iphonesimulator \
  -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16' \
  -testPlan ListAppUITests

Or in Xcode: hold the Test button (▶) → choose the UI test plan.

Checkpoint

All UI tests pass: sign-in sheet appears, list loads after sign-in, favorite toggle works, and sign-out returns to the sign-in prompt.

Next: CI/CD with GitHub Actions — automate builds, tests, and archiving.