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Control Flow in YAML Tests

This guide covers conditional logic (if blocks) and loops (while blocks) in Revyl YAML tests.

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If Blocks - Conditional Branching

If blocks allow you to execute different test paths based on conditions. They’re evaluated by AI, so you can use natural language conditions.

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Basic Structure

- type: if
  condition: "natural language condition"
  then:
    - # blocks executed when condition is true
  else:  # optional
    - # blocks executed when condition is false

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Simple If Block

Execute actions only when a condition is met: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Cookie Banner Handling"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "Website"

  blocks:
    # Test starts at build URL automatically

    - type: if
      condition: "A cookie consent banner is visible"
      then:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Click 'Accept All'"

    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Click 'Get Started'"

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If-Else Block

Handle both true and false cases: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Login State Check"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "App"

  blocks:
    - type: if
      condition: "The user is already logged in"
      then:
        - type: validation
          step_description: "Dashboard is visible"

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Click profile menu"
      else:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Enter '[email protected]' in email"

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Enter 'password' in password field"

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Click login"

        - type: validation
          step_description: "Dashboard is now visible"

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Nested If Blocks

Complex conditional logic with multiple levels: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Payment Method Selection"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "Checkout App"

  blocks:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Proceed to payment page"

    - type: if
      condition: "A saved payment method exists"
      then:
        - type: validation
          step_description: "Saved payment option is shown"

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Select the saved payment method"
      else:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Click 'Add New Payment Method'"

        - type: if
          condition: "Apple Pay is available"
          then:
            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Select Apple Pay"

            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Complete Apple Pay authorization"
          else:
            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Enter credit card number"

            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Enter expiry date and CVV"

    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Complete payment"

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If Blocks with Variables

Use variables in conditions: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Discount Code Application"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "Shopping Site"

  blocks:
    - type: extraction
      step_description: "The cart total"
      variable_name: cart-total

    - type: if
      condition: "The cart total is greater than $100"
      then:
        - type: validation
          step_description: "Free shipping banner is visible"

        - type: if
          condition: "A discount code field is present"
          then:
            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Enter 'SAVE20' in discount code"

            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Click 'Apply'"
      else:
        - type: validation
          step_description: "Shipping charges apply message is shown"

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Multiple Conditions in Sequence

Chain multiple if blocks for different conditions: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Feature Availability Check"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "SaaS App"

  blocks:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Navigate to features page"

    - type: if
      condition: "Dark mode toggle is available"
      then:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Enable dark mode"

    - type: if
      condition: "Beta features section is visible"
      then:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Enable experimental features"

    - type: if
      condition: "A feedback button is present"
      then:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Click feedback button"

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Enter 'Great app!' in feedback field"

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Submit feedback"

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While Blocks - Loops

While blocks repeat a set of actions until a condition becomes false. They’re useful for pagination, infinite scroll, and iterative actions.

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Basic Structure

- type: while
  condition: "continue while this is true"
  body:
    - # blocks executed each iteration

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Simple While Loop

Load all paginated content: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Load All Products"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "E-commerce Site"

  blocks:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Navigate to products catalog"

    - type: while
      condition: "A 'Load More' button is visible"
      body:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Click 'Load More'"

        - type: manual
          step_type: wait
          step_description: "2"

    - type: validation
      step_description: "All products are loaded"

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While Loop with Conditional Exit

Loop with additional exit condition: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Load Until Limit"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "Data Dashboard"

  blocks:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Navigate to reports section"

    - type: while
      condition: "More data button exists and error message is not shown"
      body:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Click 'Load More Data'"

        - type: if
          condition: "A rate limit error is displayed"
          then:
            - type: validation
              step_description: "Rate limit reached message is shown"

    - type: validation
      step_description: "All available data is loaded or rate limit reached"

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Dismissing Multiple Items

Remove items in a loop: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Clear All Notifications"
    platform: ios

  build:
    name: "Social App"

  blocks:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Open notifications"

    - type: while
      condition: "Notification items are present"
      body:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Swipe left on the first notification"

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Tap 'Delete'"

    - type: validation
      step_description: "No notifications remain"

    - type: validation
      step_description: "Empty state message is shown"

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Combined Patterns

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If Inside While

Conditional logic within a loop: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Process Items with Conditions"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "Task Manager"

  blocks:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Open pending tasks list"

    - type: while
      condition: "Pending tasks are visible"
      body:
        - type: extraction
          step_description: "The first task name"
          variable_name: task-name

        - type: if
          condition: "Task '$task-name$' is marked as priority"
          then:
            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Click 'Complete Now' for task '$task-name$'"
          else:
            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Click 'Skip' for task '$task-name$'"

    - type: validation
      step_description: "All tasks have been processed"

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While Inside If

Loop only when condition is met: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Conditional Infinite Scroll"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "News Site"

  blocks:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Navigate to articles"

    - type: if
      condition: "Premium member badge is displayed"
      then:
        - type: validation
          step_description: "Access to all content is available"

        - type: while
          condition: "More articles button is visible"
          body:
            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Click 'Load More Articles'"
      else:
        - type: validation
          step_description: "Free tier content limit message is shown"

    - type: validation
      step_description: "All accessible articles are loaded"

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Nested While Loops

Multiple levels of iteration: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Multi-Level Navigation"
    platform: web

  build:
    name: "Documentation Site"

  blocks:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Open documentation sidebar"

    - type: while
      condition: "More documentation sections are available"
      body:
        - type: extraction
          step_description: "Current section name"
          variable_name: section-name

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Expand section '$section-name$'"

        - type: while
          condition: "Subsections are visible in '$section-name$'"
          body:
            - type: extraction
              step_description: "First subsection name"
              variable_name: subsection-name

            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Click subsection '$subsection-name$'"

            - type: validation
              step_description: "Content for '$subsection-name$' is displayed"

            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Return to section list"

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Collapse section '$section-name$'"

    - type: validation
      step_description: "All sections have been explored"

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Sequential Conditions with Loop

Multiple if blocks followed by a loop: 
test:
  metadata:
    name: "Feature Tour with Optional Steps"
    platform: ios

  build:
    name: "Productivity App"

  blocks:
    - type: if
      condition: "Welcome tour prompt is shown"
      then:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Tap 'Start Tour'"

    - type: if
      condition: "Permissions request is displayed"
      then:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Tap 'Allow'"

    - type: if
      condition: "Notification preferences screen is shown"
      then:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Select notification preferences"

        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Tap 'Continue'"

    - type: while
      condition: "Tour has more steps"
      body:
        - type: instructions
          step_description: "Tap 'Next'"

        - type: manual
          step_type: wait
          step_description: "1"

    - type: validation
      step_description: "Tour is complete and main screen is visible"

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Best Practices

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1. Keep Conditions Simple and Clear

# GOOD - clear condition
- type: if
  condition: "Login button is visible"
  then:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Click login"

# AVOID - overly complex condition
- type: if
  condition: "Login button is visible and enabled and not grayed out and the form is complete"
  then:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Click login"

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2. Avoid Deeply Nested Control Flow

# GOOD - flat structure with sequential checks
- type: if
  condition: "Feature A is available"
  then:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Enable feature A"

- type: if
  condition: "Feature B is available"
  then:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Enable feature B"

# AVOID - deeply nested
- type: if
  condition: "Feature A is available"
  then:
    - type: if
      condition: "Feature B is available"
      then:
        - type: if
          condition: "Feature C is available"
          then:
            - type: instructions
              step_description: "Enable all features"

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3. Handle Both True and False Cases

# GOOD - handles both cases explicitly
- type: if
  condition: "User is logged in"
  then:
    - type: validation
      step_description: "Dashboard is visible"
  else:
    - type: validation
      step_description: "Login page is visible"

# OKAY - else not always needed
- type: if
  condition: "Cookie banner is shown"
  then:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Dismiss banner"
# Test continues regardless

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Common Patterns

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Pattern: Optional Element Handling

Handle elements that may or may not appear: 
- type: if
  condition: "Modal dialog is visible"
  then:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Close modal"

- type: instructions
  step_description: "Continue with main flow"

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Pattern: Pagination

Load all pages of content: 
- type: while
  condition: "Next page button is enabled"
  body:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Click next page"

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Pattern: Feature Detection

Different actions based on available features: 
- type: if
  condition: "Advanced mode toggle is present"
  then:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Enable advanced mode"

    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Configure advanced settings"
  else:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Use basic configuration"

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Pattern: Iterative Form Filling

Fill dynamic form fields: 
- type: while
  condition: "Add another item button is visible"
  body:
    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Click add item"

    - type: instructions
      step_description: "Fill in item details"

    - type: if
      condition: "Item count is 3 or more"
      then:
        - type: validation
          step_description: "Enough items added"
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